With time on their hands as sport has been canceled or postponed for the time being, here are five matches Atlanta United fans can rewatch.
Atlanta United — like almost every sports team in the world — is on a hiatus from games because of the spreading of COVID-19. Both MLS and CONCACAF have suspended play and are waiting for time to pass before making the next and safest move, which could mean a month or more without any action.
Fans of every sport are looking for something to do and watch while they wait for play to return. The 2020 season will come back into focus in due course, but until then, there are still games to watch again from years past.
Here are five matches for Atlanta supporters to watch during the hiatus:
5. 2017 – Inaugural Match: Atlanta United Vs. New York Red Bulls
The moment Atlanta United fans finally had an MLS team to call their own. Thousands gathered into Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta to watch their first match against the New York Red Bulls.
It didn’t take long for the stadium to get loud. Yamil Asad got on the end of a Tyrone Mears’ cross to send in the first goal of United’s young history in the 24th minute. Asad’s goal brought chaos into the stands that carried over into half-time with Atlanta up 1-0. Everything was right in the south, and it looked like Atlanta would leave their first game with three points.
That optimistic spirit lasted until the 75th minute when Daniel Royer spoiled the party to level the match at 1-1. Atlanta’s night was all but ruined with Anton Walkes scoring an own-goal in the 81st minute to secure a 2-1 win for the Red Bulls. To make matters worse, Carlos Carmona got the first red card in Atlanta’s history in the 87th minute to end Atlanta’s expansion debut with 10 men.
Despite the scoreline, however, it was a night Five Stripe supporters will never forget. It was the birth of what is now a club loaded with trophies in only three years of play. But we can’t forget about what happened on the pitch, which is why it lands at number five.