Fresh off the March international break, a three-match homestand began just the way Atlanta United hoped when the club secured three points playing exciting football Saturday night. After facing a two-goal deficit to New York City FC, Atlanta United climbed back in an incredible show of fight and determination, scoring three second-half goals to earn an electrifying 4-3 win over head coach Ronny Deila's former club, the first win for Atlanta United over NYCFC since August 11, 2019.
Final score: Atlanta United 4, New York City FC 3
Quote from head coach Ronny Deila:
"We know we're going to score goals. I'm not worried about that. We scored four now. But we need to defend as a team and we need to attack as a team. When that clicks, then we will be very, very, very good. But today, we're not attacking or defending in the first half. In the second half, we did much better. In the end, we deserved to win."
What happened and who scored: The visitors struck first. After a long throw-in for NYCFC deflected off Atlanta United center back Derrick Williams, New York's Alonso Martínez was given a gift at the edge of the box. Brad Guzan saved the initial shot from Martínez, but Atlanta's goalkeeper couldn't slap away the second attempt from Hannes Wolf and New York City FC took an early 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
In the first 30 minutes of play, Atlanta United had some moments. The team took four shots, including a tempting right-footed roller from Saba Lobjanidze in the 26th minute that went just wide of the target. Atlanta also took five corners, compared to zero for New York, but seemed to be just missing their chances.
Finally, Atlanta United capitalized on one of those moments in the 42nd minute with a goal from Alexey Miranchuk. The play started with a beautiful switch from Mateusz Klich, making his second start of the season. He found Saba Lobjanidze on the left and the winger, unmarked, dribbled toward goal as Atlanta attackers flooded the box. Saba sent a low cross, which Miguel Almirón left for Emmanuel Latte Lath. The center forward's touch served the ball on a platter for Miranchuk. The midfielder left no doubt and smashed a right-footed shot to equalize the match 1-1 and score his first goal of the season.
New York City FC was awarded a penalty kick in the 48th minute. After a long ball from goalkeeper Matt Freese put NYCFC immediately in dangerous territory, Brooks Lennon and Maxi Moralez collided inside the box. Martínez converted the PK to make the score 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
In the 51st minute, a costly mistake from Atlanta United gifted New York City FC another goal. When a cross from NYCFC made its way into space at the far side of the box, Dominik Chong Qui, 17 years old and making his MLS starting debut, tried to turn instead of clearing the ball away first-time. But Chong Qui's touch was too heavy, and Julian Fernández was there to pounce on it. He passed the ball to Wolf who scored his second goal of the night.
New York City led 3-1 with more than 40 minutes left to play, including stoppage time, so all was not lost for Atlanta United. To save a point, the 5-Stripes had to be on the front foot, so Deila made some tactical adjustments. In the second half, Almirón began to play more centrally and Saba switched from left winger to right. Atlanta also had to defend well to stay competitive in the match. Guzan came up with a block in the 60th minute off a direct free kick for NYCFC, punching away the shot on frame. A valiant effort from center back Stian Gregersen at the 69th minute shut down Moralez in a 1v1.
Soon enough, the tactical moves and tight defending paid off. Playing out of the back, Atlanta United strung some passes together on the right flank and the ball found the feet of Saba with space on the wing. Saba carried the ball down the pitch at a sprint and crossed into the box, looking for Latte Lath. New York City FC deflected the pass in for an own goal, and Atlanta United struck back in the 62nd minute.
An epic header from Almirón tied the match at 3-3. After Williams made a long pass up the pitch, Matt Edwards and Xande Silva, who both entered the match in the second half as substitutes, worked together on the left side. Xande Silva dribbled patiently, then lofted a cross into the box. Latte Lath and Miguel Almirón were both in the area -- or rather, the air -- but it was the Paraguayan who finished it off to draw Atlanta even in the 75th minute.
The goal was Miggy's first of the season and his first since his return to Atlanta. He becomes the fourth player to score for the club in 2025.
A draw after trailing two goals in the second half might've seemed like a moral victory, but Atlanta United didn't settle for that. The home team spent the remainder of the match hunting for the game-winner.
And the go-ahead goal arrived for Atlanta United in the 84th minute by none other than the team's scoring leader. From his half, Guzan played directly and sent a long ball up the pitch that bounced over New York City's defense. With a speedy pursuit, Latte Lath tracked it down and took advantage of a tentative moment from NYCFC. The striker chipped the ball over Freese for his fifth goal of the year.
Milestones:
- Dominik Chong Qui made his first career MLS start, the second-youngest player in Atlanta United history to do so. He replaced Pedro Amador who was a late scratch from Ronny Deila's starting XI.
- Miguel Almirón and Alexey Miranchuk scored their first goals of the season.
- Latte Lath scored his fifth goal of the season.
- Saba Lobjanidze recorded his team-leading third assist of the season. He also forced an own-goal for the second consecutive match.
- Atlanta United overcame a two-goal deficit to win for the first time since September 19, 2018.
Up next: Saturday was the first of a three-match homestand for Atlanta United, and two more matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium are coming up on the calendar. First, Luciano Acosta and FC Dallas come to town on April 5. Then, Atlanta United hosts New England Revolution on April 12 for an afternoon kick.
