Standing in a tunnel in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, rightfully the last man to come through the interview zone after Atlanta United's 3-2 win in the Campeones Cup, Jeff Larentowicz was asked if as a rookie in 2005 he would have imagined an MLS team defeating a club as prestigious as Club America.
Back then, he said, the question asked by a season-ticket holder when he was a player in New England was if the U.S. could one day win the World Cup.
He spun that question a bit to reflect Wednesday’s situation and ramifications.
“Do you think the game will grow big enough to where you are competing (with Mexico)?” he asked.
» Player ratings: Atlanta United 3, Club America 2
Wednesday’s 3-2 win, which featured a true golazo by Larentowicz to tie the score at 2-2, is the first time an MLS club defeated a club from Mexico when there was a trophy on the line since D.C. United defeated Toluca, 1-0, in 1998 in the Champions’ Cup.
It’s been a whole lot of futility since, which is why Wednesday’s result for both Atlanta United and MLS was so important.
Club America is the most successful club in Mexican history, with more than 40 trophies won. It is one of the most successful clubs in the Western Hemisphere, with a fan base that turns out for every game. Of the 41,000 tickets sold and distributed for Wednesday’s game, at least 50 percent of the fans seemed to be there to support Los Aguilas.
And Atlanta United not only defeated Club America, it was the better team for 70 of the game’s 90 minutes.
“It was good for MLS and especially good for Atlanta United that we can compete against these types of teams,” Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said.
Club America manager Miguel Herrera complimented Atlanta United and MLS after the game, saying the league has improved tremendously in the past 2-3 years. He noted that Pity Martinez could have gone to play in Europe. Instead, he signed with Atlanta United and is an example of how the league is investing in developing younger players, which improves the quality.
The victory by no means is a stamp that MLS clubs are the equal of those in LIGA MX. Fourteen years of domination in the Champions League, and three of the four semifinalists in this year’s Leagues Cup prove otherwise.
But, this night, combined with Atlanta United defeating Monterrey 1-0 earlier this season in a Champions League game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, provides an answer to the question asked of Larentowicz almost 15 years ago.
Smart buys such as Josef Martinez, smart trades such as for Darlington Nagbe, smart loans such as for Emerson Hyndman, smart draft picks such as Julian Gressel, smart free-agent signings such as Larentowicz and smart player development such as Miles Robinson can start to bridge the financial gulf that separates MLS clubs from the richer, deeper clubs in LIGA MX.
MLS clubs can be more competitive.
“I think we are getting there,” Larentowicz said. “I don’t think we are all the way there. Tonight’s a good step.”
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