And just like that, we’re back to reality. A win over DC United and draws at Cincinnati and Columbus had changed the mood ever so slightly around Atlanta United, but Wednesday’s trip to Philadelphia brought the Five Stripes skidding back down to earth. The Union ran out 4-1 winners, and though that’s three goals better than its previous pair of 6-0 wins, it only further exposed Atlanta’s state of dysfunction. And the week might still get worse. Atlanta travels across the country to face a surging Portland Timbers on Sunday.
The Timbers were mired in the lower half of the Western Conference for much of the first half of the season, only for a summer turnaround to send it into playoff contention until August and a run of 3 draws and 2 defeats rolled around.