Atlanta United x Toronto FC
Atlanta United created magic Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Seven minutes into second-half stoppage time, the 1-1 contest between Atlanta United and Toronto FC appeared to be on its final breaths. Atlanta had just made a last stand on a corner kick that Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran gathered up. As time ticked down, the Eastern Conference sides seemed poised to draw and take one point apiece. But Jamal Thiaré was lurking. As Gavran walked toward the top of the box cradling the ball, Thiaré saw his window. He crept in, picked the goalkeeper's pocket, and delivered a shot into the open net, sending Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a booming, elated frenzy.
Interim head coach Rob Valentino was equally amazed by the finish. "I would say I’m on the younger side of coaching and the younger side of being in the game, but I have never seen anything like that," Valentino said in his post-match press conference. "I made the joke to Dax [McCarty], after I ridiculously went sprinting down the sideline, that he has played 20 years now and I bet he has never seen a finish like that. It was incredible, bizarre, but I’m glad we’re on this side of it.” The dramatic 2-1 victory marked Atlanta United's first regular season home win since March and extended their undefeated streak to four under Valentino, with two wins and two draws.
The match had several notable moments leading up to Thiaré's heroics. In first-half stoppage time, Thiago Almada opened the scoring for Atlanta United with a well-timed shot past Gavran, marking his sixth goal of the MLS regular season for 2024. Toronto quickly responded in the second half with an equalizer from Federico Bernardeschi. The game remained intense, with both sides creating opportunities. Derrick Williams nearly scored for Atlanta in the second half, but Gavran's fingertip save denied him. Thiaré, who replaced Daniel Ríos in the 59th minute, provided the spark Atlanta needed, culminating in his unforgettable game-winner in the 97th minute, his fifth goal of the season. The victory was crucial for Atlanta United, especially with a challenging schedule ahead.
[Photography by Rachel Pearce]
