Atlanta United Escapes Hell on Their Way to the MLS Playoffs

You know, soccer’s a funny game. And Atlanta United just gave us a masterclass in unpredictability on their crazy journey to clinch a spot in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. After a rollercoaster of a season, the team pulled off a last-minute, crucial win.

When the final whistle blew at Inter&Co Stadium, you could feel the relief in the air. Derrick Williams, one of the heroes of this survival story, let out a loud “f--k yeah,” which pretty much captured what every Atlanta United fan was feeling right then and there. Beating Orlando City 2-1 was only half the job. The other half, the one they had zero control over, was all about the outcome between D.C. United and Charlotte FC. And, as if fate were playing with everyone’s nerves, D.C. lost 3-0, sealing Atlanta’s ticket to the playoffs with the very last spot.

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But is it really a good idea to rely so much on things you can’t control? From the very start of this season, Atlanta United has been a team defined by inconsistency. They had to deal with the firing of coach Gonzalo Pineda and a bunch of changes in the front office, which led to the team losing its way on the field more than once.

And it wasn’t smooth sailing, not at all. When Orlando City scored in the second half, tension shot up like a rocket. When they found an equalizer near the end of the game, everyone thought it was game over. Then came VAR, with its 106 agonizing seconds of pure suspense, like destiny was playing with the fans’ nerves just to keep them on edge. Thankfully, the goal was ruled out for a handball, and Atlanta United could breathe again.

But can you really rely on VAR, luck, and other teams’ results? That’s the million-dollar question. Sure, miracles happen in soccer. But banking on them as part of your strategy? Not the smartest move. Especially when you look ahead and see Montréal coming in hot, having won five of their last seven games. That’s the kind of opponent that won’t forgive mistakes, and you can’t expect VAR to bail out Atlanta again.

The Wild Card match against Montréal is a golden opportunity for Atlanta to prove they can do more than just count on luck and other teams’ slip-ups. But if they show up with the same inconsistency that defined their season, this dream could be over before it even starts.

The reality is Atlanta United is at a crossroads. Now that they’ve secured that long-awaited playoff spot, the question is whether they can turn this miraculous moment into something more. If they can fix their mistakes, find some consistency, and stop waiting for fate to solve their problems, we might be in for a surprise.