Atlanta United opened the 2025 season in a big way in front of Saturday's third-highest attendance in the world of football. Winger Edwin Mosquera scored the game-winner and center forward Emmanuel Latte Lath finished his MLS and club debut with a brace to lead Atlanta to its first win of the season and give the city a look at Atlanta United soccer in the Ronny Deila era.
Final score: Atlanta United 3, CF Montréal 2
What happened: The first goal of Atlanta United's 2025 campaign and the first goal of the night belonged to Latte Lath in his first match with the 5-Stripes. On a corner kick from Saba Lobjanidze, Latte Lath redirected a header into the corner of the net with pace in the 42nd minute.
Atlanta United was caught flat-footed on the equalizer when right out of the gate to start the second half CF Montréal scored. Prince Owusu lofted a ball on a short cross and Nathan Saliba finished with a header.
It was Latte Lath again who gave Atlanta United their second go-ahead goal. Miguel Almirón flicked on a cross from Ronald Hernández. Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois dove to stop it but couldn't collect the ball, and Latte Lath was right there lurking to finish it off in the 63rd minute. The tap-in secured his brace on the night, the most by any Atlanta United player in their debut.
The lead didn't hold for Atlanta, however, and CF Montréal equalized again. Owusu tapped in a George Campbell header off a corner kick to make the score 2-2 in the 71st minute.
In the 85th minute, Edwin Mosquera broke the tie with a goal that's lately becoming his signature -- reminiscent of his goal against Red Bulls last year and a goal he scored in the preseason finale. From the edge of the box 1v1 against a defender, the winger cut the ball to his right foot and fired a golazo into the opposite side of the net, bringing Mercedes-Benz Stadium to an uproar.
The goal put Atlanta United ahead 3-2 and was the game-winner.
Key Stat: Nine. That's the number of shots Atlanta United had in the first half, tripling CF Montréal's. The match was a tale of two halves, according to head coach Ronny Deila, and the first half was closer to what he would like to see. Atlanta United got close to scoring several times before Latte Lath's opening header, including in the 17th minute. Atlanta United led a rapid counterattack and Saba Lobjanidze cut the ball back and put a dangerous shot on goal that was saved.
CF Montréal picked up the pace in the second half and began to take more shots. Campbell, the former Atlanta United Homegrown, even put a dangerous shot on frame that forced a save from Brad Guzan. The next play, Owusu bounced a header on goal that Guzan saved.
Atlanta United finished the match with 14 shots. CF Montréal took 12. Guzan ended the night with three saves
One connection to get excited about: We know how Miguel Almirón likes to play, and how he flies around the field, and tonight that was on full display. Miggy moved fluidly, took on defenders with a deft touch and combined well with fellow attackers, primarily Saba Lobjanidze and Latte Lath.
The way they combined and found each other in tight spaces at around the 36-minute mark, which resulted in an Alexey Miranchuk shot, shows how creative and fluid this attack will be this season. Saba and Miggy were involved in the play that very nearly got Latte Lath a hat trick in the 66th minute.
Standout: Latte Lath. He scored and showed out in his debut. The center forward lived up to his reputation as a fast player. Anytime Latte Lath was involved in the play, it developed quickly, whether with the ball at his feet or setting up a teammate or the other team having to move the ball because of his pressure. He was incredibly dangerous taking players on 1v1, as we saw in the early moments of the match when fullback Matt Edwards played a ball vertically into splace that allowed Latte Lath to run on. The center forward dribbled and made a stepover move before putting a shot on frame that forced a save from the Montréal goalkeeper Sirois.
Latte Lath was one of three designated players acquired this offseason who were in the starting lineup. He and Mateusz Klich, the experienced midfielder who's DP designation remains with D.C. United, both received warm welcomes from the 17s inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But the loudest applause came for Almirón. The winger entered the pitch wearing the 5-Stripes for the first time since lifting the 2018 MLS Cup.
Milestones:
- Almirón was credited with an assist on the Mosquera's goal, which marks the 50th goal contribution in his MLS career.
- Guzan made his 200th appearance in the MLS regular season, becoming the first Atlanta United player ever to do so.
- Matt Edwards made his first career MLS start. He becomes the 11th Homegrown to make a start for Atlanta United.
Up next: Atlanta United faces their regional rival Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium for the first road test of the season. It's an afternoon match on March 1 with kickoff scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
