Atlanta United put together as complete a performance as they’ve delivered in a while as they defeated Gonzalo Pineda and Atlas 4-1 on Wednesday. And while it was a dead-rubber match as neither team will play in the Leagues Cup knockout stage, there are plenty of positive takeaways for Atlanta from this one as, finally, they win a match in the competition.
Here are the final whistle thoughts from the Benz:
Luke Brennan continues to be outstanding
Luke Brennan has done a terrific job taking the opportunities he’s been given by the Atlanta United staff. He started against Atlas and combined wonderfully on Alexey Miranchuk’s goal, recording his first career assist with the first team.
Earlier in the year, Brennan didn’t play much as he was buried on the depth chart, but he’s become increasingly tough to leave out of the starting XI based on his performances. There’s room for him to develop his game further, but he’s on a great trajectory and is making a case to be part of this club’s future.
Alexey Miranchuk’s terrific form continues
That’s now four goals in six matches for Miranchuk, who has been the target of immense criticism from the Atlanta fanbase but has raised his game over the past month — connecting well with Brennan throughout the first half. He’s playing with a newfound confidence that we haven’t seen from him during most of his time with the club, and it’s good to see the Russian finding this level even though Atlanta’s well out of the playoff race.
Nyk Sessock holds it down at right back
Great showing for Nyk Sessock in his first Atlanta United start a day after signing a first-team contract. He capped it with a beautiful cross to Cayman Togashi in the second half to put Atlanta up 4-0, and while it’s too early to make any broad conclusions about the kind of player he’ll be, he hopefully can be a good depth piece behind whoever ends up there for 2026 and beyond.
It’s a positive night in a season full of lows
Yes, their Leagues Cup journey has come to an end, but from a psychological standpoint, it has to do Atlanta United a world of good to win a competitive match, something it hasn’t done since late May. It was also good to see Sal Mazzaferro, Leo Afonso, and newly-signed Homegrown Player Cooper Sanchez make their first-team debuts, while Jayden Hibbert came minutes from keeping a clean sheet in his second start for the club but still making nine saves. Plus, Saba Lobjanidze finally got his goal, and a really good one at that.
Atlanta’s not making the playoffs — that’s been settled for a while — but if they can take hold of something down the stretch and build off this performance, perhaps that’s something they can carry over to 2026.
Let us know what you thought of the match in the comments.
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I’m a little surprised one big takeaway wasn’t the absence of MA and LL.
I think that was partially that this match did not matter because we were eliminated from the Leagues Cup. Also Atlanta plays again on Saturday, so definitely easier to use that as an excuse to sit them out and give them a mental reset.
Nice to see a lot of the kids get playing time and play well. If it were my decision, Hibbert and Brennan would be starting for the remainder of the season. It’s about building for next year at this point.
Born 8/6/62 my boys gave me a nice gift. We’re gonna see Morales soon and I believe we will regret not keeping him. That said Brennan is a good young player, Cobb hopefully comes back, Hibbert is solid. There’s a ton of work ahead, Alex is finding his way, Miggy I don’t know, the new guys no idea Mihaj looks like there’s potential. Stian if he can stay healthy can be a bad ass. Glad Pineada was reminded why we fired him. Happy with result tonight and ride out the rest of MLS season and see what CR n GL cook up for 2026.
My take is that we expect the guys to be in Europe as they enter their prime playing careers. (see Bello and Campbell)
Hard to make any conclusions from this game since we played a team worse than us. In any event, the one thing that jumped at me was Muyumba’s inability to progress the ball and giving it away quite a few times which is something he consistently does. I think he should not be in the starting 11 but just be a rotation piece or an occasional starter. Brennan showed he deserves more minutes but needs improvement. His biggest asset is his aggressiveness but needs to improve his ball control.
I am out on Muyumba. He’s too loose with the ball and is too slow to progress it as well. I love his effort, but we need more and I hope Alzate brings it. Also agree on Brennan. He does some really clever things in the attacking third, but needs to shore up his game in the other phases. Some of his issues is a lack of strength. He gets easily muscled off the ball in the defensive and middle third. Necaxa was taking the ball off him almost at will any time he tried to progress it through the midfield. Still, he seems to offer far more than Mosquera or even Silva in the attack. I still think Saba should start over him if Miggy is in at RW, but Brenna looks like he’s got some legit promise as a LW in this league.
We lose to teams worse than us all the time.
The one negative was Will Reilly, who was an absolute giveaway machine tonight.
He does have a good scrap factor about him. But he has a long was to go to adjust to the speed of the game offensively.
I did notice that we still made a ton of mistakes. We just didn’t get punished for it this game.
I haven’t watched it yet, as I had work. Honest question though, before I jump into replays: is there anything real to learn about our team from this game? Was there promise of future team form/decent players who can make an impact in future years? Or was it just a scrimmage between two bad teams?
We finally were the beneficiaries of some good instincts by Greg in the box to draw a penalty on a second ball off a set piece very early in the game.
It really set the tone because Atlas, while not threatening, was playing textbook Pinedaball in terms of possession.
Going down a goal early really seemed to take a lot of wind out of their sails.
I would say watch the first half and skip the second half.
I would watch it. We won 4-1. An enjoyable game amongst a season of turds
How on earth can you not play Luke now? He was a terror all night long. Saba was wonderful in his time on the pitch. Also loved the goal from Cayman. His celebration said it all. Yea this was a meaningless match, but you saw a lot of the squad play with passion, love of the crest, and like theirs lives depended on it. Alexey had a solid night as well. Really pleased with that performance.
Well, not to take anything away from Luke, but i think he actually just took too big of a touch and was fortunate Miranchuk continued his run.
That aside because he did have a good game, I think the real question is how do you not play Saba on the right.
Which means we have to choose between Almiron as the 10, Almiron on the left, or Almiron on the bench.
And personally I dont think Almirons done enough to unseat Miranchuk at the 10.
Almiron as striker? Or Miranchuk at striker and Almiron as 10?
Personally Id go Almiron left and Luke off the bench. I dont love Miranchuk at striker at all.
With Saba as more of a vertical threat, I guess we could try Almiron as a false 9 striker.
But I guess what Im really saying is weve yet again put ourselves in a tough spot RE roster construction.
I’d actually try moving Miranchuk out of the formation for a game or two and see if that improves our high press. That’s a tough move to make given Miranchuk’s offensive contributions of late, but he’s the weak link when we run our high press. That isn’t going to change if you slot Miranchuk at wing or striker, either. His lack of pace and defensive work rate are limiting factors. ELL’s lack of production has been disappointing, but I’m not sure it’s all on him. He’s also not likely going anywhere given his huge transfer fee. Miggy isn’t going anywhere, either, not unless he agrees to a pay cut. Both of them fit what we need if we are wanting to press, though. Miranchuk does not, and he’s probably less of a financial loss if we are able to move him this winter.
lol
Not with his finishing yips this year.
If Lath or Thiare had been performing at even an ok level consistently, I would’ve been right there with you. But as it stands, it’s not strictly a downgrade yet.
Agree. Other than the lucky heavy touch, solid match. Dude has earned more time, should be first/one of the first off the bench. Saba was phenomenal tonight
We should sit Almiron for a bit
….and no goals given up in the first 15 minutes of the 2nd half!
Well, we were playing a Pineda ball team but nevertheless we did it.