Atlanta United FC Will Break Atlanta’s 23 Year Title Drought
Order the confetti and plan the parade route. Atlanta United FC will host the MLS cup on Saturday December 8, after eliminating the New York Red Bulls by a 3-1 aggregated score. As heavy favorites, the Five Stripes will finally end the city of Atlanta’s championship drought.
Atlanta United FC chants took over Red Bull Arena, as the Five Stripes advanced to the MLS Cup with a one-nil loss to New York. The loss came after a three-nil victory in Atlanta and advanced United FC to the MLS Cup Championship Game by a combined score of 3-1.
The Five Stripes will take on the Portland Timbers for the MLS title. The match will take place in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Portland Timbers are a surprising opponent for Atlanta United FC, as they finished just fifth in the Western Conference during the regular season. Portland only tallied 54 points on the year, 15 less than Atlanta. The Timbers had a record of 15 wins, nine draws, and 10 losses on the campaign.
Portland is led by midfielder Diego Valeri and midfielder/forward Sebastian Blanco, who scored ten goals each this season. Forward Samuel Armenteros chipped in eight goals. Valeri and Blanco led the Timbers, with 12 and 11 assists each.
Portland had a difficult road to the MLS cup. They barely advanced from the knockout round, winning 2-1 over FC Dallas. The Timbers had a close call once again in the conference semifinals. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals in a 4-2 penalty shootout over the Seattle Sounders FC.
In the Western Conference Finals the Portland Timbers had a close call yet again. They won the conference and a spot in the MLS Cup game, with a goal by Diego Valeri in stoppage time.
Diego Valeri leads Portland in the post season with four goals in five matches. Sebastian Blanco is second on the club with three goals. Valeri also leads his club in assists with two.
Atlanta United FC comes into the MLS Cup matchup as the heavy favorite. The Five Stripes scored 69 points on the season. That total tied for the second most points in MLS history, behind this year’s New York Red Bulls, the team Atlanta just eliminated.
The Five Stripes come into the MLS Cup match armed with the MLS Manager of the Year Tata Martino. They also boast the MLS Single Season Goal Scoring record holder, and probable MVP Josef Martinez. Miguel Almiron, the Atlanta United assists leader is a top five MVP candidate himself.
In addition to Martinez and Almiron, Atlanta United FC has four more MLS All Stars. Goal keeper Brad Guzan, defender Michael Parkhurst, midfielder Darlington Nagby, and midfielder Ezequiel Barco, were all named MLS All Stars. That’s a total of six all-stars compared to just one for the Timbers.
Josef Martinez lead Atlanta United FC in post season scoring with three goals in four matches. Defenders Eric Remedi and Franco Escobar have one goal and one assist each. Midfielder Julian Gressel, another great passer and scorer for the Five stripes, has a playoff assist as well.
Atlanta United FC has more than just talent on their side. They have the home pitch advantage, with the largest and most rowdy fan base in the MLS, in the Atlanta fans. Atlanta United FC holds the record for the seven most attended matches in MLS history!
Atlanta United FC had an average of 53,000 fans attending their matches in the 2018 season. That was number one in MLS. Portland on the other hand, averaged only 21,144 fans at their home matches. Playing in front of a rowdy crowd of more than 50,000 in a huge match, could be an issue mentally for the Timbers.
Atlanta United FC also gets the benefit of playing on their familiar indoor home pitch. This is extremely beneficial to them being able play their fast attacking style. This is another factor that will be very difficult for the Timbers to overcome.
For the first time in recent memory, an Atlanta sports team will be a heavy favorite to win a championship game. They Falcons certainly weren’t favorites to win their last two Super Bowl appearances. Neither were the Dawgs favorites over Alabama in last season NCAA Football Championship.
Atlanta United will not disappoint in front of the best fan base in MLS. Beloved owner of the Five Stripes and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, will win a well deserved first championship as an owner. Yes Atlanta United FC will win the MLS Cup. Go Five Stripes and see you all soon on Peachtree Street at the Parade.
Prediction: Atlanta United FC 3 Portland Timbers 1
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