The win over Club América in last night’s Campeones Cup final will stick out as a high point, but over the course of this transitional season, it’s unlikely Atlanta United experience that peak without having to overcome some hardship, forcing them to rethink their approach and figure out how to recapture the magic of last year.



Whether they were actual turning points or simply convenient narrative devices for a sportswriter grasping for some sense of authorial vision amid the chaos of a sports season, there have been several occasions for Atlanta United this year that felt as though they had the potential to set the tone for the team’s year.



The five-game shutout streak. Ezequiel Barco’s performance in their dismantling of a hapless New England Revolution. Their loss at home — the only one all season — on April 20th, to FC Dallas. Pity Martínez’s first MLS goal, against Orlando City on May 12th.



But if I...