The Sports Squad Report: ATL Utd. wins MLS; AU men’s hoops moves to 5-2

Troy Cracknell (21) launches a jumper over Emmanuel’s Kyler Ingram in AU’s 77-70 win over the Lions before 2,688 at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Khadijah Sandifer)

Edited by Leeroy Francis Jr. |
Sports editor

In the MLS final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 8, Atlanta Utd. defeated Portland Timbers 2-0 to win the league title in its second year of competition. Josef Martinez and Franco Escobar scored the goals for Atlanta. Keeper Brad Guzan made several key saves for the home team. ATL Manager Gerardo Martino was coaching in his last match for the club as he is moving on to coach the Mexican national team. It was Atlanta’s first major professional championship since the Braves won the World Series in 1995. Elsewhere in sports:

The Sports Squad: AU men back to the nationals; hoops teams sweep Paine (Episode 8)

By Leeroy Francis Jr. |
Sports editor

 

The sports news from Augusta University over the weekend (Nov. 16-18) featured the men’s cross country team finishing third in the NCAA Southeast Regional, the basketball teams getting the sweep at Paine College, and the volleyball team finishing its season with a loss to Georgia College in the regional at Wingate, N.C. Former AU student Patrick Reed, the Masters champion, finished second on the European Tour’s order of merit after finishing second in a tournament in Dubai.  In college football news, Georgia (10-1)  crushed the University of Massachusetts 66-27 with more than 700 yards in total offense, and Georgia Tech edged Virginia in overtime 30-27. The Yellow Jackets (7-4) will bring a 6-1 streak after their awful 1-3 start to Sanford Stadium this Saturday (Nov. 24) at noon in a renewal of the in-state rivalry. Tech has won on its last two visits to Athens. Meanwhile, the top six remains the same for the college football playoff, with Alabama at No. 1, followed by Clemson, Notre Dame, Michigan, Georgia and Oklahoma. In the NFL, the Falcons suffered another late loss, this time to Dallas, and in soccer, Atlanta Utd. readies for its MLS semifinal with New York Red Bull, with the first leg set for Sunday, Nov. 25, at 5 p.m. in Atlanta … For all of the weekend’s sports news, click on the link above for The Sports Squad’s weekly sports podcast. The Sports Squad a production of Bell Ringer Media.