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Beast Of The East: Atlanta United secures berth in MLS Cup final

Thanks to Sunday's 3-0 rout in Atlanta, United broke the series-record tie with more aggregate goals (3-1).

It could go down as the sweetest defeat in Atlanta sports history.

On Thursday night, Atlanta United clinched a berth in next week's MLS Cup final, by stealthily forcing a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. 

So, how did United win ... by losing?

Simple. 

Tonight's clash represented the second leg of the Eastern Conference finals' two-match series; and thanks to Sunday's 3-0 rout in Atlanta, United broke the series tie (one victory apiece) with more aggregate goals (3-1).

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As such, due to their better seasonal record, compared to the Western Conference champion (Portland Timbers), United has earned the right to host the MLS Cup final on Dec. 8.

Not bad for a franchise that, in earnest, didn't exist two years ago.

THE ULTIMATE CUSHION

The comparison was too easy to make.

Leading up to Thursday's match, a number armchair mathematicians in metro Atlanta wondered which hypothetical had the longer statistical odds:

**The Atlanta Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead in the third quarter of the Super Bowl?

Or ...

**Atlanta United squandering a three-goal cushion in the Eastern Conference finals?

Thankfully, just one of the above scenarios became a reality for Georgia sports fans; and frankly, it would have been a stunning occurrence to see United drop the ball on reaching the MLS Cup.

Why is that?

Unlike pro hockey, where the act of 'icing' has consequences, there are no penalties for blatantly long-kicking the ball toward the opposition's goalkeeper ... even if there's no real intent to score.

It's a wonderful stall tactic for heads-up, right-thinking clubs, and United was certainly on point Thursday night—freely icing the ball downfield on both ends, calling for goalkeeper Brad Guzan to possess the ball more than usual.

The box score happily reflected Atlanta's lack of offensive urgency:

**Six total shots
**Four shots on target
**Possessing the ball only 31 percent of the time
**STAT OF THE NIGHT: A clearances disparity 57 to 7

The last stat isn't a typo. In a 94-plus minute match, United cleared the ball from their defensive end 57 times—a staggering amount ... but absolutely necessary given the circumstances.

In other words, Atlanta ostensibly clinched the Eastern Conference championship on Sunday night, after a flurry of two late goals increased United's aggregate lead to an insurmountable three tallies.

It reflexively prompted an audible frenzy from the red-clad crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium—the largest MLS venue, by a long shot.

They knew a defensive-focused United squad would provide blanket coverage Thursday night, allowing no more than one irrelevant goal.

They knew the Five Stripes would respond to the challenge of frustrating the desperate Red Bulls, squashing nearly every attack opportunity. (For the record, New York's Tim Parker scored at the 94th minute.) 

And now, it all comes down to a winner-take-all match on the second Saturday of December.

Should be fun.

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