Before signing for Atlanta United ahead of the 2024 season, Dax McCarty was an outside observer of the loud, raucous crowds that filled Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a regular basis.
Saturday, though, felt vastly different than any match he’s played in the building as a visitor.
“I think Arthur Blank will be very happy that he opened up the roof before the game because I’m not kidding, if it was closed, (the fans) would have blown the roof off,” McCarty told 92.9 The Game after Atlanta’s 2-1 win over Inter Miami in front of an announced attendance of 68,455 forced a deciding Game 3 in their first round playoff series. “I’m not kidding. That’s honestly how loud it was.”
Mercedes-Benz Stadium hasn’t exactly been a house of memories for fans that have passed through the gate this season. It certainly hasn’t been for McCarty, whose veteran know-how figured to be a key building block for Atlanta as they sought to return to the elite of MLS.
Despite being left for dead with weeks to go in the regular season, Atlanta answered the bell, sneaking into the postseason as the No. 9 seed and defeating CF Montreal in penalties to set up a showdown with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Miami, the overwhelming favorite.
They were on the wrong side of a massive statistical imbalance but gave a good account of themselves in a 2-1 loss in Game 1. But in Game 2, after a controversial goal put Miami ahead 1-0, Atlanta battled back once more, first on Derrick Williams’ headed goal in the 58th minute before Silva’s dramatic stoppage-time winner sent the Benz into raptures.
For all attending, it might have felt a bit like 2017 and 2018.
“When that crowd gets going, there’s nothing like it,” interim head coach Rob Valentino, who joined the Atlanta organization in 2018, said. “I can remember being in here for the first time and watching Miguel (Almiron) and Josef (Martinez) break out in transition. … It was an unbelievable moment.”
McCarty, who exited the match in the 70th minute, joked that he almost sprained a hamstring on the sideline while racing to celebrate Silva’s goal.
“The rush of emotion is so high,” he added. “Honestly, all I can say is the supporters were amazing. I hope a lot of them got a beer shower and they’re not mad about it. I wouldn’t have been mad about it.
“It’s just hard to describe, man. Everyone counted us out. We will be heavy underdogs again going into Miami and we have nothing to lose. We’re just going to play like we have nothing to lose.”
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows/podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With 2026 being a World Cup year, Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Discord access — talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Start your free trial
It is good to be in the center of things, fighting for the marbles, isn´t it? Hope your FO realizes this.
And, did you see your Almada, in the final os Libertadores with Botafogo? He does have football in him.
And, congrats to Mr Blank.
I wonder how pissed MLS and Apple will be if we knock Miami out!?
They will never let that happen.
Yall will have to forgive me for this completely unsolicited take, but completely irrespective of the matchup did anyone else love Miami’s jerseys?
It was the first time I have seen it and its easily a top 3 in MLS history for me.
Was that a third kit?
yup, that is their 3rd kit based on the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Vice font is pretty cool.
So, an open question to everyone: has anybody figured how Miami is under the salary cap?
it’s called MLS doesn’t want to upset Messi and likes all the money Miami is bringing MLS
I was hoping for an actual money analysis. I don’t recall seeing any actual dollar figures. They cheated once already…
If you believe this than it answers your question. I find it hard to believe Jordi Alba is a TAM player. They are overpaying Julian Gressel.
https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide
I took the whole family last night and even the daughter and wife (who normally aren’t into sports) were screaming and yelling on both goals. It was tremendous.
That said …. I hope we ship Xande out as soon as the season is over. Last years playoffs – Anyone remember his me me me celebration versus Columbus? Something that irritated the best player on Columbus so much much he had a backslap ready when they crushed us in game 3. There are some pretty good dudes on Miami that we didn’t need to light a fire under. He has been absent and unremarkable this season. Compare his goal celebration with Williams goal (which was no less important). This was a team victory , every one was digging hard and aligned with Valentinos vision. Xande stands out as a “me” on a team of “we” which is irritating ( especially when the me hasn’t earned the “he’s an ahole but but is really really good “ cred )
That said – shock the world and make the pink jerseys start their offseason next Saturday.
I have no problem with Xande’s celebration. Go ahead goal at the death, do whatever you want. Who cares about the yellow for the jersey off when there’s only a minute left. Everyone in the place went crazy, no reason he shouldn’t too.
Definitely one of the best matches I’ve witnessed at the Benz, not in terms of the quality of the game played, it felt pretty sloppy on both sides. But man, sheer drama and the deafening roar of the stadium, welcome back to the ATL Tata. We’ve been a thorn in the side of this Miami squad all season. Although extremely unlikely, a win in Miami next week would be extremely tasty
We were in section 125. From our vantage point it seemed like the entire lower level on the bench side stood nearly the entire game. I couldn’t tell if the opposites side did the same.
I always sit in 127C and yes they do stand the entire time. I don’t believe on the opposite side that they are standing consistently. I’ve sat down in other areas on the rare occasion that we don’t sit in our usual location and unless there is a clear cut chance most people are sitting.
I have been in the SS a couple of times and was there last night. It was like nothing I have ever seen after the goals were scored, beer was flying all over and everyone was going crazy. I haven’t seen the Benz like that in a long while. Sad that it was our last of 2024, but it was an amazing way to go out.