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| Atlanta United 2-0 Portland Timbers: MLS Cup final – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| You can read the full report from tonight’s game here: | |
| Atlanta United cap phenomenal ascent with MLS Cup title in second season | |
| Atlanta will face some difficulty trying to play at this level next year. Tata Martino has served his final game in charge. The players are just too good not to attract big-money offers, and Atlanta has some major investments (a $60 million training center, for one) to pay off. Not that Arthur Blank will have trouble writing the checks. | Atlanta will face some difficulty trying to play at this level next year. Tata Martino has served his final game in charge. The players are just too good not to attract big-money offers, and Atlanta has some major investments (a $60 million training center, for one) to pay off. Not that Arthur Blank will have trouble writing the checks. |
| But they’ve got a good thing going. Atlanta has made good hires and good signings. The academy is ramping up nicely. | But they’ve got a good thing going. Atlanta has made good hires and good signings. The academy is ramping up nicely. |
| And whatever happens down the road, the city will never forget this season. | And whatever happens down the road, the city will never forget this season. |
| Thanks for following along with us tonight. See you in March. | Thanks for following along with us tonight. See you in March. |
| This seems unfair ... | This seems unfair ... |
| Power went out at my house in the 89th minute of the #mlsfinal. I was about to watch an Atlanta team win a championship for the second time in my life. And then...lights out. #ATLvPOR #ATLUTD | Power went out at my house in the 89th minute of the #mlsfinal. I was about to watch an Atlanta team win a championship for the second time in my life. And then...lights out. #ATLvPOR #ATLUTD |
| Portland coach Savarese sandwiches a few strong compliments of Atlanta around a gripe about the officiating. | Portland coach Savarese sandwiches a few strong compliments of Atlanta around a gripe about the officiating. |
| Fully deserved. Atlanta United is the team everyone wants to watch. They dominated this match most of the way. Great run by the Timbers to get here, but Atlanta is simply the class of the league, one of the best teams this league has ever seen. | Fully deserved. Atlanta United is the team everyone wants to watch. They dominated this match most of the way. Great run by the Timbers to get here, but Atlanta is simply the class of the league, one of the best teams this league has ever seen. |
| 90 mins +4: Yellow to McCann for a foul he didn’t really need. | 90 mins +4: Yellow to McCann for a foul he didn’t really need. |
| One minute until Atlanta’s first championship since the Braves won the World Series in the mid-90s. | One minute until Atlanta’s first championship since the Braves won the World Series in the mid-90s. |
| 90 mins +3: Melano has been dangerous for the Timbers, and he works hard on the right to get space for a cross that Guzan collects with a little bit of difficulty. | 90 mins +3: Melano has been dangerous for the Timbers, and he works hard on the right to get space for a cross that Guzan collects with a little bit of difficulty. |
| 90 mins +2: Another Atlanta sub. Chris McCann replaces Greg Garza, who waves both hands to extract even more decibels from this crowd. | 90 mins +2: Another Atlanta sub. Chris McCann replaces Greg Garza, who waves both hands to extract even more decibels from this crowd. |
| 90 mins: Greg Garza is down holding his head. Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese is arguing that it’s not a head injury. | 90 mins: Greg Garza is down holding his head. Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese is arguing that it’s not a head injury. |
| And Barco comes in for the stellar Almiron. Will they sell Almiron and even out the ledger from the Barco purchase? | And Barco comes in for the stellar Almiron. Will they sell Almiron and even out the ledger from the Barco purchase? |
| Five minutes of stoppage time for some reason. | Five minutes of stoppage time for some reason. |
| 89 mins: Tata Martino is giving emphatic instructions to Ezequiel Barco, whom Atlanta signed for an eight-figure transfer fee. He’ll be coming in after this Atlanta attack that ends with a high shot from Gressel. | 89 mins: Tata Martino is giving emphatic instructions to Ezequiel Barco, whom Atlanta signed for an eight-figure transfer fee. He’ll be coming in after this Atlanta attack that ends with a high shot from Gressel. |
