Five Stripes’ MLS Cup Playoffs hopes extinguished

Atlanta United’s 2022 season effectively came to a miserable end with a 2-1 defeat to the New England Revolution on Saturday.

With the Revs already eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs contention thanks to Inter Miami’s win over Toronto FC on Friday, there was a sparse crowd and flat atmosphere at Gillette Stadium.

However, the hosts still looked far more up to the task and after hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions, New England took a deserved lead through Giacomo Vrioni’s 32nd-minute penalty.

Atlanta United dominated possession throughout but it took until the 81st minute for them to finally find a meaningful response, with Josef Martinez coming off the bench and scoring a stunning bicycle kick to equalize.

But the Five Stripes were level for just four minutes, with Carles Gil feeding Gustavo Bou, who cut inside of Juanjo Purata and ended Atlanta’s Playoffs hopes once and for all.

It was a fitting end to a season where Atlanta United have been plagued by injuries and unable to form any sort of consistency.

As for the Revs, it was a nice way to pick themselves up after their own post-season hopes were wiped out.

Read on for full player ratings from Saturday’s match:

GK: Djodje Petrovic – 6/10 – Could do nothing about Martinez’s brilliant equalizer, but made a few good saves.

RB: Brandon Bye – 8/10 – Was solid defensively and provided plenty of attacking thrust. Hit the post with a header in the first half.

CB: Andrew Farrell – 7/10 – Simple yet effective at the back. Played a few nice forward passes.

CB: Henry Kessler – 7/10 – Alert to all the loose balls that dropped nearby and used the dark arts to defend as always.

LB: Ryan Spaulding – 6/10 – A clean performance from Spaulding, who was given a rare start but subbed out at half-time.

CM: Tommy McNamara – 7/10 – Confident on the ball and won plenty of challenges in the middle.

CM: Matt Polster – 7/10 – Used the ball well and did his part in stopping Atlanta United building momentum.

RW: Nacho Gil – 7/10 – Didn’t quite connect with his final ball but always looked to make things happen and worked hard for his team.

CAM: Carles Gil – 9/10 – Was the Revs’ best player once again, creating from open play and set pieces. Glides past players with ease. Assisted Bou’s winner.

LW: Gustavo Bou – 7/10 – Was restricted to half-chances for most of the match but kept battling away and deserved his winning…