There are moments that define not just a season but a team’s entire identity. That’s exactly what happened with Atlanta United’s dramatic win over CF Montréal in penalties, securing their spot in the MLS playoffs.
From the first whistle, this match had all the intensity of a final. But predicting what would come next? Almost impossible. Atlanta wasn’t just up against the eighth seed in the playoffs; they were battling their own demons from this season. Earlier in the year, they’d already stumbled against Montréal. But after two first-half goals, it looked like Atlanta had the game under control.
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Brooks Lennon and Stian Gregersen put Atlanta in a comfortable spot before halftime, showing an offensive efficiency that had been missing in many games this season. Both goals were perfect headers, a skill that interim coach Rob Valentino has drilled into this squad. He seems to have found the right formula to turn this team into a resilient force. The 5-Stripes might not be a team of superstars, but they play like one collective unit, and that couldn’t have been clearer against Montréal.
But, as any longtime Atlanta fan knows, this team doesn’t like to make things easy. Even with a 2-0 lead, CF Montréal, led by former Atlanta hero Josef Martínez, wasn’t ready to give up. And if there’s anyone who knows how to crush Atlanta’s dreams, it’s Martínez. The guy doesn’t mess around. He started the comeback with a goal born from pure opportunism, capitalizing on a mistake by veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who, ironically, would later become the game’s hero. And, of course, it was Martínez again who equalized with a penalty at the death, sending the game to that dreaded shootout.
Brad Guzan might get criticized for a lot, but choking in clutch moments? That’s not one of them. When his team needed him the most, he stepped up, a wall in front of the goal. You don’t see 39-year-old goalkeepers making these kinds of saves every day, and his performance in the shootout was the cherry on top of a rollercoaster career. While Atlanta nailed all of their penalty shots, Guzan dived to stop Tom Pearce’s kick, giving his team the ticket to the next round.
If taking on CF Montréal was an epic battle, what can we say about the next opponent? Yeah, it’s him, Lionel Messi. The soccer wizard who’s turned Inter Miami into a winning machine. For many, Atlanta United goes into this best-of-three series as the underdog against Miami. But if these playoffs have shown us anything, it’s that Atlanta is more alive than ever. Three straight wins, undefeated in six games on the road, and a fighting spirit that brings back memories of 2018, the year they lifted the MLS Cup.
Inter Miami might have Messi, but let’s not forget Atlanta United’s history. This is a team that’s tasted glory and is, in a way, rediscovering its identity. Messi’s going to intimidate any defense, and Atlanta’s no exception. But if they can keep the fighting mentality they’ve shown lately, and if Guzan can keep up his heroics, this series could be a lot closer than people expect.
Of course, it’s impossible to ignore Messi’s impact. Since he arrived in MLS, the league hasn’t been the same. Inter Miami went from a disastrous season to being the team to beat.
But this Atlanta team didn’t fold even when everything seemed to be falling apart. When Martínez scored that equalizer, plenty of teams would’ve collapsed. But not this Atlanta squad. They kept fighting, creating chances, refusing to just sit back and settle for a tie.
And speaking of players who can make a difference, keep an eye on Brooks Lennon. The right-back seems to have found his offensive rhythm at the perfect time. After going all season without a goal, he finally found the back of the net and almost grabbed another in the same match. If Lennon can keep rising, and if Rob Valentino can keep the defense solid, Atlanta has a real shot at making things tough for Inter Miami.
Facing Messi means facing the impossible. He’s got the talent to dismantle any strategy and rewrite the story of a game in seconds. And that’s exactly the kind of challenge Atlanta United needs right now. Beating Inter Miami wouldn’t just mean moving forward in the playoffs; it would be a statement that Atlanta is back at the top.