After a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Toronto FC, Atlanta United’s 2019 season, which began back in February, is finally over. It was a long, grueling seven months but the ride has reached its destination. The Five Stripes won two trophies, accrued the most points in a season for a defending MLS Cup champion, and continued to break records along the way. In the end, however, it was not enough.
Atlanta opened the scoring early with a beautiful through ball from Ezequiel Barco to Gonzalo Martinez. With two steps ahead of the Toronto defenders, Martinez squared the ball for a trailing Julian Gressel, who calmly put the ball in the back of the net.