| 87 mins: Diego Valeri plays a good through ball for Melano, but Guzan is quick to get there. Time is starting to run out for the Timbers. | 87 mins: Diego Valeri plays a good through ball for Melano, but Guzan is quick to get there. Time is starting to run out for the Timbers. |
| Asprilla shoots along the turf from 22 yards out, but that won’t trouble Guzan, who’s suddenly rather busy. | Asprilla shoots along the turf from 22 yards out, but that won’t trouble Guzan, who’s suddenly rather busy. |
| 86 mins: Portland free kick 30 yards out. Too high, too far, and Guzan says thank you for the easy catch. | 86 mins: Portland free kick 30 yards out. Too high, too far, and Guzan says thank you for the easy catch. |
| 83 mins: The last Portland sub is Alvas Powell. He gets a chance right away. Offside, if you ask me, but it was an awkward ball. | 83 mins: The last Portland sub is Alvas Powell. He gets a chance right away. Offside, if you ask me, but it was an awkward ball. |
| Guys, this is beautiful #ATLUTD #MLSCup #UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/awUD6GuPSn | Guys, this is beautiful #ATLUTD #MLSCup #UniteAndConquer pic.twitter.com/awUD6GuPSn |
| 80 mins: Alan Kelly finally shows yellow as Portland’s Diego Chara breaks up a counterattack by tripping Almiron. Atlanta wants red, but it was neither serious foul play nor denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. (I started reffing this fall.) | 80 mins: Alan Kelly finally shows yellow as Portland’s Diego Chara breaks up a counterattack by tripping Almiron. Atlanta wants red, but it was neither serious foul play nor denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. (I started reffing this fall.) |
| 77 mins: Atlanta’s Brian Remedi is down and unhappy. | 77 mins: Atlanta’s Brian Remedi is down and unhappy. |
| We should point out here -- this game is not over. I won’t say a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead in soccer, but 2-1 just might be, and Portland still has plenty of time to get there. | We should point out here -- this game is not over. I won’t say a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead in soccer, but 2-1 just might be, and Portland still has plenty of time to get there. |
| 75 mins: Josef Martinez strides off the field for the last time this season. Possibly the last time in an Atlanta uniform. The fans were already standing, but call it a standing ovation anyway. Hector Villalba replaces him. | 75 mins: Josef Martinez strides off the field for the last time this season. Possibly the last time in an Atlanta uniform. The fans were already standing, but call it a standing ovation anyway. Hector Villalba replaces him. |
| 73 mins: Atlanta’s defense seems oddly switched off on its left side. Diego Valeri finds space and lashes a shot just over the bar at the near post. | 73 mins: Atlanta’s defense seems oddly switched off on its left side. Diego Valeri finds space and lashes a shot just over the bar at the near post. |
| The Atlanta fans are putting together a light show. Crowd of 73,019. Again, I was waaaay wrong about how well this team would fare in a big dome. | The Atlanta fans are putting together a light show. Crowd of 73,019. Again, I was waaaay wrong about how well this team would fare in a big dome. |
| 71 mins: Attinella gratefully clutches the ball to his chest after a Portland lapse. | 71 mins: Attinella gratefully clutches the ball to his chest after a Portland lapse. |
| End-to-end stuff now, with a United tackle setting up a Portland corner kick cleared by ... Josef Martinez, the MVP. | End-to-end stuff now, with a United tackle setting up a Portland corner kick cleared by ... Josef Martinez, the MVP. |
| 69 mins: A promising Atlanta attack bogs down. But Portland simply cannot maintain possession in midfield. For all the wonderful skill of Atlanta’s attackers, give credit to the United midfield. MLS’ stats page says Atlanta has won 48 duels to Portland’s Hamilton-esque 24. | 69 mins: A promising Atlanta attack bogs down. But Portland simply cannot maintain possession in midfield. For all the wonderful skill of Atlanta’s attackers, give credit to the United midfield. MLS’ stats page says Atlanta has won 48 duels to Portland’s Hamilton-esque 24. |
