Jamal Thiaré scores sneaky game-winner to lift Atlanta United over Toronto FC

Atlanta United created magic Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Seven minutes into second-half stoppage time, the 1-1 contest between Atlanta United and Toronto FC appeared to be on its final breaths. Atlanta had just made a last stand on a corner kick that Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran gathered up. As time ticked down, the Eastern Conference sides seemed poised to draw and take one point apiece.

But Jamal Thiaré was lurking.

As Gavran walked toward the top of the box cradling the ball about to clear it away, he didn't seem to notice Thiaré slink up behind him. The goalkeeper put the ball to the pitch, and at the right moment, Thiaré saw his window. He crept in and picked the goalkeeper's pocket. The striker circled around to put himself in the direction toward goal, Gavran chasing him down in a panic, and delivered a shot into the open net. The unbelievable finish sent Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a booming, elated frenzy.

“I would say I’m on the younger side of coaching and the younger side of being in the game, but I have never seen anything like that," interim head coach Rob Valentino said in his post-match press conference. "I made the joke to Dax [McCarty], after I ridiculously went sprinting down the sideline, that he has played 20 years now and I bet he has never seen a finish like that. It was incredible, bizarre, but I’m glad we’re on this side of it.”

Atlanta United won the match 2-1, the first regular season win at home since March. Being on the right side of it, the momentous game-winner extends Atlanta United's current undefeated streak to four under Valentino -- two wins, two draws.

"I think we really needed that win, not just a win, but a win at home to get back to the fans because they emotionally deserve that," Caleb Wiley said.

Valentino's squad created some moments in the opening 10 minutes that looked exciting but didn’t generate a shot. The first came on a nice through ball from Thiago Almada to Wiley running down the sideline. The Homegrown sent a dangerous cross into the box but no player could get on the end of it. Two minutes later, Brooks Lennon on the right won a ball in Atlanta’s attacking third. The wingback served a cross to the far post with his left foot. Wiley was in position, but his jump wasn’t timed quite right to get a foot on the ball and it went out-of-bounds for a goal kick.

It appeared Toronto scored the opening goal when Lorenzo Insigne drove a header off a cross from Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in the 25th minute. After a lengthy video review to check for possible offside, the goal was disallowed and the match remained scorless.

A wild moment in 37th minute brought the supporters in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to their feet. Gavran came way off his line and tried to control a loose ball using his feet outside the box. Seeing the scramble, 17s raised their voices to urge Atlanta United to try a shot. However, the distance was a bit too far and the space too crowded for the 5-Stripes to take advantage.

During first-half stoppage time is when Atlanta United found the opening goal behind their Starboy from Argentina. A give-and-go with Daniel Ríos put the ball at the feet of Almada inside the box. The World Cup winner, charging full steam toward goal behind multiple Toronto defenders, slotted the ball past Gavran and put the home team ahead 1-0 just before halftime.

The goal was no. 6 for Almada in the MLS regular season for 2024. For the second straight match he's appeared in, Almada has scored. The midfielder missed Atlanta's most recent match, the draw in St. Louis, due to yellow card accumulation. He scored the game-winner for Atlanta United in D.C. on June 19.

Toronto FC didn’t waste any time answering, however. Right out of the gate to start the second half, Toronto found the equalizer. Federico Bernardeschi took Wiley 1v1 then hit a low shot with his left foot to make it 1-1 in the 46th minute.

"We knew that the switches of play was going to be something we would struggle with, or they would have a highlight with, and it ended up hurting us on their goal," Valentino said. "I would say, looking at the game, that it was difficult. But that's the game. No one thought it was going to be easy."

Derrick Williams nearly evened the match in the second half as the Atlanta United center back came up to help on a corner kick. Williams made contact with the inside of his right foot for a shot that was on target and arching toward the upper corner of the net. A dive from Gavran was enough to get his fingertips on the ball and lift it over the crossbar to deny Atlanta United the go-ahead goal.

“I think [this win] is massive," Williams said. "We haven't won in a few games, so I think this is a massive confidence boost. Now, hopefully we can turn this place back into a fortress.”

Thiaré replaced Ríos as a substitute in the 59th minute, and his fresh legs gave Atlanta United a spark. He just missed a potential shot on goal in the 84th minute off a Lennon cross that sailed just high for Thiaré's chance at a header.

His goal tonight, which officially arrived in the 97th minute, was the third-latest game-winning goal in club history. It was Thiaré's fifth goal of the season.

While after 45 minutes it looked like Atlanta United might be able to earn a shutout Saturday, it took a fierce collective effort from the backline of five to keep Toronto from finding the game-winner earlier on. In the 77th minute, the visitors nearly made it happen during a relentless attack on goal. A save from veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan and a couple of blocks on follow-up attempts kept the scoreline even.

"Overall, our communication was really good, and we always knew where they were on the field," center back Noah Cobb said. "That's just the biggest thing. Our communication was really good, and we did a lot of hard work before the play even started.”

The win was even more crucial considering Atlanta United's upcoming schedule. Saturday was the last Atlanta United match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for at least two more weeks. Next week, Atlanta United travels to face New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake for an extended road trip. Following that, the 5-Stripes return to play in Kennesaw in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 9, then hit the road again in MLS play for a meeting north of the border with CF Montréal on July 13.

Though the turnaround is quick, 17s and the soccer world alike won't be quick to forget Saturday night's finish.

"It was a boost in confidence," Wiley said. "We go back on the road next week, two away games, two hard opponents. So the boys are in pretty high spirits after this win and we'll go to New England and try to do the same thing.”

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