December 12, 2018

Last Saturday, on December 8, Atlanta United FC defeated the Portland Timbers 2-0 to win the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup championship. It was the first title for Atlanta, which was playing just its second MLS season since entering the league in 2017. Striker Josef Martínez put Atlanta up 1-0 with a goal in the game’s 39th minute, and defender Franco Escobar added a second goal early in the second half to elate the MLS record crowd of 73,019 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Martínez, who also assisted on Escobar’s goal, was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Atlanta’s Josef Martínez eludes Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to score the first goal of the MLS Cup final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Dec. 8, 2018. Credit: © Ira L. Black, Getty Images

In the first half, Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made a great save on a chopping shot by Atlanta midfielder Miguel Almirón, but Martínez found the net shortly thereafter. Four minutes after Martínez’s goal, Atlanta veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan prevented the equalizer, diving to stop a sharp header by Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse. Portland found few chances to score as the game wore on, and their best shots missed high or wide. Tight midfield defense was the story of the match for both sides, who together totaled just 17 shots and only 7 on target.

The massive and boisterous crowd chanted “United! United!” after Atlanta went up 2-0, and the fans erupted in cheers at the game’s conclusion as the home team met in a jubilant group hug on the pitch. Atlanta team captain Michael Parkhurst was particularly thrilled to put his hands on the coveted MLS Cup trophy. It was the fifth MLS final for the veteran defender: Parkhurst was on the short end with the New England Revolution in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and lost the final again with the Columbus Crew in 2015. The city of Atlanta has warmed quickly to its new MLS team. United drew an MLS record 901,033 fans for its 17 home games during the 2018 regular season—an average of 53,000 fans per match.

Atlanta’s MLS Cup victory capped an exciting season in which the team finished a close second to the New York Red Bulls for the Supporters’ Shield as the MLS team with the best record. In the playoffs, United took out New York City FC before downing the mighty Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference championship. Portland finished fifth to eke out a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but the Timbers gained steam in the playoffs, defeating FC Dallas, the Seattle Sounders, and top-seeded Sporting Kansas City to reach the MLS Cup final.