Resurgent Atlanta enjoys results under interim boss Rob Valentino

Atlanta United got back to winning ways after beating Toronto FC 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It took a first-half goal from Thiago Almeda and a second-half goal from Jamal Thiare to seal the victory for the Five Stripes. Both teams were missing key players due to suspension, injury or international duty, but they entertained the crowd.

The last time these two teams met in Toronto, Atlanta lost 2-0 to the home team on ice on March 23, 2024. Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu scored that day. In the current matchup, Atlanta United has a 4-6-6 record in games against Toronto. In the last three games, Atlanta has drawn one, lost one, and won one, 1-1, 2-0, and 2-1.

Toronto FC entered the game with a three-point lead over Atlanta United, having played a game in hand, and were looking to stop the bleeding as Atlanta moved up the MLS standings to secure a playoff spot. Toronto FC is now 0-4-1 in their last five MLS games, with all four games coming as losses.

The match started slowly in front of 42,568 spectators who were already hungry, with a 2-0 win for Germany against Denmark and a 2-0 victory for Switzerland against Italy at the 2024 European Championship in Germany. The MLS match was the cherry on the cake for football lovers, offering as usual a fireworks display.

After just 25 minutes, Toronto FC thought they had taken the lead. Lorenzo Insigne headed in a Federico Bernardeschi cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside. All this came just after Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, who couldn’t make a mistake, was quickest to block a right-footed shot from Ajani Fortune, as the hosts continued their quest for a home win.

Atlanta United’s second chance came when Caleb Wiley set up Tristan Muyumba with a superb pass over the line. His first touch was exquisite, but his right-footed strike from outside the box was close but missed the top left corner. The breakthrough came moments later when Daniel Ríos, turned passer for Thiago Almeda, whose shot from the top of the central area, deceived the unfortunate Luka Gavran to make it 1-0 just before the break. In added time of the first half, Federico Bernardeschi received an excellent pass from Insigne. He then lowered his shoulders to deceive Wiley before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

After the restart, Derrick Williams fired a right-footed shot from the centre of the box, but Gavran saved his effort perfectly in the top left corner. Atlanta could have paid for a missed opportunity when Federico Bernardeschi was cleverly played in by Lorenzo Insigne, but his shot was blocked by Stian Gregersen.

Another chance slipped away in the 84th minute when Toronto FC were caught high up the pitch and Brooks Lennon set up Jamal Thiare on the counter, but his header from the left side of the box was high and wide to the left.

In the second half, Atlanta United’s persistence and high pressure paid off. Substitute Jamal Thiare, after taking a sip of water from his bottle behind the goal, hid behind the keeper who gently rolled the ball to get the game going again. Thiare then seized the opportunity, shooting right-footed from outside the box to make it 2-1 on what was the final kick of the game.

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan – 6/10 – He made three crucial saves and his years of experience benefited him and the team.

CB: Stian Gregersen – 7/10 – Rock solid in defence and clean in possession of the ball at its tiniest. However, he was yellow carded because he was caught out and had to bring down the attacker with a reckless tackle.

CB: Derrick Williams – 8/10 – He did his best to ensure his team sheet remained intact with a series of excellent tackles and counters. He was unlucky to see his name on the team sheet.

CB: Noah Cobb – 7/10 – Playing alongside Williams Cobb, confidence grew exponentially.

LM: Caleb Wiley—7/10 – A player on Chelsea’s radar, Wiley has repeatedly demonstrated why several European clubs are considering him. Although Bernardeschi has cooked him, he was exceptional in the 90s.

CM: Tristan Muyumba – 6/10 – I found myself locked in and had the idea of ​​making strange, long passes.

CM: Ajani Fortune – 6/10 – A little more sloppy than usual in midfield in the first half, when Atlanta was loose in transition.

AD: Brook Lennon – 7/10 – He carried the ball a long way, but was often caught holding it for too long.

AM: Thiago Almeda – 8/10 – He emerged in a spatial link-up play, kept the pressure on by carrying the team on his back, had an impact on the game and scored the first goal.

AG: Daniel Rios – 8/10 – He drifted inside to give Thiago space to play down the wing. He didn’t have much to do for periods of play, but he freed himself up to set up Thiago for the opening goal.

CF: Xande Silva – 7/10 – did not influence the game as fans would have liked

SUBSTITUTION: Bartosz Slisz (64′ for Ajani) – 6/10

SUB: Jamal Thiare (64′ for Rios) – 8/10

SUB: Ronald Hernandez (80′ for Gregersen) – 6/10

SUB: Tyler Wolff (80′ for Silva) – N/A

Rob Valentino – 8/10 – Atlanta played with real intensity, and the substitution impacted the game and helped secure the game-winning victory.