MLS Eastern Conference: Chaos in the Shield race, big changes in Toronto & more on each team

Welcome back our two-part weekly MLS column here at Backheeled where we break down all 29 teams in the league.

I’ve got the East. Joe Lowery's got the West. Wilfried Nancy's got limitless potential. Let’s dig into the latest for each Eastern Conference squad, shall we?

To read up on the West, check out Joe’s rundown.

MLS Western Conference: Pedro de la Vega’s role, contenders stumble & more on each team

We’re dissecting every MLS team in the Western Conference.

BackheeledJoseph Lowery

Atlanta United

Result: 1-0 loss at CF Montreal

What if Atlanta built the entire plane out of complementary pieces?

Their two centerpiece DPs are out the door. In the middle of the week, Atlanta United lost in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals to USL Championship side Indy Eleven. Then over the weekend, they put together a flat and lifeless performance on the road to drop all three points against CF Montreal. It was a result exacerbated by Stian Gregersen’s 55th minute red card, but it was drab throughout.

Atlanta rotated heavily during their midweek Open Cup match to field a stronger lineup in Montreal. It didn’t work against Indy and then they played with all the enthusiasm of wet cardboard on Saturday. 

The Five Stripes only managed eight shots, didn’t hit the target with one, and needed Brad Guzan to make six saves to keep the result from getting worse. It wasn’t a confidence-inspiring performance, their third-consecutive loss, and underlines their need for a big summer transfer window.  

Charlotte FC

Result: 3-1 win at FC Cincinnati

Charlotte already locked down one center back to a long-term contract earlier this year, and now they locked down the other partner of the league’s third-best defense.

Adilson Malanda has been one of MLS’s best defenders this season. He’s already garnering interest from Europe, and while I expect he’ll end up overseas sooner rather than later, signing him now…

• Gives him a deserved raise
• Ensures Charlotte won’t get shortchanged on his transfer fee now that they have a big more control and skin in the game

Malanda is another example of Charlotte’s elite player development model, one that hasn’t got a lot of headlines but is quietly becoming one of the more productive pathways in the league.

With Patrick Agyemang suspended, Charlotte went to Cincinnati with Iuri Tavares playing as the No. 9 in a highly mobile frontline, flanked by Kerwin Vargas and Liel Abada with Brandt Bronicco underneath. It…worked? It worked! They were all over Cincinnati in the opening 25 minutes, scoring two goals in two minutes and 15 seconds to take them by surprise. 

They pressed effectively and dominated the Garys’ makeshift backline in the air.

Abada bing, Abada boom, right? It was a statement win from Charlotte, who have been elite defensively but haven’t been able to cobble together the firepower to consistently turn it into wins. They did that on Saturday, catching the Supporters’ Shield leaders by surprise and taking yet another step forward. 

Dean Smith needs to at least be mentioned in the Coach of the Year discussion.