Time is a flat circle, so the phrase goes. Three Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinal appearances, back-to-back-to-back, is quite the feat. Not as impressive, though, is losing 3-0 in the first leg of each of them, digging a hole that has so for proven insurmountable for the Five Stripes.
And so Atlanta United heads into the second leg tonight in Philadelphia with a familiar situation, up against the wall, nothing to lose. The past two second legs have gone in Atlanta’s favor, but not enough, ending 1-0 in each. Unlike these results, this match sees United travelling for the second leg, meaning they must overcome three away goals from the Union, a taller task than the others.