Brad Guzan issues Atlanta United rallying cry in Miami playoff series | OneFootball

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan believes the Five Stripes still have a fighting chance against Supporters Shield winners Inter Miami in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Atlanta fell 2-1 in Miami in the opening game of a best-of-three series with the Herons Friday evening, but feel they have a much better chance at snatching a result in front of their fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend.

"We've had our backs against the wall for quite some time now," Guzan said after the narrow defeat in south Florida. "And when our backs have been against the wall, we've found a way.

"Our backs are against the wall now. We've got to go into Game two, we've got to win. Very simple. It's all we can do."

Atlanta showed that resiliency in the Wild Card round against Montréal in a penalty shootout, fending off a late comeback by the home side to steal the result north of the border.

Guzan believes the energy from those moments will have to push his side through the opening round.

"You have to enjoy these moments. When you're in these types of situations, there's no guarantee that you're one, gonna be in the playoffs next year or two, go on some sort of run or have success, and so when you're in these moments, you got to try to enjoy them.

"Like I said, when our backs have been against the wall and everyone's counting us out and everyone's saying we're this or we're that, that's fine. The group in that locker room over the last few weeks, the belief has really grown. And when you have that, anything can happen."

Atlanta will certainly be up against the odds in a showdown with Tata Martino's, but no team has given the Herons as much trouble as Guzan and his mates since Miami brought the stars to town.