ATLANTA — There would be no histrionic late-game collapse this time. Not with this team. Not with this crowd.
In just its second season of existence, Atlanta United did what only one other Atlanta team has been able to accomplish: bring long-tortured Atlanta sports fans a championship.
In front of 73,019 mostly rabid United fans, the Five Strips put the finishing touches on one of the best seasons ever in MLS history dominating the Portland Timbers 2-0 Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the season-ending MLS Cup.
The only other major sports title for Atlanta came when the Atlanta Braves beat the Cleveland Indians 4-2 in 1995 World Series. The Atlanta Falcons tried twice but failed to win Super Bowls in 1999 and 2017, including the Falcons blowing a 28-3 third quarter lead against the New England Patriots, the largest such collapse in American major sports history.
United got a late first-half goal from League MVP and MLS Cup MVP Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron added the back-breaker in the 54th minute in the second half off an assist from Martinez.
United coach Gerardo Martino, who announced earlier this season this would be his final one, could not contain a smile or two during the post-game press conference.
"These are always special moments and ones to savor," he said while patting Martine on the back. "The most satisfying thing to me is to fulfill the plans we sat down and made as a club two years ago. This is the way I was hoping to go out."
The night started with United owner Arthur Blank driving home the Golden Spike moments before kickoff and ended with Blank dishing out hugs to Five Strips players on the turf at Mercedes-Benz after the final whistle.
United survived an early flourish by the Timbers in the opening minutes as they pushed forward to try and get a quick strike. But the Five Strips withstood the assault and began to mount their own attacks.
A Franco Escobar ball to Martinez on a nice cross just missed wide right in the 3rd minute. A Portland turnover in its own end in the 7th minute resulted in another opportunity but a pass to Martinez was cut off by Larrys Mabiala.
Almiron then had a near breakaway in the 16th minute but was checked off the ball by Mabiala just inside the box to snuff out that chance.
United continued to press the attack in the 23rd minute and a blast by Darlington Nagbe from just outside the box sailed just over the outstretched arms of Timbers keeper Jeff Attinella and the crossbar.
United mounted a counter in the 27th minute with Martinez making a run but his pass to Nagbe was just out of reach in the box for what would have been a one-on-one with Attinella.
Just moments later a defensive breakdown by the Timbers gave United a golden opportunity with Eric Remedi gathering in a miscue by Sebastian Blanco on the left side. Remedi’s cross was scissor-kicked by Almiron, whose bouncing shot was just thwarted by Attinella at the last second.
Captain Michael Parkhurst then gave United what it was looking for with a tackle that created the opportunity for Martinez to gather in a loose ball in the Portland box and beat Attinella for the go-ahead goal in the 39th minute.
"I was just able to get a foot on it and Josef just took it from there," Parkhurst said. "I'm just glad I don't have to defend him. It's got to be a nightmare (for the keeper) seeing him in the open with the ball like that."
The Timbers tried to quickly answer as Jeremy Ebobisse unleashed a beautiful header off a cross from Andy Polo in the 43rd minute but United keeper Brad Guzan made a diving save on to keep it a 1-0 score heading into the intermission.
It took less than 10 minutes into the second half for the Five Strips to sound the panic alarm for the Timbers. After a Mabiala foul on Martinez, Almiron lofted a free kick cross into the Timbers box that Jeff Larentowicz flicked to Escobar, who then buried a blast past a diving Attinella in the 54th minute for a 2-0 lead.
The chanting began and Guzman made sure there would be no collapse smothering anything within a 10-yard radius of the box for United.
The Five Strips controlled the possession for 57 percent of the first half and 48 percent for the match. They took a more defensive posture over the final 40 minutes as they milked a two-goal lead. They only outshot the Timbers 9-8 but six of Portland's shot came in the final 10 minutes as they pressed all 10 onto United's side of the pitch.
Guzan and Martino both stated that a 4-1 loss to Toronto in the regular season finale may have been the catalyst for their title run.
"We did not do a good job in the final game so we made some changes and I thought tonight we defended well and was never uncomfortable out there," Martino said.
"This biggest change to get us here was the Toronto game," Guzan said. "That was a real ake-up call for us. We would not be here if not for that game and making the changes we needed too."
The huge crowd set another record as the announced attendance of 73,019 was the largest crowd to ever watch the MLS Cup, breaking the old mark of 61,316 set in 2002 at the Los Angeles Coliseum between the LA Galaxy and New England Revolution.
Martinez said the huge crowds all season have been a key driving force for the team.
"The crowds are great every game and we just want to thank them for their support," he said. "My neighbors put flags in my yard and notes under the door encourging us to win it. It's just been great. We couldn't have done it without them."
