Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC
Atlanta United Steals 2-1 Victory
Thiare Scores Late Goal
Atlanta Latinos Magazine – What a way to break a seven game home losing streak. Atlanta United pulled out a win against Toronto FC in a bizarre finish to a game that had locked in a 1-1 tie for nearly all of the second half.
Atlanta took the lead right before halftime. In the second minute of extra time, Thiago Almada scored on a beautiful give-and-go play, deftly slicing the ball past a diving goalkeeper. Daniel Rios earned his first assist of the season.
The lead quickly evaporated. In the first minute after halftime, Toronto played a direct ball over top the Atlanta defense. Federico Bernardeschi dribbled past and through the defense and drilled home his fifth goal of the season to knot the score at 1-1.
For the remainder of regulation time, it was back and forth, with neither team able to capitalize on any chances to score. However, late in stoppage time, with seconds left to play, Atlanta earned a corner kick. Atlanta got off a shot, but Toronto’s goalkeeper Luka Gavran made the save. Not realizing that Atlanta’s Jamal Thiare was lurking behind him, Gavran tossed the ball down to kick it. That opening was all Thiare needed. He quickly ran around Gavran, stealing the ball, and maneuvered to blast home the game winning goal. Interim manager Rob Valentino said that he “had never seen anything like that.”
Valentino picked up his second win in four matches. He has not lost a match since taking over, with two wins and two ties. The recent surge has propelled Atlanta into a playoff spot. Valentino commented that “I don’t have a set way of play. I am just trying to maximize their talents…we are committed to each other…that’s something we are doing different.”
Atlanta travels to New England for its next match on Wednesday, July 3rd.
Notes…Almada now leads the team in goals scored with six…he passed Giorgos Giakoumakis who was just transferred to Cruz Azul in Liga MX…rumors have Almada being transferred to Eagle Football group…Almada said that this match may have been his last home match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium…attendance was announced as 42,568.
