Atlanta United edge Toronto FC on goal in final seconds

Jamal Thiare scored an unlikely goal in the final seconds of second-half injury time as Atlanta United beat Toronto FC 2-1 on Saturday night to end a nearly three-month home winless streak.

Transfer rumored Thiago Almada also scored for Atlanta (6-8-6, 24 points), which had played seven games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (0-5-2) since a 3-0 win over Chicago on March 31.

Federico Bernardeschi scored for Toronto (7-11-3, 24 points), which has lost four straight championship games and failed to win any of its seven meetings (0-5-2).

Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran made three saves, all in the second half, but made a blunder on the decisive tally. Gavran caught an Atlanta cross and dropped to the turf in an effort to run out the clock. Unaware that Thiare was hiding behind him, Gavran got up and rolled the ball towards the top of the penalty area. Thiare stepped in front of the goalkeeper, stole the ball and spun before firing a shot into the empty net.

Almada gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead two minutes into first-half overtime. Defender Derrick Williams played a through ball to Almada from midfield before Almada played a back-and-forth with Daniel Rios, sending the Argentine free down the left wing. Almada’s low shot from 12 yards beat Gavran, who was making his fourth straight start with Sean Johnson on international duty with Team USA at the Copa America.

The advantage did not last long as Bernardeschi scored in the first minute of the second half. Lorenzo Insigne sent a long pass from his side on the right wing, allowing Bernardeschi to collect the ball near the penalty area. Bernardeschi dropped back toward midfield and fired a low shot from 15 yards out between three defenders and into the net on the opposite side, just out of reach of Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Toronto appeared to have taken the lead in the 25th minute thanks to an Insigne header from the top of the penalty area, but after extensive video review it was determined that the Italian was offside on the cross. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.