Matt Pentz – Football Scout

Atlanta United’s MLS Cup triumph ends city’s long spell of sporting heartbreak

Atlanta United lift their first MLS Cup in just their second-ever season with a convincing 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers.

Michael Parkhurst talks about finally getting his hands on the elusive MLS Cup and Tata Martino’s impact on both Atlanta United and MLS.

Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar break down Atlanta United’s MLS Cup victory and discuss how the team can improve on this season.

Jeff Larentowicz says Atlanta’s failure to win the Supporters’ Shield helped spurn them on in MLS Playoffs.
ATLANTA — Michael Parkhurst had listened to these types of celebrations before. Four times, he’d ended up on the wrong side of MLS Cup finals. Four times, he’d ended up in a room of dejected teammates, listening to other people’s joy bouncing down corridors and rushing past.
“I’ve dreamed of what it would feel like in the locker room with the champagne,” Parkhurst said, who lost three consecutive title games with New England and another in Columbus. “I’ve heard it through the walls.”
Atlanta sports…

Josef Martinez thanks Atlanta United teammate Miguel Almiron for making him a champion

Atlanta United lift their first MLS Cup in just their second-ever season with a convincing 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers.

Atlanta United and owner Arthur Blank celebrated winning the team’s first ever MLS Cup.

Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar break down Atlanta United’s MLS Cup victory and discuss how the team can improve on this season.

Michael Parkhurst talks about finally getting his hands on the elusive MLS Cup and Tata Martino’s impact on both Atlanta United and MLS.

Jeff Larentowicz says Atlanta’s failure to win the Supporters’ Shield helped spurn them on in MLS Playoffs.
ATLANTA – MLS Cup Most Valuable Player Josef Martinez was in a thankful mood following his team’s 2-0 triumph over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, shouting out everybody from coach Tata Martino to teammate Miguel Almiron.
The Venezuelan forward didn’t go as far as to call out every one of the record 73,019 who attended the championship match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, although for portions of his post-match news conference it felt as though he was headed that way.
“It’s been a special week…

Giovanni Savarese criticizes officiating as Portland Timbers fall in MLS Cup

Atlanta United lift their first MLS Cup in just their second-ever season with a convincing 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers.
ATLANTA — Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese lamented the “foul that wasn’t a foul” that resulted in Atlanta United’s second goal and criticized the officiating more generally following his team’s 2-0 defeat in MLS Cup on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Portland trailed 1-0 at halftime but had started the second half more encouragingly before defender Larrys Mabiala was whistled for a foul on Josef Martinez in the 53rd minute. Martinez flicked the resulting free kick into Franco…

Portland Timbers don’t fear Atlanta United’s vaunted attack – Liam Ridgewell

Liam Ridgewell says there’s no reason to not consider Portland Timbers favourites in MLS Cup after their road displays during the MLS Playoffs.

Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese explains why MLS Cup hosts, Atlanta United, will be shouldering all the pressure on Saturday.

Portland Timbers captain Diego Valeri looks ahead to Saturday’s MLS Cup showdown in Atlanta.
ATLANTA — Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell said that Saturday night’s MLS Cup final is “something to look forward to, not to fear,” and though he was referring to the game more generally, the same could be said of Portland’s challenge in shutting down Atlanta’s vaunted attack.
United most notably boasts single-season MLS goal-scoring record holder Josef Martinez and English Premier League target Miguel Almiron. But Ridgewell said the team is used to facing high-powered offenses and will be ready…

Atlanta United delivers the passion of South American football without the pepper spray

ATLANTA — Franco Escobar’s introduction to top-level Argentine soccer should have been one of the most thrilling days of his young life.

A native of Rosario, Escobar began his career with Newell’s Old Boys, one of Argentina’s leading clubs. His first-team debut in 2015, as fate would have it, was to come against Boca Juniors at the famous Bombonera. That was something straight out of a teenager’s dream: jumping straight into the fire, playing in one of the biggest games his nation has to offer,…

Diego Valeri has been a ‘game changer’ for Portland, MLS – Giovanni Savarese

Portland Timbers captain Diego Valeri looks ahead to Saturday’s MLS Cup showdown in Atlanta.

It was an up and down season for the Portland Timbers, who rode the talents of Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco to their 2nd-ever MLS Cup final appearance.

Alejandro Moreno breaks down what makes Atlanta United the favorites in MLS Cup, from their undeniable talent to their unique home advantage.
ATLANTA — Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez, who was named Major League Soccer’s MVP at a ceremony downtown earlier this week, and midfielder Miguel Almiron, who was also a finalist for the award, may be the two biggest stars when MLS Cup kicks off on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But they’re not the only ones who have shined brightly throughout this postseason, as Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese highlighted during his news conference on Wednesday, singling out midfielder Diego Valeri…

Atlanta United’s Jeff Larentowicz the ‘go-to guy’ for inexperienced MLS Cup finalists

Miguel Almiron shares his keys for Atlanta United as they look to lift their first MLS Cup trophy on Saturday.

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan explains why winning MLS Cup is the only way this season will considered a success in his eyes.
ATLANTA — Jeff Larentowicz has a self-described role on his Atlanta United team, as the team’s oldest and most-experienced player, he calls himself the “go-to guy.”
The 35-year-old Major League Soccer lifer is an invaluable resource on a team heavily stocked with South American imports who are still adjusting to the league.
“They look to me as the experienced guy,” Larentowicz told ESPN FC on Wednesday. “If they have questions about anything, I tend to be the go-to guy.”
One expects that he’ll…

Valeri, Blanco grew up together; now they’re MLS Cup hopefuls 6,800 miles from home

With Sporting KC and Portland Timbers ready to meet for a spot in the MLS Cup Final, the FC crew assesses both sides’ chances to progress.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — The distance between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Portland, Oregon, is more than 6,800 miles. The flight time is approximately 17 hours and 15 minutes, and that’s if you manage to fly direct. Driving is practically impossible — the Darien Gap on the border between Colombia and Panama is basically impenetrable, a 55-mile break in the Pan-American Highway that runs from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the southern tip of Chile. Should they ever find a way to pave that bit of swampland,…

LAFC must live up to the hype in Year 2: ‘It’s not a one-year project’

The FC crew deem LAFC’s first season in the MLS a promising one, despite their inability to hold on to leads which led to their exit in the knockout round.

The morning of the first day of the first-ever LAFC training camp, jerseys and socks were laid out on wooden benches, bringing some players back to high school. With its own practice facility still under construction, LAFC borrowed a locker room at the UCLA swimming venue. The whole squad crammed into a room clearly not designed to fit an entire professional soccer team, trying not to elbow one another in the ribs and vying for precious little bench space.

“It kind of reminded me of my own college…

LAFC must live up to the hype in Year Two: ‘It’s not a one-year project’

The FC crew deem LAFC’s first season in the MLS a promising one, despite their inability to hold on to leads which led to their exit in the knockout round.

“It kind of reminded me of my own college…

SIGN INTO YOUR ACCOUNT CREATE NEW ACCOUNT

CREATE ACCOUNT ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?