RECAP: CAMPEONES. CUPS. SOCCER. JEFF LARENTOWICZ.

Led by the people’s hero, Jeff Larentowicz, Atlanta United overcame a 2-1 deficit to win what would have been the most exciting Campeones Cup of all-time even if they had been playing this thing for 15 years.

Seriously. It was a freaking blast.

The things that happened in the game that was played

In a game that started as a strange weeknight scrimmage and quickly turned into the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO EVER HAPPEN, Atlanta didn’t wait long to give the visiting Club America fans an unfriendly welcome.

Just five minutes in, a beautiful flick from Dion Perreira played Hyndman in on goal and Hyndman didn’t waste the opportunity.

Those fans quickly got back to feeling pretty comfortable though. Just eight minutes later, Club America walked the ball to the endline and scored easily on the cutback.

The game leveled out after that and it appeared that Atlanta would go into the half up 2-1 when Pity Martinez earned a penalty late in the half. Josef Martinez stepped up to the spot to take it. Ran. Hopped. And.....it didn’t go great.

A very dynamic game entered the half tied at one.

10 minutes into the second half, América changed that with a cluster of a goal off a corner kick to make it 2-1.

And then three minutes after that...America changed.

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

BEELIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

inhales

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

passes out

The greatest goal in the history of soccer leveled the score at two. Moments later, Atlanta would take the lead for the second time.

Florentin Pogba got taken out in the back and Josef Martinez, fresh off missing his first penalty attempt of the night, knocked the everliving hell out of this one.

Atlanta and (for the latter part of the match, 10-man) Club America continued trading chances but the Five Stripes held on for the second trophy in club history in one of the most exciting games we’ve seen in a long, long time.

A Recap Thought: Soccer happened.

There were plenty of important and very viable discussions happening over the last few days that, in my opinion, still deserve their time. But I think it’s fair to say everyone needed a couple hours off. The fact we watched maybe the best game in the history of MBS made it that much better.

For now, just like last year, romantic overtures and self-immolating PR crises aside, the team on the field doesn’t seem to be bothered in-between the lines.

All this to say...

WHOOOOOOO BOY Y’ALL SEE THAT JEFF GOAL HOLY SMOKES I SAW NEW COLORS

DSS Man of the Match

Jeff Larentowicz.

Larentowicz Man of the Match

Jeff Larentowicz.

Tweet of the Night

What’s Next?

An MLS Cup rematch in Portland on Sunday night. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m #FiveStripesAfterDark