ATLANTA, Ga. (SESN) — In a thrilling finish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Jamal Thiaré’s last-minute goal lifted Atlanta United to a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday night.
With the match tied at 1-1 in second-half stoppage time, Thiaré seized a rare opportunity. As Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran prepared to clear the ball from the edge of his box, Thiaré sneaked up from behind, dispossessing Gavran and scoring into an open net in the 97th minute. The dramatic conclusion sent the home crowd into jubilation.
The win marks Atlanta United’s first at home since March and extends their undefeated streak to four games under Valentino, with two wins and two draws.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino. “I joked with Dax [McCarty] that in his 20-year career, he probably hasn’t either. It was incredible and bizarre, but I’m glad we were on the right side of it.”
The match began with Atlanta creating several promising chances in the first 10 minutes, but they couldn’t convert. Toronto thought they had opened the scoring in the 25th minute, but Lorenzo Insigne’s goal was disallowed after a VAR review for offside.
Atlanta broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Thiago Almada, after a give-and-go with Daniel Ríos, found the back of the net, putting the home side ahead 1-0.
Caleb Wiley, reflecting on the match, said, “We really needed that win, especially at home. The fans deserved it. We’re heading into two tough away games, and this victory gives us a big confidence boost.”
Toronto responded quickly after halftime. Federico Bernardeschi equalized in the 46th minute, taking on Wiley 1v1 and finishing with a low shot to make it 1-1.
Derrick Williams nearly reclaimed the lead for Atlanta with a powerful shot from a corner in the second half, but Gavran’s fingertip save denied the goal.
Thiaré, who entered the match as a substitute in the 59th minute, proved to be the game-changer. His goal in the 97th minute, his fifth of the season, is the third-latest game-winning goal in club history.
Brad Guzan and the Atlanta defense made crucial saves late in the game to preserve the win. “Our communication was excellent, and we always knew where they were on the field,” said center back Noah Cobb.
Match stats showed a competitive game, with Toronto slightly edging possession (51%) and both teams having numerous chances. Atlanta had 12 shots with five on target, while Toronto had 15 shots, four on target.
Next, Atlanta United hits the road for matches against the New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake. They will return to Georgia for a U.S. Open Cup match in Kennesaw on July 9 before traveling to face CF Montréal on July 13.
This article is comprised of information and media from Atlanta United. For more sports, news, and entertainment, follow us on Twitter @SESNsports or like our page on Facebook.
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