The mlssoccer.com report from Tuesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final started with the following line: ‘Another final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, another trophy for Atlanta United.’
That summarised the feeling in Atlanta after the Five Stripes agonisingly squeezed past Minnesota United for their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in only their third year of existence.
For all of the tactical analysis that would surely follow this landmark victory, what really stood out from Atlanta United’s night had nothing to do with the performance and everything to do with the result. As is so often the case in big-time finals, this was about winning and nothing else.