Atlanta United’s debut season just keeps getting better and better.
Julian Gressel had the opener while Josef Martinez scored his 18th of the season, and ninth in six games, as the MLS expansion side defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-0 Wednesday evening. Jacob Peterson added the third for the Five Stripes.
And Atlanta delivered more than just a win for their home fans to celebrate as the victory means the club has clinched a spot in the MLS postseason.
The playoff appearance makes Atlanta the fourth MLS expansion team to make the postseason in its debut campaign and first since the Seattle Sounders in 2009.
He just can't be stopped
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 27, 2017
18 goals on the year for @JosefMartinez17 pic.twitter.com/XPXF7E4hT4
Since the Sounders, six teams have tried and failed to make the postseason in their first season in MLS.
The victory was Atlanta’s fifth in sixth games as the team remains unbeaten at its new home of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Overall, the team is unbeaten in seven straight.
Sitting on 52 points, Atlanta is third in the Eastern Conference at 15-8-7, three back of New York City FC, which defeated the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, for a bye through the opening round. Atlanta also has a game in hand on NYCFC.
Atlanta goes on the road to face the New England Revolution on Saturday.