Atlanta United capped its season for the ages in type with a dominant 2-0 win over Portland in 2018 MLS Cup. Brian Sciaretta recaps the sport and offers his ideas on what he noticed.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
December 08, 2018
6:00 PM
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IT WAS A FINAL the place Atlanta was anticipated to win and that’s simply what it did in a convincing 2-0 win over the visiting Portland Timbers. Total, Atlanta managed the sport and virtually all the time the extra harmful of the 2 groups.
After the momentum had been constructing, the breakthrough got here within the thirty ninth minute when Michael Parkhurst pressured a turnover within the midfield after a poor contact from Portland ahead Jeremy Ebobisse. The ball fell to league MVP Josef Martinez in a really harmful place within the field. The Venezuelan was stored onside from Larrys Mabiala who was removed from the play. Martinez took a dribble round goalkeeper Jeff Attinella.
Minutes later, Portland had its finest probability of the sport when Ebobisse had a header from shut vary which pressured an excellent save from Brad Guzan.
Atlanta pulled forward 2-0 within the 54th minute when Franco Escobar capitalized on a set piece. Miguel Almiron despatched a swinging free kick into the field from the left aspect and about 30 years out from the objective line. The ball discovered Martinez within the field and his flick-on header landed to Escobar who didn’t miss from shut vary.
From there, Atlanta didn’t make any errors and shifted to a extra defensive mindset. Portland was in a position to muster a number of pictures from distance which Guzan was in a position to deal with.
Martinez was subbed out to a raucous ovation within the 76th minute. His objective and an help delivered the title to Atlanta and he completed with 35 objectives on the season, together with the playoffs. Within the ninetieth minute, Almiron was equally taken out to very large applause from the house crowd which understood that the Paraguayan is perhaps offered within the low season.
When the whistle sounded, the gang of 76,019 erupted and it marked the tip of what was a particular season for a workforce that captivated a metropolis, carried out on the sphere, and now faces many questions with the lack of its coach and doubtlessly different key gamers.
However the environment was unparalleled within the historical past of MLS. It was anticipated that Atlanta would placed on an eye-opening efficiency and it delivered with an occasion that rivaled any massive sport you could possibly discover in the US in some other sport.
Parkhurst will get the trophy
Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhurst had an excellent sport and an excellent season. It additionally lastly gave him his first MLS Cup of his profession. He had performed within the ultimate 4 occasions (three with New England and as soon as with Columbus) however got here away empty. In fact throughout his European he gained a Danish Superliga title and two Danish Cups (which allowed him to play within the UEFA Champions League) however now he can lastly raise the best trophy his nation presents.
Parkhurst has constantly all the time been a winner in all places he’s been and he’s usually been a captain.
Finally, he might be remembered as the very best American participant to by no means play in a World Cup. Positive Sacha Kljestan and Chris Armas have a legit case however Parkhurst has simply stood out in all places he goes along with his clever type and the way in which he reads video games.
Martinez caps exceptional season
Josef Martinez set information this yr along with his objective scoring the place he turned the primary participant within the historical past of the league to attain 30 objectives in a season.
However Martinez was in a position to increase his sport within the greatest video games. He wasn’t only a regular-season surprise. He scored towards the Crimson Bulls and he scored and added an help towards Portland within the ultimate. It’s arduous to make an argument that this wasn’t the very best season any participant has ever had within the historical past of MLS.
Will Atlanta be the identical?
The wonderful scenes on the sphere after the ultimate whistle was made much more particular as a result of Atlanta United gained’t resemble its present type in 2019. Tata Martino is leaving and Miguel Almiron is more likely to be offered. Martinez may keep however he may also see bids too.
Atlanta did an excellent job placing this workforce collectively in simply its second yr. However the problem for the entrance workplace is just simply starting. Can they restock this gifted workforce to proceed the momentum? We all know Atlanta will spend however will they spend simply as correctly?
The 2018 Atlanta United workforce was particular each in the way it gained the title and the way it captured the center of an enormous metropolis. However will this success be only a one-off or can Atlanta proceed to be a prime contender on an annual foundation?
The choices revamped the subsequent few weeks will begin to give us solutions.
