Not only was Sunday a chance for Atlanta United to make a first impression in their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance, it was a chance to redeem themselves against a Red Bulls side which has been a tough nut to crack since they joined the league. But they did just that and more with a dominant 3-0 performance, and after the match the players all pointed to the same difference maker: intensity.
“We’ve raised the energy, the desire, the fight,” said Captain Michael Parkhurst. “We’re not afraid to go out there and lose the possession battle. We don’t have to connect 30 passes to go to goal.