The first 74 minutes of this one were a whole big ball of nothingness. Few, if any, real chances for both teams. Just a spin cycle of boring that went “Watch Atlanta attack, Watch Colorado sit back, Watch Atlanta get fouled, Watch Atlanta create nothing, Repeat.” It was truly trash, unappealing soccer.
But finally. Mercifully. The Five Stripes broke through at home and the encompassing sense of dread around Mercedes-Benz Stadium dissipated.
At least until Colorado peppered a few chances toward goal. Then the dread came back. But only for a few moments. Atlanta held on against a team that “parked two busses” according to Frank de Boer.