Atlanta United walked onto the pitch at BMO Field against Toronto FC in the throes of a five-match regular-season winless streak and losers of their past six MLS away matches.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, all of that changed behind a 2-1 win that can hopefully serve as a turning point ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 encounter with Charlotte FC.
“We have been telling the players for various games now, each game, that this is going to be the game that things change, and we kind of change the rhythm, and finally today that was the case,” Tata Martino said through an interpreter after the match.
While it will be a happy flight home, it’s important to maintain a balanced outlook, even given the struggles of recent weeks, Martino added.
“I think this will serve the team’s confidence well. But we have to keep our feet on the ground and understand what this win means, and stay calm and not let it get us too high when we win, just like we don’t get too down when we lose,” Martino said.
A rare multi-goal performance on the road
Not since March 22, 2025 — a 2-2 affair at FC Cincinnati — had Atlanta scored more than one goal in an MLS road match. It ultimately put two past Luka Gavran, including an impressive free kick from Alexey Miranchuk that sailed into the upper corner of the net just beyond Gavran’s reach. The Russian now has five goals for the team, tops on the club’s scoring chart.
“Even though it was a great goal, we talked about the team and how the team performed, the attitude of the players, not only the staff and everybody. It was well deserved,” Miranchuk said.
Jay Fortune ended up winning the free kick that led to Miranchuk’s goal. Cooper Sanchez was involved in Atlanta’s second goal, logging a secondary assist as his pass to Fafa Picault set up Tristan Muyumba’s tally.
Fortune and Sanchez’s performances drew praise from the 30-year-old midfielder.
“They understand that they are young and as a young player, the first thing you have to do is run a lot. You show that you want to be on the first 11, you want to be on this team and they’re doing this,” Miranchuk said.
The second goal was key in that it involved Sanchez and Muyumba’s movements inside the box to help Atlanta be more threatening in the attack, something that paid off in the end.
“This is what we wanted, and this is what we get,” Miranchuk said. “We want 8s to go inside the box and be dangerous … So that’s why it worked out.”
Sticking to the plan
Atlanta United gave a good account of themselves against East-leading Nashville SC on Wednesday before eventually succumbing to a 2-0 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. While their efforts to stop the bleeding and reward themselves with three points didn’t pan out that night, it did in Toronto on Saturday.
In the end, despite Toronto’s efforts to equalize after falling behind 2-0, Atlanta saw the match out.
“Obviously, it gives us big confidence inside of the group,” Miranchuk said. “Winning a game against a great team, it gives you a lot of courage and positive thoughts. So hopefully it will continue. …
“Today we continued to play our football, play what the coach wanted from us, and we got the result. So obviously (we will) stick to the plan and keep going.”
This is just one result to go off of, but you have to start somewhere and here’s my take:
–I think it’s clear we need more veteran MLS players in the mix. We can’t just keep grabbing the next south american who’s on the bench or retiring PL guy. We’ve seen what veteran MLS players can bring, let’s keep doing that. Fafa attacks, like a winger should.
–Give Hibbert a try, please?
–SHOOT THE BALL – i’ve said it before and i’ll keep saying it, shoot the damn ball. As long as it isn’t those weak shots that roll easily to the keeper, shoot the ball and give your team the chance to crash the goal and put defenses on the back foot. It worked here, it’s worked before, guess what? It’ll probably work again.
–Get the 8’s involved. I hate seeing Muyumba, Reilly, Sanchez, Galarza and Fortune get the ball and just look for a pass. While there is a passing stat that looks cool, that doesn’t win games. Turn around and get yourself to be part of the attack. See that space in front of you? Drive into it and challenge the defense. For over a year i’ve watched our team be predictable and it’s because of this lazy passing scheme. Stop worrying about the next pass and think about how dangerous you can be in the attack…and this should start with your 8’s.
In agreement, except for the first point to a degree. We haven’t been just grabbing the next south american for quite awhile now, and now that we’re doing that again those parts have been looking better (for the most part). What we have been grabbing are players from lower european leagues, that I think has cost us both our identity and our ability.
Also, MLS veterans is not the cure-all that you think it is. See: Brooks Lennon, Mateusz Klich, Dax McCarty, Derrick Williams, Derrick Etienne Jr.. These guys aren’t always the problem (Dax was decent, Williams and Lennon had their moments, Klich should’ve been good on paper), but in many cases they absolutely were, and regardless they didn’t transform their AUFC teams into winners. This team isn’t going to magically get better just because we bring in guys with MLS years on their resume.
I’m more saying from the rumors that it seemed we were trying to create a team full of SA players and that’s where I think we need a mix of MLS veterans. Lennon, despite what happened last season, has been a top RB in the league. Dax absolutely helped with locker room and on-field leadership and helped get us into the playoffs during a time when we should have been eliminated. Klich had a small sample size but could have been a leader on the field. Etienne wasn’t a sample of what an MLS veteran is…yeah, he’s bee in the league but he hasn’t done much…that was one of the worst signings.
In either way, having some MLS veterans who can add leadership and drive to the team is valuable.
I’d argue Lennon’s rating – I think he’s been a top RB one or two years, but I think overall he’s been mid.
But yes, I did a bad job of saying it but I do agree that we should get a mix of MLS veterans with others, particularly SA players (that’s what our best years were after all). I’m just pushing back against the blanket idea of “getting players with lots of MLS experience will fix this team”. Good picks from this group will absolutely help (and we have not made good picks lately other than I think Dax), but there’s more to the equation.
My Take – The changes were a good start – Edwards – need to remain, Amador need to start at LB, not sure why he is not putting Jacob, but he should be a CDM infront of the 4 – Gregersen, Edwards, Amador, and hopefully some one better than #4 and #6 – but whoever is better. then fortune, Galarza, and Sanchuez if he can help attach and defend – then uptop – Pico/ELL/Miguel/#59 if not other choice. And for the love of this freaking game.. HIBBERT…get rid of Hoyos PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.
Jacob is injured.
ATUTD r 2 points out of a playoff spot – good to play early