We know one MLS Cup finalist; Tonight, we'll figure out the other.
Atlanta United host Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Final (8 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes in US; TSN1/4, TVAS in Canada) to lock in the matchup for MLS Cup opposite the Seattle Sounders. If Atlanta win, they host. If Toronto win, MLS Cup will be played in the Pacific Northwest. Here's everything you need to know.
It's all there for Atlanta
They won MLS Cup last season. They won the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup this year and are now 90 (or 120) minutes away from hosting MLS Cup in back-to-back seasons. Remember when this was a "down" year for Atlanta?
Atlanta recovered from a sluggish start to 2019 as they transitioned from Tata Martino and Miguel Almiron to Frank de Boer and Pity Martinez, hitting their stride during the middle of the season as Josef Martinez continued to do ridiculous Josef Martinez things. Now, just one more win and MLS Cup will come through Mercedes-Benz Stadium once more.
Standing in their way is Toronto FC...
... and captain Michael Bradley, who says the Reds are at their best when the lights are brightest.
“We’ve been here before," Bradley said. "We’ve played on big days, we’ve gone to Mexico for second legs where we had to get a result to move ourselves on, we’ve been through all different situations. There’s not a lot we haven’t seen. It doesn’t guarantee anything, doesn’t mean that everything is going to go perfectly, but we have a group that loves when the lights come on bright.”
It's also the chance for TFC to cement themselves in the upper-echelon of MLS once more. They weren't expected to advance to this stage, particularly without Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez throughout the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, but here they are. They have the chance to get to MLS Cup for the third time in four years, with three Canadian Championships and a run to the Concacaf Champions League final along the way.
If Toronto can spring a second road upset in these Conference Finals? It'll be the trilogy: Seattle Sounders vs. Toronto FC, the third time in four years.
Lineup news: Jozy, Gonzalez, Robinson, Parkhurst updates
Just as Toronto has gotten this far without Altidore and Gonzalez, Atlanta United have done it without Best XI defender Miles Robinson, who is ruled out for tonight's match. Michael Parkhurst, however, isn't yet ruled out despite dislocating his shoulder in Round One.
TFC, meanwhile, got a double injury boost. Gonzalez is fit to start if Greg Vanney chooses to change the team while Altidore hasn't yet been ruled out and just might come off the bench for his postseason debut. He traveled to Atlanta late to join the team after an MRI.
Toronto have been firing with Alejandro Pozuelo starting up top in Altidore's absence while Laurent Ciman has partnered Chris Mavinga in central defense.
As for the players that are fit, there are a few questions: Will Atlanta stick with four at the back or return to three central defenders? Does Pity retain his place in the starting XI? What about surprise-entrant Mikey Ambrose?
Thank you for the time, says De Boer
After two short stints in Serie A then the Premier League, in which De Boer didn't have much time in charge of Inter Milan and Crystal Palace, he thanked his bosses in Atlanta for the chance to get things right.
“It’s quite easy to say, but for me it was a great difference between the last two teams that I managed, especially on the side of the board, to give you that time and space for yourself, to develop yourself, to develop your team,” De Boer said. “You don’t feel the stress that they are really trying to press you, that you have to get good results. It’s a compliment for Darren Eales, Carlos Bocanegra and also Arthur Blank, of course, because we had a rough start.”
Boo-birds to greet Bradley, Toronto in Atlanta once again?
Just as above: Been there, done that for Bradley. He's played in some hostile environments, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium in which the boo-birds were out in full force. But he's unflappable.
The fans will likely greet him in a similar manner tonight. Ditto for Altidore and Gonzalez if they play.
Doyle's preview
Here's an excerpt from Matt Doyle's preview of the match which, if you haven't read, you should do that at some point before kickoff:
How to beat Atlanta: Back when they were playing that 3-4-2-1, I would've told you long diagonals to the flanks behind the wingback in order to disorganize the backline. In that 2-0 win over the Union, though, they almost completely took that ball away. Haris Medunjanin had maybe his worst game of the year, and I think I'm chalking a good chunk of that up to Atlanta.
But we don't know if they're going to play a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-2-1, do we? Since Miles Robinson is out and Michael Parkhurst is unlikely to feature, it's likely the former. Or maybe it's the former anyway, given how thoroughly they outplayed the Union.
I really don't know. But I will say this: Atlanta never look good if you get inside their OODA loop. If you press the hell out of them or you possess with purpose, the goal should be to make them react to you and play the game you want. When that happens, they collectively get frustrated – and it shows.
Warshaw's key
Here's an excerpt from Bobby Warshaw's preview of the match which, outlines the key to the game:
Both Atlanta and Toronto have taken the approach, "We trust attack more than we are worried about what you can do to us." It works in regular season. It becomes more problematic when both teams have the weapons to punish each other. There needs to be an evolution. It means the most important part of Wednesday night's game will be the offensive marking.