| 68 mins: From the mailbag, a correspondent named A.J. reminds us that the Atlanta Falcons led the Super Bowl 28-3 in 2017. They lost. He then goes on to taunt the Georgia Bulldogs. You don’t do that do a correspondent who grew up a block from the UGA campus. | 68 mins: From the mailbag, a correspondent named A.J. reminds us that the Atlanta Falcons led the Super Bowl 28-3 in 2017. They lost. He then goes on to taunt the Georgia Bulldogs. You don’t do that do a correspondent who grew up a block from the UGA campus. |
| Kronmichael tries to argue the non-offside call on the Martinez goal. He was on. | Kronmichael tries to argue the non-offside call on the Martinez goal. He was on. |
| Meanwhile, Asprilla replaces Polo for Portland. No, not Faustino Asprilla. | Meanwhile, Asprilla replaces Polo for Portland. No, not Faustino Asprilla. |
| 65 mins: Larentowicz slides to stop Portland sub Melano. He gets ball, then man. That’s still a free kick. It’s partially cleared, and a high cross floats into the box. Guzan used to play in England, so he knows how to collect those. | 65 mins: Larentowicz slides to stop Portland sub Melano. He gets ball, then man. That’s still a free kick. It’s partially cleared, and a high cross floats into the box. Guzan used to play in England, so he knows how to collect those. |
| 63 mins: To follow up on the crowd -- when MLS announced that Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank would put an MLS team in the same dome as the Falcons, I thought it was a horrible idea. Having grown up 70 miles away, I figured the big dome would be mostly empty. | 63 mins: To follow up on the crowd -- when MLS announced that Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank would put an MLS team in the same dome as the Falcons, I thought it was a horrible idea. Having grown up 70 miles away, I figured the big dome would be mostly empty. |
| I’ve rarely been so wrong. | I’ve rarely been so wrong. |
| 62 mins: More from our friend Caitlin ... | 62 mins: More from our friend Caitlin ... |
| I just noticed that everyone in the entire stadium has been standing the whole time - not just the supporters section, not just for an exciting moment. @FelipeCar tells me every #ATLUTD game is like this. Wild. #MLSCup | I just noticed that everyone in the entire stadium has been standing the whole time - not just the supporters section, not just for an exciting moment. @FelipeCar tells me every #ATLUTD game is like this. Wild. #MLSCup |
| We’ll come back to this -- Guzan has to make another save as Blanco squeaks through the defense at the top of the box. | We’ll come back to this -- Guzan has to make another save as Blanco squeaks through the defense at the top of the box. |
| 61 mins: Atlanta has regained control. For now. | 61 mins: Atlanta has regained control. For now. |
| 59 mins: The first sub is Argentine Lucas Melano for the unlucky Ebobisse. Portland back on the attack. And ... they lose it again. | 59 mins: The first sub is Argentine Lucas Melano for the unlucky Ebobisse. Portland back on the attack. And ... they lose it again. |
| 58 mins: Larentowicz with the armbar on Blanco, who taps. No, wait, that’s UFC again. Blanco gets the free kick for Portland. | 58 mins: Larentowicz with the armbar on Blanco, who taps. No, wait, that’s UFC again. Blanco gets the free kick for Portland. |
| 56 mins: Atlanta has apparently never lost a 2-0 lead in their entire history. Granted, that’s only two years. And Portland still looks dangerous. | 56 mins: Atlanta has apparently never lost a 2-0 lead in their entire history. Granted, that’s only two years. And Portland still looks dangerous. |
| The free kick is floated to the center of the box, Martinez flicks it to the far post, and the right back Franco Escobar is rewarded for his run forward. | The free kick is floated to the center of the box, Martinez flicks it to the far post, and the right back Franco Escobar is rewarded for his run forward. |
| 52 mins: Portland takes a quick throw while an Atlanta player is down. The ball is cut back and seemed to go out off a Portland player, but it’s a corner, and it’s dangerous. The ball is flicked back over the defense to an offside attacker. Couldn’t control it anyway. | 52 mins: Portland takes a quick throw while an Atlanta player is down. The ball is cut back and seemed to go out off a Portland player, but it’s a corner, and it’s dangerous. The ball is flicked back over the defense to an offside attacker. Couldn’t control it anyway. |
