Atlanta United v Charlotte FC: Five Stripes looking to build on impressive Miami win

Gonzalo Pineda is hoping Atlanta United can use their win over high-flying Inter Miami as a turning point ahead of Charlotte FC’s visit on Sunday.

The Five Stripes beat Lionel Messi’s Miami 3-1 in midweek, snapping a nine-match winless streak in the MLS in the process.

It means they move closer to the playoff places in the Eastern Conference, and Pineda is confident they can positively build on this result.

“I really want to [use the Miami win as a turning point],” Pineda said.

“I want to find the right words and connection with them individually, collectively, so we can make that big, big victory our turning point in our season and in three or four months, we can look to Miami and say it was the important one.

“That’s when we came back to who we are. I hope that happens, but we have to focus on the next one.

“It’s massively important [to win at home] because we haven’t won there in a while. I think our fans deserve to have some joy on Sunday and I hope we can give them that.”

Charlotte’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end against New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, with their 3-1 defeat also the first time they have conceded since the start of that run.

Dean Smith is aware of the rivalry between the two clubs’ supporters and wants to use it to give his players an added incentive.

“Derbies are really important because bragging rights are everything,” said Smith.

“We’re a young club still, we’ll build up those rivalries, but the players will be aware of it – I’ll make them aware of it – because it’s important to our supporters.”

Against all odds,