tory wtitten December 14, 2018.
To some, they think the curse still lives on of professional sports teams in Atlanta not winning championships, but to me that curse was killed about 10:00 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2018 in the city that owns the curse. And it only took two years of an incoming professional Atlanta sports team to do it. That team was the Atlanta United soccer team of Major League Soccer. Lets re-phrase that to your Atlanta United soccer team.
The city of Atlanta has been starving for a championship and they have come close on many occasions from the 14 years of dominance by the Atlanta Braves where they came out of that dominance with just one World Series Championship in 1995. Next, the debacle that was for the Atlanta Falcons losing both the 1999 Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos and the 2017 Super Bowl to the evil empire. I can’t even say the name of that team.
Ten years ago owner Arthur Blank had a vision and that vision took shape on the field last year where they fell short in the quarter finals of the playoffs. But with the new team the MLS and newly opened Mercedes Benz Stadium set so many attendance records selling out game after game from 50,000 fans to 73,000 plus fans. Soccer is a growing sport in the south, and I think it has landed.
So enter the 2018 season where every game was practically sold out with 73,000 plus fans that MLS has never seen before. The Atlanta United was on fire the entire season, but took a step back losing to Toronto the last game of the regular season to lose the shield (most points in the league), but that didn’t dampen their spirits. Putting it into high gear this team took off in the playoffs and dominated New York City, New York Red Bulls on the way to the MLS Cup Championship game. The Championship was hosted by Atlanta due to the better record than Portland Timbers. The United dominated this game from start to finished with a 2-0 victory to claim the 2018 MLS Cup and the first championship in Atlanta in 23 years. Striker Josef Martinez won the golden boot (MVP of league) award and also took home the trophy for MLS Cup MVP where he had one goal and the assist on the second goal.
No telling what happens next year, but for right now the city of Atlanta can glory in their major league soccer team winning the cup, and knowing that they have embraced this team with open arms as well as this team embracing this city with open arms.
Kirkley's Sports Korner 