It felt like old times at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday night, as Atlanta Unitedsecured a decisive 3-1 victory at home against New York City FC before another record-breaking crowd.
Josef Martinez returned to his Golden Boot-winning ways with a brace, while Miguel Almironscored off a free kick, the first in a competitive match since his academy days according the Paraguayan.
With the win, the Five Stripes won the club’s first MLS Cup Playoff series and secured a spot in the MLS Eastern Conference Championship against the New York Red Bulls.
“This is very important for us, but we have to keep our feet on the ground because we know we haven’t won anything yet,” Almiron said through a translator following the match.
“It’s important,” said goalkeeper Brad Guzan about the win over NYCFC, before adding it was just a first step. “Our goal is to win MLS Cup. This is one step along that way.”
The confidence boost comes after a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Toronto FC to close out the regular season, a loss that allowed the Red Bulls to claim the Supporters’ Shield.
Asked about what has changed since that match at BMO Field, Parkhurst pointed to his team’s improved mentality.
“We were too soft in that game against Toronto, we were too naive,” he said. “Right away with New York we set the tone, that physically we were going to be in the game, that we weren’t going to back down, that we were going to win the fight. I thought we did that over both games, and in the end, our soccer won out.”
Guzan described the past two wins, which had more than their fair share of fouls for both sides, as “scrappy, hard-fought battles.”
“In Toronto we never showed up,” he said. “We thought it was going to be given to us and it surely wasn’t. If the game calls to battle and fight and get after it, then we showed that we can do that.”
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
Other news - News
Other news
- 13:35 One absent for New York City FC for the trip to Charlotte
- 13:29 New York City FC 2024 team numbers confirmed
- 16:52 Three Keys of NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls
- 16:23 NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls, Cushing: "Incredible atmosphere at Yankee Stadium"
- 01:20 The Knicks can sacrifice Immanuel Quickley for a star
- 00:01 Maxi Moralez: "I can't wait to be reunited with the fans"
- 23:00 Maxi Moralez back to NYCFC: "I couldn’t be more excited"
- 22:03 David Lee: "Maxi will bring leadership and experience to our group"
- 22:00 OFFICIAL - Maxi Moralez Returns to New York City Football Club
- 13:00 David Lee: "We're excited to integrate Fernandez into the team"
- 07:20 NYCFC Signs Argentinian Forward Julián Fernández
- 15:30 Bernardeschi can leave Toronto: there is interest from an Italian club
- 14:30 Los Angeles Galaxy crazy offer to Hriving Lozano
- 13:42 CR7: "Saudi Pro League is much better than the MLS"
- 18:44 NYCFC, failing season. The trend needs to be reversed
- 17:27 Birk Risa: "I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to get started"
- 15:39 OFFICIAL - NYCFC Signs Norwegian Defender Birk Risa
- 13:44 Taty Castellanos moves to Lazio
- 13:40 Inter Miami, Alba también se sumará al proyecto
- 23:36 OFFICIAL - Inter Miami, Gerardo Martino named new coach
- 22:58 Timothy Weah has landed in Turin, he will be a Juventus player
- 22:56 OFFICIAL - Kai Havertz is a new Arsenal player
- 15:30 Bayern Munich on Kane, there is an agreement on the contract but not the one with Tottenham
- 14:30 West Ham reject Arsenal's third offer for Rice. Manchester City are considering withdrawing from the auction
- 13:24 Mbappé at Real, the striker's mother-agent is the key: she will be the one to deal with PSG
- 19:15 OFFICIAL - "Welcome to Finnesota". Center forward Pukki restarts from MLS
- 19:13 OFFICIAL - Mateo Kovacic leaves Chelsea and signs with Man City
- 18:30 AC Milan wants Pulisic. Berhalter advises the US midfielder
- 18:00 West Ham: 100 million not enough for Declan Rice, rejected offers from Arsenal and Man City
- 17:30 Timothy Weah moves to Italy
- 17:00 NYCFC may pursue former Vancouver Whitecaps player
- 16:30 Antoine Griezmann wants to play in MLS and rejects the offer from Saudi Arabia
- 15:59 Keaton Parks: "I'm happy to be able to do goal and assist"
- 15:32 Bayern Munich, formal offer for Harry Kane
- 15:23 Andrea Pirlo returns to Italy, signs with Sampdoria
- 13:28 Manchester City's Champions League win could impact NYCFC's future
- 12:00 James Sands Selected To Represent The USMNT At The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup
- 08:30 Lionel Messi lands in the MLS: pros and cons
- 23:48 Real Salt Lake vs NYCFC: one player unavailable for Cushing
- 23:46 NYCFC, Cushing: “We’re Desperate For The First Road Win"
- 22:34 MLS statement on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF
- 21:54 OFFICIAL - Messi is a new player of Inter Miami FC
- 19:09 Messi's signing with Inter Miami FC