Atlanta United: The 5 best candidates for an actual rival
By Josh Bouland
3. Seattle Sounders
The potential for this rivalry is immense and can be a fight both on and off the field. The Seattle Sounders burst into the league in 2009, smashing attendance records and setting a new standard for MLS expansion. Atlanta did the same in 2017, breaking Seattle’s attendance records in the process.
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Between two meetings, the aggregate score in the series is 1-1, with a scoreless draw last season in Seattle and a 1-1 draw in Atlanta this season. The match in Atlanta this season drew an MLS record breaking crowd of 72,243 people. That record breaking attendance is a big example of the standard set by both of these clubs.
Although the score lines were low, the intensity in both matches was very high. Both games had the feel of a playoff game, and there is always the possibility of these two teams meeting in this year’s MLS Cup. Unfortunately for soccer fans, these teams can only meet once a season in the regular season. Based on the first two matches, it seems as though each match going forward will have the same intensity and quality as the first two.
On top of two good games, there is playful banter between players and coaches. After breaking the MLS single game attendance record in July, the Five Stripes got to hear Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer’s take on the record. With a little bit of shade, Schemtzer said, “They beat the attendance record because there was a couple thousand Seattle fans there.”
The sample size is small, but the early returns are good and provide a look into what may become a great rivalry. Seattle vs Seattle 2.0 is a good headline by itself before adding in past match results and league records between the two clubs.