2018 really was a magnificent season for Atlanta United. After seeing the Falcons squander the Super Bowl the year prior with a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter and the Five Stripes plough resources unknown in MLS into a new squad that needed to provide trophies to justify its existence, there was a growing nervousness around a team that was still yet to win anything.
When they then fell flat on their face on Decision Day to lose the Supporters’ Shield to the New York Red Bulls, there was only a growing sense of doom.