CF Montreal 2-2 Atlanta United (4-5 on penalties): Visitors set up Inter Miami tie

Atlanta United will play Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs after edging past CF Montreal on penalties in an enthralling encounter at the Stade Saputo.

Atlanta won only their second away playoff game in club history and the first since 2018. They will start a best-of-three series on Friday against Lionel Messi’s Miami.

The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when Brooks Lennon nodded Pedro Amador’s cross beyond Jonathan Sirois, before Stian Gregersen doubled their tally a minute before the interval.

But Montreal responded after the break, as Josef Martinez reduced the deficit just after the hour-mark against his former employers.

Martinez notched his second, this time from the penalty spot, in the 89th minute after Lennon was brought down by Kwadwo Opoku, with the Venezuelan scoring his eighth goal in six games.

The winner would be decided on penalties, as Tom Pearce’s spot-kick proved decisive with his effort saved by Brad Guzan. That left Saba Lobjanidze to send Atlanta through.

WE WANT MIAMI #UniteThe404 pic.twitter.com/AEW7Mx7cHy

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) October 23, 2024

Data Debrief: No Five Stripes joy for Martinez

It proved to be a gut-wrenching end to the season for Montreal, having ended the contest with more shots (15), more shots on target (seven) and a higher expected goals (xG) tally (1.57) than Atlanta.

It was even more heartbreaking for Martinez, who almost dealt his former side a hammer blow to their hopes of continuing in the post-season.

He ended the encounter by having all of Montreal’s shots on target, while also registering more touches in the opposition box (nine) than any other player on the pitch.