It all comes down to this. Atlanta United is back on the road to face Inter Miami in Game 3 of Round One of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs this Saturday. It had been a crazy Best-of-3 series so before Saturday's match, let’s recap everything from the series.
Game 1: Get’cha Head in the Game
After playing three games in seven days, the Five Stripes went to Fort Lauderdale and lost Game One 2-1 to Inter Miami. Miami would find the lead early in the match as Diego Gomez was able to capitalize on a misplayed ball in the defensive half to find Luis Suarez who found the back of the net.
Atlanta scored the equalizer in the 39th minute when Pedro Amador slotted a beautiful pass in the box to connect with Saba Lobjanidze. In the 60th minute, Jordi Alba made it 2-1 for Miami on an absolute rocket outside the 18. Even after Miami regained the lead, Atlanta’s fight to push for another equalizer continued, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
“The fact that these guys have been on six flights in five days, I’m so proud of them. They battled, they fought, they scrapped, they had a first minute goal, two injuries. They’re resilient, and I’m really proud of them,” said Interim Head Coach Rob Valentino after Game One. “I’m proud to be their coach at this moment and they never gave up. Fatigue is a massive one, but we went toe-to-toe with them and nearly had them”
Atlanta was now in a must-win situation heading into Game Two at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Our backs are against the wall now, we’ve got to go into Game 2 and we’ve got to win. Plain and simple. That’s all we can do. We’ve got to rest, we’ve got to recover and then we’ve got to prepare to go again,” said Brad Guzan after Game One in Fort Lauderdale.
Game 2: Bet On It
BET ON ATLANTA BECAUSE THEY MEAN WHAT THEY SAY. Atlanta United comes away with a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami at home in front of 68,455 fans to force Game Three.
“It was unbelievable. I will remember tonight for my life. We work for having memories like this, like tonight, so I'm really happy,” said Ronald Hernandez after the match. “To be honest, we need to enjoy this moment, you guys too, and the next week we got to prepare and go again.”
After a back and forth first half, Miami was able to take the lead in the 40th minute when Hector Martinez capitalized after Brad Guzan went to quickly put the ball back in play, but clipped the pitch which allowed for Federico Redondo to regain possession and passed the ball to Martinez who scored on a wide open net to take the lead going into halftime.
In the 58th minute, Atlanta found the equalizer when Pedro Amador delivered a stunning cross from 30-yards out into the box to connect with Derrick Williams who headed it past Drake Callender. It would stay 1-1 for the rest of the match heading into stoppage time.
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BELIEVE because in the 94th minute after winning the ball back in the midfield and strung together one-time passes to find Alexey Miranchuk who slid a pass to Xande Silva who buried the shot into the back of the net.
“I guess that's our story this year, or maybe every year, I don't know. We make things interesting, don’t we,” said Rob Valentino.
Game 3: Now or Never
Cue Now or Never from High School Musical 3
Ninety, Ninety
Ninety minutes left, better get it done
Ninety, Ninety
Ninety more minutes, get ready, game on!
It all comes down to this. Game 3 in Fort Lauderdale. One team will move on while the other’s playoff journey will end. Atlanta has been in this situation before a few times in the past few matches. It’s the fourth time in three weeks the Five Stripes have faced an elimination match.
Inter Miami has had the most successful regular season in MLS history. They won the Supporters' Shield and recorded the most points ever in the regular season with 74 points, but this is the first time they have been put in a must-win scenario.
“I think the pressure, a lot of it is on them. We know we need to turn up and perform, but I think a lot of the pressure will be on them,” said Brad Guzan in media availability on Thursday.
Playoff Pedro Amador recorded his third assist of the postseason and his seventh assist of the season in Game Two. He has provided an assist in four consecutive matches.
Atlanta has a 6-5-4 all-time record over Inter Miami and are 1-4-2 on the road in the series. Atlanta also only allowed Miami to have 10 shots with only two of them being on target in Game Two. With the unique playoff format, Atlanta has seen Miami a few times in a row. Madison Crews asked Interim Head Coach Rob Valentino how hard it is to prepare, especially going up against Inter Miami for the third time in a row.
“It's hard with the personnel that they have. They're just a fantastic team. I've said it every time I stand in front of you and they've got great players, great coach and they've got a great way of playing. They were the best team throughout the regular season, and they proved that time and time again,” said Rob Valentino. “It's being hyper alert and every single moment. We've touched on this a lot throughout the year and different opponents we played, but in this time of the year and the playoffs, it can be one moment that changes the course of your season. That's a big part of it."
"Playing them three times or however many times we've actually will have played them by the end of it, I don’t know how much advantage it gives you or disadvantage, but it's just more preparation. Every scenario is different. Every game that we'll have played against them. I'm sure there will have been a different lineup, so it's just living in the moment and taking the opportunity that we get.”
You can hear more about Thursday’s training session by watching Training Ground Dispatch with Madison Crews and Jason Longshore down below:
Quick Availability Report for both sides:
Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets and Yannick Bright did not train with the team on Friday. Manager Tata Martino said that Bright will be out for Game Three, and Busquets was cleared to play, but will be marked as questionable for tomorrow’s match.
Atlanta United’s Stian Gregersen is available for selection for Game Three. He sustained an injury back in Game One and was listed as questionable for Game Two.
“I'm excited to play the game. I'm sure the players are the same like you want Saturday night to come because these are the moments we live for,” said Valentino. “We love playing under the lights, you know, whether it's home, whether it's away. I mean last Saturday night was amazing, so looking forward to something like that in a different environment.”
You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass or listen on Star 94 or the Audacy app with pregame coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. and Mike Conti and Jason Longshore have the call at 8:00 p.m.
✍️: Madison Crews
📷: Sofia Cupertino
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