Sunday afternoon, Atlanta United 2 seeks to do something it has never done before: make the playoffs.
It's decision day, and the 2s need a win or shootout win and help elsewhere to earn a playoff spot in the eight-team MLS NEXT Pro format. The squad sits in 10th place with just one match remaining — they kick off at 1 p.m. ET kick off with Chattanooga FC Sunday. Tune in with MLS Season Pass or on radio with Soccer Down Here.
These two sides are familiar with one another. They faced off just two matches ago Wednesday, Sept. 24, or at least that's when the first whistle was blown. After just over 70 minutes of play at Fifth Third Stadium, heavy rain caused a delay and eventual pause to the match with CFC up 1-0. The resumption took place at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground Thursday, Oct. 2. The 5-Stripes had plenty of chances to make up the deficit, hitting the post multiple times but eventually running out of time in the 20-minute restart.
Now, there's no next match, (hopefully) no resumption. It all goes down Sunday. Ninety minutes for history. Here's every single scenario in which Atlanta United 2 can clinch a playoff spot today:
- ATL win + Carolina Core FC 1 or fewer pts + Toronto FC II 2 or fewer pts
- ATL win + CCFC 1 or fewer pts + FC Cincinnati II Shootout Win
- ATL win + CCFC 1 or fewer pts + Orlando City B Shootout Win
- ATL win + CCFC 1 or fewer pts + CIN loss + ATL wins tiebreaker over ORL (if ORL win, would be goal difference)
- ATL win + TOR 2 or fewer pts + CIN Shootout Win
- ATL win + TOR 2 or fewer pts + ORL Shootout Win
- ATL win + TOR 2 or fewer pts + CIN loss + ATL wins tiebreaker over ORL (if ORL win, would be goal difference)
- ATL Shootout Win + CCFC loss + TOR loss
- ATL Shootout Win + CCFC loss + ORL Shootout Win
- ATL Shootout Win + TOR loss + ORL Shootout Win
