“I just had a feeling…”

Tied 1-1 in the final seconds of the 97th minute, Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran had the ball. The other 20 players were deep on the field, waiting for him to fire it forward.

The 22nd player, Thiare, was a few meters behind Gavran, tracking the ball. As soon as Gavran released the ball, Thiare went around him and stole it. Gavran unsuccessfully tried to tackle Thiare, who touched the ball and then kicked his right foot into the goal to become the third victorious scorer in franchise history, according to MLS.

“I wasn’t surprised, because I just had a feeling the goalkeeper was going to put the ball on the grass, and then I focused on making sure I did my job,” Thiare said.

Several Atlanta United players were asked if they heard any Toronto players or coaches trying to yell or signal to Gavran that Thiare was behind him. In a video replay, a Toronto player is seen pointing the finger at Thiare.

“I saw Jamal and I saw the goalie, and I said, ‘I don’t think he sees it,’ but part of me thought it wouldn’t work because it never works, but Jamal stayed persistent, stayed in the moment, and he ended up being rewarded,” Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino said.

Like Valentino, guard Caleb Wiley said he saw Thiare at the last second.

“We were talking about how I’ve never seen anything like that happen in a game before,” he said. “But I’m super proud of the guy. He deserves it. It’s a great way to score points… I didn’t hear anything. I think the fans maybe saw Jamal and they started yelling and so the stadium got pretty loud, but I didn’t hear anything.

This sneaky move has been attempted by players all over the world. It has worked a few times, but those instances are so rare that a few Atlanta United players have said they have seen it but struggled to remember the details. Center back Derrick Williams came closest, saying he remembered Robbie Keane using it for Tottenham Hotspur, but couldn’t remember when or against whom. Center back Stian Gregersen said he had seen it in Norway.

“I mean, it’s going to happen once in a goalie’s life,” Toronto manager John Herdman said. “It’s probably going to happen once in my life, too.”

Although it was a unique way of scoring, it could be a twist of fate for Atlanta United, who have conceded some strange goals of their own this season.

The victory snapped Atlanta United’s seven-game winless streak at home and kept them above the playoff line in ninth place in the East.

“I think it’s huge,” Williams said. “Like you said, we haven’t won in a couple games, so I think it’s a huge confidence boost. So now hopefully we can turn this place into a fortress.”

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Atlanta United 2024 Schedule

February 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in US Open Cup

May 11 DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2

June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2

June 19 Atlanta United 1, DC United 0

June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1

June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1

July 3 in New England, 7:30 p.m.

July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 9 vs. Indy Eleven in US Open Cup

July 13 in Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 17 vs NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

July 26 against DC United in the Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.

August 4 against Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.

August 24 at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

August 31 in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

September 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

September 18 against Miami, 7:30 p.m.

September 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

October 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

October 5 against Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.