| But again -- Atlanta fans cannot be happy with this. | But again -- Atlanta fans cannot be happy with this. |
| And then Martinez suffers a kick and shove ... isn’t the UFC card on another channel? | And then Martinez suffers a kick and shove ... isn’t the UFC card on another channel? |
| 51 mins: Blanco crosses to Ebobisse, who beats the defense but can’t collect the ball. Announcers and fans are surprisingly laid-back about that -- it was a decent chance for the Timbers. | 51 mins: Blanco crosses to Ebobisse, who beats the defense but can’t collect the ball. Announcers and fans are surprisingly laid-back about that -- it was a decent chance for the Timbers. |
| And then a shaky backpass forces Guzan to play it quickly. | And then a shaky backpass forces Guzan to play it quickly. |
| This start to the second half would worry me if I were Atlanta. | This start to the second half would worry me if I were Atlanta. |
| 48 mins: A long spell of possession and a hopeful cross for Portland. They’ve switched ends at halftime, as is required in this sport, which means the action is at the same end of the field that saw much of the action in the first half. I’d say the sun or wind is a factor, but it’s nighttime, and it’s indoors. | 48 mins: A long spell of possession and a hopeful cross for Portland. They’ve switched ends at halftime, as is required in this sport, which means the action is at the same end of the field that saw much of the action in the first half. I’d say the sun or wind is a factor, but it’s nighttime, and it’s indoors. |
| 46 mins: And we’re off, after another loud blast from the train horn that signifies Atlanta’s ties to being a locomotive ... I grew up in Georgia and should know all this. Check it out online if you like. It just sounds cool. | 46 mins: And we’re off, after another loud blast from the train horn that signifies Atlanta’s ties to being a locomotive ... I grew up in Georgia and should know all this. Check it out online if you like. It just sounds cool. |
| Atlanta has the most skilled team in the league. Do they have the grit to get through a chippy Cup final? We’ll find out. | Atlanta has the most skilled team in the league. Do they have the grit to get through a chippy Cup final? We’ll find out. |
| Fox is interviewing MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who has been in charge of the league since 1999. Will he sign a contract extension to continue to make it an even 20? | Fox is interviewing MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who has been in charge of the league since 1999. Will he sign a contract extension to continue to make it an even 20? |
| Ah. No he wasn’t. As always happens to me when I play FIFA, the right back kept him on. | Ah. No he wasn’t. As always happens to me when I play FIFA, the right back kept him on. |
| Onside. #MLSCup (this is after the ball is played and he’s still on) pic.twitter.com/VJuDoZPnWu | Onside. #MLSCup (this is after the ball is played and he’s still on) pic.twitter.com/VJuDoZPnWu |
| Gooooooooolllll ... | Gooooooooolllll ... |
| Josef Martinez, looking to add an #MLSCup MVP to his regular season honors (via @UnivisionSports)pic.twitter.com/vptnbWBI5I | Josef Martinez, looking to add an #MLSCup MVP to his regular season honors (via @UnivisionSports)pic.twitter.com/vptnbWBI5I |
| ... | ... |
| ... | ... |
| ... was he offside? | ... was he offside? |
| For a while, not quite a game that lived up to the hype or the atmosphere. But Martinez’s opportunistic goal may force Portland out of its “Don’t let Atlanta be Atlanta” game plan, and the Timbers can attack, too. | For a while, not quite a game that lived up to the hype or the atmosphere. But Martinez’s opportunistic goal may force Portland out of its “Don’t let Atlanta be Atlanta” game plan, and the Timbers can attack, too. |
| Good observation while they tend to Ebobisse ... | Good observation while they tend to Ebobisse ... |
| Michael Parkhurst will probably eventually do down as the best American player to never play in a World Cup. So smart. He reads the game so well.. always has #MLSCUP | Michael Parkhurst will probably eventually do down as the best American player to never play in a World Cup. So smart. He reads the game so well.. always has #MLSCUP |
| I don’t have time to look it up now, but the Atlanta defender (formerly New England) usually gets through each season with a ridiculously small number of fouls. Fair play indeed. | I don’t have time to look it up now, but the Atlanta defender (formerly New England) usually gets through each season with a ridiculously small number of fouls. Fair play indeed. |
