Atlanta United avoided a total collapse to defeat CF Montréal 2–2 (5–4 on penalties) to advance out of the Eastern Conference Wild Card and set up an MLS Cup Playoffs Round One series with Inter Miami and Lionel Messi.
Montréal was on the front foot from the opening minute and managed to find pockets of space outside the Atlanta penalty area but didn't really test 40-year-old Brad Guzan with a couple of tame efforts.
Totally against the run of play, the Five Stripes opened the scoring thanks to a brilliant cross from Pedro Amador to Brooks Lennon. Lennon—who was playing as a winger instead of a right-back—timed his run at the back post to perfection to latch on to Amador's perfect cross to put the visitors in front. Jamal Thiaré nearly made the same run to the center of the box as Lennon headed home from close range.
Here's the attacking momentum that shows how Atlanta scored after Montréal dominated the opening stages, courtesy of Sofascore.
The former Real Salt Lake player nearly doubled Atlanta's lead just moments later. Instead of Amador, this time it was Saba Lobjanidze who squared an excellent cross into Lennon's path right on the Montréal six-yard box. However, Lennon sent his effort flying over the bar on a chance he'd love to have back.
Montréal might've felt a bit of Déjà vu on the brink of halftime. Atlanta's Jay Fortune won a free kick in dangerous area for his side to send in a cross, and that's exactly what former Atalanta midfielder Alexey Miranchuk did to tee up Stian Gregersen. The Norwegian defender headed home's Miranchuk's cross to double Atlanta's lead after Montréal attempted to equalize moments before.
A grave error from Guzan gave the hosts a lifeline back into the match. 2–0 is the most dangerous scoreline in soccer, after all. Guzan initially collected an incoming Montréal cross before spilling it into former teammate Josef Martínez's path as the Venezuelan striker made no mistake right in front of the Atlanta goal to pull one back for Montréal.
The Five Stripes should've put the game away early late in the first half or even early in the second half and the missed chances only helped Montréal grow in confidence as the clock ticked on. Atlanta only brought more and more pressure on itself when the hosts won a penalty kick on the brink of stoppage time.
Martínez stepped up and slotted home the attempt from 12 yards out as Atlanta's 2–0 lead vanished into thin air. The fans at Stade Saputo erupted into joy as the 31-year-old striker powered an effort pas this old teammate in Guzan to make it 2–2.
The two goals were Martínez's seventh and eighth goals in his last six games and his fourth goal in his last two games against his former team.
It appeared as if Atlanta was going to throw away what looked a sure-fire win on the road in the postseason, but Guzan stepped up to cancel out his error. The former Aston Villa shot-stopper denied Tom Pearce during the shootout as Lobjanidze stepped up to fire home the winning attempt and secure Atlanta's place in Round One against Miami.
