Atlanta United FC wrote themselves into MLS lore on Wednesday, becoming just the fourth expansion team in league history to qualify for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Atlanta United defeated the Philadelphia Union at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 3-0, officially clinching their place in the postseason, becoming the third team this season to book their spot, alongside Eastern Conference foes Toronto FC and New York City FC. Atlanta managed to clinch with four games to spare in the MLS regular season.
On the historic front, Atlanta United are the first MLS expansion team in eight years to reach the playoffs in their debut season. The only other expansion teams to have previously played in the postseason in their first season are the Chicago Fire (1998), Miami Fusion (1998) and the Seattle Sounders (2009), with the Fire winning MLS Cup in their debut campaign.
Atlanta continue their regular season slate with a road date in New England on Saturday (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE).
