Atlanta United staged a dramatic comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat NYCFC 4-3 in a thrilling showdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Before the match started, there was a quick change in the line up for Atlanta. Pedro Amador was ruled out due to a quad injury and left warmups early. Dominik Chong Qui took his place to earn his first MLS start with Atlanta United.
“This was his first game to start, and he has also been away with the U-18 US Men’s National Team, so it is a little bit tough to get into a routine, but I really believe in him and think he did some really good things today," said head coach Ronny Deila. "Of course, he did things that he can also do better, and he knows that, but we absolutely have a player for the future, and not only for the future, because he can do something now. I know it. It was good to get his debut, and it was good his mistake did not give anything to the opponent, and we learned in a winning situation. He just needs to keep training and keep pushing, because he has something special.”
Atlanta started the night strong with Alexey Miranchuk when he delivered a ball up the middle to connect to Latte lath in the 5th minute of the match.
In the 15th minute, Alonso Martinez took advantage of a turnover outside the 18 and tried a shot that Guzan kicked saved, but off of the rebound, Hannes Wolf slipped it past Guzan to give NYCFC the lead.
After a few tries, Atlanta finally found the equalizer in the 42nd minute. Saba Lobjanidze played a through ball to Latte Lath who took one touch and laid it off to Miranchuk who ripped a shot to the low right corner of the goal to tie things up.
“I was thinking about how we aren’t even close to where we want to be and who we are during the first half. It was a really bad performance, and we were very poor defensively also, losing the ball over the place, so we needed to make some changes," said Deila. "We needed somebody who could open the match for us, so we moved [Alexey Miranchuk] further down, and he did exactly that. I call him “Maestro,” because to me he is a maestro, with a technique and awareness that we need, and it is something that everyone else playing that position should learn."
After a collision in the box, NYCFC earns a penalty kick in the 48th minute. Alonso Martinez converted it to the top right corner of the goal to make it 2-1 for the visitors.
After Julian Fernandez delivered a cross into the box, it rolls right to Hannes Wolf who finds the back of the net to make it 3-1 in the 51st minute.
In the 62nd minute, Miguel Almirón stripped the ball from NYC and found Lobjanidze on the run down the right. He slid a pass into the box where Keaton Parks taps it into the back of the net to make it 3-2.
”It’s there. We saw signs of it at the end of last season, I think against the first game with Montreal there were signs of it," said Jay Fortune when asked about the fight and the character of the team after this performance. "I think it’s not just waiting until we go down or where games are close to bring that out of us. I think it’s doing it from the beginning to the end.”
In the 75th minute, Miguel Almirón earned his first goal of the season and first goal with the club since 2018. Matt Edwards drippled down the left wing to find Xande Silva floated a cross that found Almirón in the box who headed it past Matt Freese to tie things up.
“Very happy for the goal but happier for the win. I think the goal always comes for hard work, the work one puts in. Happy for the win and we have to keep improving," said Miguel Almirón.
Latte Lath netted the game winner in the 84th minute when Guzan played a ball up the field that bounced over Thiago Martins. Martins tried to shield it for Freese, but Latte Lath got around Martins and chipped the ball into the goal. This Latte Lath's fifth goal of the season.
“I remember one time I said to the guys, ‘There’s nothing to lose. We are losing 3-1, just let’s do something," said Latte Lath. "If they score again, we are fast, so just do something.’ The reaction was really good from everyone, and we needed that.”
Atlanta United will look to continue their home stretch next Saturday as FC Dallas come to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"To end up winning 4-3, I do think we deserved something tonight because of the chances we had, but the way we played the last hour is the way we want to play and what we are aiming for, so again, I’m back to the process and the performance, and I’m happy that we showed something in the second half," said Deila. "I think it was the first time in seven years that we have turned a two goal deficit into a victory, so this can definitely create good momentum for us, and I hope that we build on it and keep on growing.”