ATlanta united x Portland Timbers

On Saturday, Atlanta United played home to the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, reliving the scene of the 2018 MLS Cup Final, in which Atlanta defeated Portland 2-0 to win the championship.

That first goal was scored by Atlanta United. Atlanta United started their counterattack after removing the ball from danger during a Portland corner kick. Thiago Almada, playing in the middle, spotted a wide-open Homegrown. Wiley scored the goal in the 25th minute to send the home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium into pandemonium. Then for the highlight of the night, Almada scored the night's second goal. A foul against Portland resulted in a straight free kick for Atlanta United. The Argentine, standing about 35 yards from the goal, sank a stunning, world-class shot that flew into the upper right corner. The goal was Almada's third of the season and his second to come from a straight free kick. The host team took a commanding 2-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Giakoumakis scored his first goal for the 5-Stripes after a night of relentless pressure. In the 59th minute, the attacker finished off a well-placed pass to put Atlanta United up 3-0. Under intense threat, Arajo kept the ball under control inside the area after Almada had flung it to him. The Brazilian player displayed exquisite control before striking the ball low with his weak foot. Arajo scored for an additional time in as many games when his effort found its way in off the post to make it 4-1.

The final Atlanta goal would come when Derrick Etienne Jr. beat his opponent one-on-one and passed Almada in the center position just above the PK mark in the area for a goal. In the 86th minute, Almada made a fast move and scored Atlanta's fifth goal by sliding the ball past Ivacic to make it 5-1 at the end of the full 90.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Rachel Pearce]