NEW YORK – Atlanta United captured the eMLS Tournament Special Sunday night.

The five-episode series began with 16 Major League Soccer clubs competing in EA SPORTS FIFA 20 competition because the regular season had been postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It started on Sunday, April 19 and aired every Sunday until Championship Sunday on May 17.

Four clubs competed each episode with the winning club from each of the first four weeks advancing to the champions bracket. Each club was represented by both an MLS player and eMLS professional FIFA player. Franco Escobar (MLS) and Paulo Neto (eMLS) were the competitors that represented Atlanta.

The opening leg of the first matchup saw LAFC striker Adama Diomande take on Sporting Kansas City midfielder Wan Kuzain. While Kuzain recorded the first goal as his teammate Alan Pulido, Diomande secured two second-half goals courtesy of teammate Carlos Vela and the digital version of himself to earn the 2-1 victory.

Sporting Kansas City eMLS FIFA Pro, ALEKZANDUR reversed the damage from leg one, tallying two goals with a pair of Pulido scores to advance to the eMLS Tournament Special final.

The second match of the night saw New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson face Atlanta  defender Franco Escobar. Despite a valiant effort from Johnson on and off the field, Escobar scored twice behind his teammate Josef Martinez to give United the two-goal advantage heading into the second leg.

NYCFC eMLS Pro Didychrislito grabbed one back halfway through the first half of the second leg, but Atlanta United eMLS FIFA Pro Paulo Neto secured United’s spot in the final with another finish from Martinez.

In the championship match, Kansas City took on Atlanta United. Escobar recorded two first-half goals, one with Martinez and the other with Ezequiel Barco. But Kuzain used his teammate Gerso to register a brace that saw both teams level at 2-2 heading into leg two of the championship match.

Alekzandur opened the scoring to regain the lead for KC in the 11th minute but then Neto struck for five unanswered goals to earn the title for Atlanta.

As a result of United’s victory, a donation will be made by MLS WORKS and FOX Sports to Feeding America on behalf of Atlanta United, with MLS WORKS also contributing to Food Banks Canada.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.