Home Sweet Home
Atlanta United will return home for their first match on June 2, and they will face off against Charlotte FC. The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and Fox, or listen on local radio 92.9 The Game (English) and La Mejor (Spanish). And those who looking to place bets on upcoming matches, check 1xbet site for the latest odds and betting options.
After being winless in their last nine games, Atlanta United finally got back in the win column with an exciting 3-1 victory over Eastern Conference leader Inter Miami FC. This marked their 100th win in club history. “It was a big sign of great mentality for the team,” said head coach Gonzalo Pineda in the post-match press conference. “It’s also a reward for the fans. I really appreciated seeing the corner near the back of the goal completely filled by our fans. They traveled here to motivate the players.”
Atlanta United began the match looking to disrupt Miami’s formation, as Miami ranks third in the league in possession. The 5-Stripes had several early chances in the final third. In the 10th minute, Brooks Lennon’s shot from the right side of the box went just wide of the net.
Josh Cohen, making his first MLS start for Atlanta, made a diving save in the 20th minute, but the play was ruled offside. Atlanta’s set pieces were dangerous throughout the first half. In the 30th minute, off a corner kick, Jamal Thiare and Derrick Williams both had scoring chances right within the box.
The game opened up as the first half continued. Thiago Almada, wearing the captain’s armband for this match, had a good shot from the right side of the box. Despite being on the lower end of the possession numbers, Atlanta managed to keep the match in their favor. The three center backs – Stian Gregersen, Derrick Williams, and Luis Abram – effectively shut down Miami’s chances.
Atlanta scored first with a rocket shot from Saba Lobjanidze in the 44th minute. After winning the ball back in midfield, Atlanta quickly built up their attack. Miami couldn’t set up defensively as Lobjanidze, assisted by Tristan Muymba, scored from a central position outside the box.
Lobjanidze extended the lead for Atlanta during the two minutes of time in the first half. He had a breakaway down the middle, but his shot was blocked and went wide. Atlanta United finished the first half with a goal and the lead, something they had been striving for during this stretch of play.
Atlanta continued their strong play into the second half. Another turnover by Miami led to a breakout for the 5-Stripes. Assisted by Almada and Brook Lennon, Lobjanidze scored his second goal of the night in the 59th minute from a central position outside the box.
“I was not surprised,” said Lobjanidze post-match when asked about his time with the ball. “I had a conversation with Gonzalo (Pineda), and he wanted me to be more aggressive dribbling the ball.
Despite Atlanta’s dominance, Lionel Messi struck back for Miami in the 62nd minute with a one-touch, low curling shot that got past Cohen. Atlanta quickly recovered, managing the moments after conceding a goal, which was something the club had been focusing on improving. Lobjanidze almost got a hat trick with another shot from the central position outside the box.
Just 11 minutes after Messi scored, Atlanta regained their two-goal lead. Almada played a quick pass to Caleb Wiley, who sent a cross to Thiaré, who touched it into the net.
Both teams made substitutions in the 74th minute. For Atlanta, Noah Cobb came in for Derrick Williams, and Edwin Mosquera replaced Saba Lobjanidze. Leonardo Campana came in for Robert Taylor for Miami. Atlanta continued to push for another goal, with Mosquera’s shot going wide and Thiaré’s attempt being blocked inside the box. Giakoumakis and Fortune came in for Jamal Thiaré and Dax McCarty in the 83rd minute.
In the final substitution for Atlanta, Ronald Hernandez replaced Thiago Almada in the 89th minute. With seven minutes of stoppage time added, Atlanta played keep-away to let the time tick down. Miami managed a few chances, but Atlanta walked away with a much-needed and dominant win.
“If we win, we win together,” said Lobjanidze. “If we are losing, we are losing together. Sometimes you just need a game like that, and after that, our confidence and mentality will be back.”
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