No surprise here with Atlanta United as the first finalist

Eastern Conference Finals

New York Red Bulls 1, Atlanta United 3

Red Bulls Arena, Harrison, New Jersey

For Gerardo Tata Martino no surprise for him and his Atlanta Boys, with a pay back by leaving once again their conference rivals in the New York Red Bulls left in the edge of another league finale. 

In spite of the New Yorkers, winning their third Supporters Shield, in the last match of the campaign and beating the Southerners for this piece of silverware awarded to the squad with the best record. 

For the Red Bulls after their feat in the campaign, these had all the momentum to stage an upset over a squad considered pound per pound complete in every position in its initial eleven and since the start of the campaign had the labels of favorites. 

Still do not count the Jersey side as weak as these came to the postseason as a squad tough to beat, however the first leg celebrated in Atlanta was another story and since then the United crew sentenced this series. 

After its second year of existence in Major League Soccer the United directives gave all the support to manager Martino in getting the ideal players to build on a contender and these prove it all campaign long as the team to beat. 

So far, the news of Atlanta manager being in his last match touted as the next man to lead the destinies of the Mexican National as many in the media of this nation already placed him in the helm of El Tri.

However, for leg 2, Martino aware of the crowds in Harrison he was very aware of putting on a defensive shield and the man did a grand job of containing the Red Bulls strikers at bay despite that consolation goal. 

In this match Atlanta put on a 5-3-2 formation contrary to the locals 4-2-3-1 that in the end became obsolete to the push and stingy game the United defenders put on all evening long. 

Hard work really pays off and for the Andean seeing the fruits of his labor succeed, he is within 90 minutes of obtaining the league ultimate of glories, but one more obstacle stands in his side way with a hardened Portland Timbers. 

With a frontal attack in Josef Martinez who scored 34 goals in the campaign and Miguel Almiron 13 these two combined to score and contribute for Atlanta amazing campaign that already is turning heads for several team in English Premiership for the Paraguayan.

In the end Atlanta United comes as the overall favorite to win the league title and their Western Conference foes the Portland Timbers as the underdogs in the grand finale to be played on December 8 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. 

In the two times, these two squads have meet the result has ended in a draw one in Portland and the second in Atlanta Mercedes Benz Stadium, not bad for a second year squad.

 

 

Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved

Photos Credit and Property of Atlanta United FC 2018

Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer