Even if Atlanta United doesn’t qualify for the MLS playoffs, its season won’t yet be done because the Champions League tournament is scheduled to re-start in December.
CONCACAF announced on Twitter that the tournament, halted in March because of measures taken related to COVID-19, will be played December 15-22. Atlanta United will resume its quarterfinal against Club America either December 15 or 16. The tournament will be played inside a bubble somewhere in the U.S., according to CONCACAF, which said the site will be announced in coming weeks.
When the tournament was paused, Atlanta United trailed Club America 3-0 after its loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal game on March 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. America’s goals were scored by Leonardo Suarez, Henry Martin Mex and Bruno Valdez.
If Atlanta United is to advance to the semifinals, it must defeat Club America by at least three goals with a shutout. If Las Aguilas score, things get more complicated. Atlanta United has scored more than two goals just once in MLS this season. The semifinals are scheduled to be played December 19. It will feature either Club America or Atlanta United playing either LAFC or Cruz Azul. The other semifinal will be the winners of Tigres vs. NYCFC against CD Olimpia vs. Montreal. The championships is scheduled to be played December 22. The games will be played behind closed doors.
America is second in LIGA MX’s Apertura with 31 points from 16 games.
Atlanta United’s lineup in its first game at Club America was Brad Guzan, Jeff Larentowicz, Fernando Meza, Anton Walkes, Jake Mulraney, Mo Adams, Eric Remedi, Emerson Hyndman, Ezequiel Barco and Pity Martinez, who is no longer with the club having been sold to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in early September. Frank de Boer, who managed the club in the game, also is no longer with the team.
It’s not yet clear if some of Atlanta United’s recent signings, Marcelino Moreno, Jurgen Damm and Erick Torres, will be allowed to play because they were added to the team after the first quarterfinal game. Damm may be registered as a Tigres player for the tournament. He left the club this summer when his contract expired.
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