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Atlanta United turned possession into punishment, beating Houston 4-1 on a night that also gave Andrew Carleton his MLS debut.
Almirón’s hat trick powers Atlanta past Houston
Starting Lineup
Miguel Almirón had not scored for Atlanta United before Saturday night. Tonight, he scored three.
Atlanta United beat Houston Dynamo 4-1 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, turning a 2-0 halftime lead into a four-goal home win. Almirón scored in the 29th, 41st, and 79th minutes to earn his hattrick. Julian Gressel scored in the 75th. Cubo Torres scored Houston’s only goal from the penalty spot in the 89th.
Greg Garza returned to the starting lineup at left back, the only change from Atlanta’s previous match against Portland.
1st Half
Atlanta expected to have the majority of possession, and it expected Houston to look for counters. It’s not really Houston’s thing to hold onto the ball. They like to sit back and counter attack so we knew that we would have the ball. We wanted to [be] dangerous with it and we wanted to make sure we didn’t let them counter attack us and I think we did an excellent job of that tonight. Michael Parkhurst, ATLUTD Defender - Post-Game Press Conference 
The first goal came in the 29th minute. Yamil Asad touched the ball to a running Miguel Almirón. Miggy took a touch across his body to set up a shot from his left. From the top of the box, he drove the shot past Joe Willis for his first Atlanta United goal of the night.
The second came 12 minutes later. Asad connected with Almirón again, who took a touch past a Houston defender before scoring from just inside the area.
Atlanta took a 2-0 lead into halftime. The coaching staff asked that of me this week. I know I have to shoot when I have the opportunity and today - thanks to God - I was able to score. Miguel Almirón, ATLUTD Midfielder - Post-Game Press Conference 
Martino confirmed in the Post-Game Press Conference that he asked Almirón for exactly that kind of night.
2nd Half
Five minutes into the second half, the cards started. Garza was booked in the 50th minute. Martino was sent off in the 52nd. A.J. DeLaGarza was booked for Houston in the 53rd, and Adolfo Machado was booked in the 58th. I don’t necessarily believe I deserve to get kicked out. Tata Martino, ATLUTD Head Coach - Post-Game Press Conference 
Houston made changes in the 62nd, 68th, and 75th minutes. Romell Quioto replaced Dylan Remick. Erick Torres replaced Alex. Ricardo Clark replaced Andrew Wenger.
Atlanta’s third goal came in the 75th minute. Villalba made the defensive play, the ball came to Gressel, and Gressel finished into the far corner.
Four minutes later, Almirón completed his hat trick from the spot. The penalty made it 4-0. It also made Almirón the second Atlanta United player to score a hat trick in the club’s first MLS season, after Josef Martínez did it in Minnesota. We don’t have a designated taker on the team. We are all capable of taking it. Miguel Almirón, ATLUTD Midfielder - Post-Game Press Conference
Atlanta made its first substitution after the fourth goal, with Kevin Kratz replacing Gressel in the 79th minute. Kenwyne Jones replaced Villalba in the 82nd.
In the 85th minute, Andrew Carleton replaced Almirón. Carleton is Atlanta United’s first Homegrown signing. This was his MLS debut at age of 16. It was unbelievable. It was a dream come true. Andrew Carleton, ATLUTD Midfielder - Post-Game Press Conference 
Houston scored in the 89th minute when Torres converted a penalty. The final whistle came at 90+3. Atlanta won 4-1.
Closing Thoughts
We got punished by one of the best players in this league. Wilmer Cabrera, Houston Head Coach - Post-Game Press Conference
That told the story plainly enough. Atlanta put Houston under pressure. But it was Almirón’s game. Houston could not stop him.
There were other markers. Larentowicz made his 316th career MLS start, moving past Landon Donovan and tying Davy Arnaud and Pablo Mastroeni for ninth among MLS field players. Carleton made his debut. Atlanta recorded its second home win of the season.
But the night belongs first to Almirón.
Three goals. A first Atlanta United goal. A first Atlanta United hat trick for him. A 4-1 win that did not need much explanation beyond the score sheet.