"Whistle went. I looked over and they're celebrating. So I was like, f--k yeah."
Derrick Williams succinctly summed up Atlanta United's feelings after their dramatic 2-1 Decision Day victory at Orlando City that snuck them into the Eastern Conference's ninth and final Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot.
The Five Stripes needed a win, as well as a loss from either CF Montréal or D.C. United, to reach the postseason. They took care of their part at Inter&Co Stadium, and as soon as the final whistle blew and the bench disseminated the news of D.C.'s 3-0 loss vs. Charlotte FC, the celebrations erupted.
“I looked straight to the bench and they said we're in,” said Williams after the match. “It was just a lot of emotions – relief, happiness. Happy for Rob [Valentino, interim head coach], the staff. Happy for everyone. We just put so much into it. And yeah, I enjoyed how we got it as well.”
Agonizing win
The way they got it wasn’t exactly straightforward. After Atlanta scored twice in the opening 16 minutes via goals from Saba Lobjanidze and Jamal Thiaré, the hosts clawed a goal back in the first half, before seemingly equalizing in the 89th minute.
The goal, which would have knocked Atlanta out of the playoffs, was overturned after a lengthy Video Review spotted a handball from Duncan McGuire in the lead-up. The one-minute, 46-second review was agony for Atlanta.
“I was like, this kind of sums up our season,” Williams admitted. “But then lucky enough, that's football for you. It’s crazy. Things can change like that.”
Things were just as crazy on the Atlanta bench, as the substitutes and staff frantically tried to find out what was happening in the other matches while focusing on the game in front of them.
“It was probably the most stressful six minutes, or whatever it was, in my life,” Valentino sighed, saying he didn’t know Charlotte had taken the lead over D.C. United until around the 90th minute. “I can't tell you the time, but it was whatever it was, it was eternity.”
Ultimately, Atlanta controlled what they could control, and the cards fell their way.
“Before our game, we said we have to win our game and let’s see what will be in the other game,” said Lobjanidze. “So we were lucky, and that’s crazy, really.”
Vindication for Valentino?
For Valentino, who was tasked with righting the ship after a difficult and frustrating start to the season, which included the dismissal of head coach Gonzalo Pineda and the departure of longtime vice president/technical director Carlos Bocanegra, the victory provided some vindication.
“There's a lot of emotion,” Valentino smiled. “I feel a lot of joy for the people, the players, the staff, the people at the club that have had a tough year.
"I don't know if this vindicates it, but it just shows that you can do anything if you just keep showing up and just keep showing up, keep doing your work, stay resilient, stay persistent.”
Wild Card awaits
The Five Stripes won’t have much time to celebrate. Their focus quickly shifts to a difficult trip to Montréal in the Eastern Conference Wild Card on Tuesday night (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). Their opponents are on a fantastic run of form, winning five of their last seven matches to book their spot in the postseason on Decision Day.
“I feel like the last three or four weeks we've been in the playoffs, because that's how important the games were. In my head, I was playing knockout football weeks ago,” said Williams. “Montréal, decent team. I think we can go there and win.”
Valentino’s sentiments were similar.
“It's really the same mentality, because we came into this knowing that you have to win the game and give yourself a chance,” he said. “And it's going to be the same in Montréal. You've got to win the game to give yourself a fighting chance to move on.”
“When people write you off, it feels even better.”