| 43 mins: HUGE SAVE by Brad Guzan, as Atlanta United loses focus just for a moment and leaves Ebobisse open six yards out, dead center in front of the goal. Guzan leaps to his right to keep out the header. | 43 mins: HUGE SAVE by Brad Guzan, as Atlanta United loses focus just for a moment and leaves Ebobisse open six yards out, dead center in front of the goal. Guzan leaps to his right to keep out the header. |
| Ebobisse lands badly and is still down. | Ebobisse lands badly and is still down. |
| 41 mins: That’s 35 goals in the regular season and postseason for Martinez this season. | 41 mins: That’s 35 goals in the regular season and postseason for Martinez this season. |
| How does Transfermarkt only list him at 5.85 millions pounds? Atlanta will certainly get bigger offers than that. | How does Transfermarkt only list him at 5.85 millions pounds? Atlanta will certainly get bigger offers than that. |
| Michael Parkhurst, another veteran defender, slides forward in midfield with a tackle that sends the ball flying up into the box for Martinez, who makes slightly fewer moves in the 1vkeeper situation than Mo Salah did earlier today but still finishes calmly. | Michael Parkhurst, another veteran defender, slides forward in midfield with a tackle that sends the ball flying up into the box for Martinez, who makes slightly fewer moves in the 1vkeeper situation than Mo Salah did earlier today but still finishes calmly. |
| 37 mins: Portland’s pressure forces Atlanta to play back to Guzan. And again. | 37 mins: Portland’s pressure forces Atlanta to play back to Guzan. And again. |
| 35 mins: Twitter is not being so kind to our center ref ... | 35 mins: Twitter is not being so kind to our center ref ... |
| “Hi, my name is Alan Kelly, and I’d like to ruin the MLS Cup by allowing players to kick the life out of each other.”🙄 | “Hi, my name is Alan Kelly, and I’d like to ruin the MLS Cup by allowing players to kick the life out of each other.”🙄 |
| I'm not saying Alan Kelly is letting a lot go, but every time someone complains about a no call Kelly responds "But did he DIE?" #MLSCup | I'm not saying Alan Kelly is letting a lot go, but every time someone complains about a no call Kelly responds "But did he DIE?" #MLSCup |
| 33 mins: Larentowicz again stops a Portland attack, with forward Jeremy Ebobisse (who, I’m compelled to add, played college soccer at my alma mater) giving him a little shove. Ebobisse has been utterly starved of service. | 33 mins: Larentowicz again stops a Portland attack, with forward Jeremy Ebobisse (who, I’m compelled to add, played college soccer at my alma mater) giving him a little shove. Ebobisse has been utterly starved of service. |
| 32 mins: Atlanta wingback-ish Greg Garza streaks down the left, but nothing comes of it. A Portland counter looks dangerous but is cut out by MLS veteran Jeff Larentowicz, who has been playing in the league since the 1800s. | 32 mins: Atlanta wingback-ish Greg Garza streaks down the left, but nothing comes of it. A Portland counter looks dangerous but is cut out by MLS veteran Jeff Larentowicz, who has been playing in the league since the 1800s. |
| 30 mins: And the ensuing corner kick was dangerous as well, zipping through the 6-yard box. Portland tries to counter but can’t. Atlanta just keeps stripping the ball away in midfield. | 30 mins: And the ensuing corner kick was dangerous as well, zipping through the 6-yard box. Portland tries to counter but can’t. Atlanta just keeps stripping the ball away in midfield. |
| 29 mins: Now THAT was nice. Atlanta wins the ball 40 yards out, springs it left, then back in the box for Almiron with a side volley driven down off the turf. Attinella has to spring to push it over. | 29 mins: Now THAT was nice. Atlanta wins the ball 40 yards out, springs it left, then back in the box for Almiron with a side volley driven down off the turf. Attinella has to spring to push it over. |
| 26 mins: Valeri is down and grimacing. He’s OK now. Atlanta is connecting more passes, but Martinez puts a through ball 10 yards ahead of Nagbe. Did Usain Bolt sign anywhere? | 26 mins: Valeri is down and grimacing. He’s OK now. Atlanta is connecting more passes, but Martinez puts a through ball 10 yards ahead of Nagbe. Did Usain Bolt sign anywhere? |
| 25 mins: A couple of Atlanta crosses are not good. | 25 mins: A couple of Atlanta crosses are not good. |