It wasn’t always pretty –– it definitely wasn’t easy –– but it was everything Atlanta United needed. The Five Stripes came to Red Bull Arena and defended their first-leg lead with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline that made them Eastern Conference champions.
Thanks to their first-leg performance, all Atlanta United had to do was end the match within three goals. So while Tata Martino lined up his squad in a more defensive position, it was the same XI that secured the commanding first leg win: Brad Guzan (GK), Greg Garza (LB), Michael Parkhurst (CB), Leandro González Pirez (CB), Franco Escobar (RB), Jeff Larentowicz (CM), Eric Remedi (CM), Darlington Nagbe (CM), Julian Gressel (FWD), Miguel Almirón (FWD), Josef Martinez (FWD).