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Atlanta United turns a chippy match into a win over San Jose, with Anton Walkes scoring the decisive goal
Fireworks at Bobby Dodd in a 4-2 thriller
Starting Lineup
Atlanta United spent the Fourth of July at Bobby Dodd Stadium in a match that produced fireworks on and off the pitch. San Jose scored in the opening minutes and carried the lead into halftime. Kofi Sarkodie was sent off in the first half, Víctor Bernárdez was sent off in stoppage time, and Atlanta turned the night into a 4-2 comeback win shaped by goals, cards, and late chaos.
1st Half
San Jose put Atlanta behind from the start. Chris Wondolowski’s deflected pass found Tommy Thompson, and Thompson drove his first MLS goal past Kyle Reynish from outside the box to give the Earthquakes a 1-0 lead.
The first half turned chippy fast. Sarkodie went into the book after a high challenge on Asad, Walkes was booked minutes later, and Bingham followed with a yellow for dissent. By the 17th minute, José Carlos Rivero had already shown three cards and was in danger of losing control of the match.
Sarkodie’s second yellow came in the 31st minute after he pulled Asad down from behind, leaving San Jose with 10 men and a one-goal lead to protect. Leitch made the adjustment six minutes later, bringing Cordell Cato on for Shea Salinas as the Earthquakes tried to absorb Atlanta’s pressure and carry the lead to halftime.
Despite being a man up, Atlanta was not able to secure a first-half equalizer. San Jose stayed compact, protected the lead, and carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime. The half closed with Atlanta seeing two more yellows, first to Carlos Carmona in the 41st minute and then to Leandro González Pírez in the 44th.
Atlanta went into the break behind by one. We know we have quality, so it’s all about sticking to it throughout the whole game. As you can see, once we get going we can be unstoppable, so it’s all about keeping up that positive momentum. Anton Walkes, Atlanta United Defender - Speaking with ATLUTD Reporter Brittany Arnold 
2nd Half
The match turned ten minutes after the restart. Garza beat his man on the wing and sent a cross into the box. Martínez rose for the header, Bingham made the save, and Carmona reached the rebound to pull Atlanta level at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, Garza created another goal from the left. He sent a cross in, Martínez got between San Jose defenders, and headed it home to give Atlanta its first lead of the night.
A minute after Atlanta took the lead, Lima hit a deep left-footed cross toward the back post. Wondolowski met it on the volley and put it under the crossbar, pulling San Jose level at 2-2 despite playing with 10.
Tata Martino went to his bench in the 73rd minute, bringing Gressel on for Villalba. Seven minutes later, Atlanta won a set piece, and Gressel put the service into the box. Walkes climbed above the traffic and powered his header past Bingham, scoring his first senior goal and giving Atlanta a 3-2 lead.
Almirón played Martínez in behind with a through ball in the 88th minute. Martínez ran onto it, beat Bingham one-on-one, and scored his second goal of the night to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead in the 88th minute.
Martínez took off his shirt after the goal and was booked. Bernárdez was sent off in stoppage time after a reckless challenge, leaving San Jose with nine men as Atlanta closed out the 4-2 comeback win.
Cards
| Minute | Team | Player | Card | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9’ | San Jose | Kofi Sarkodie | Foul, high challenge on Yamil Asad | |
| 14’ | Atlanta | Anton Walkes | Foul | |
| 17’ | San Jose | David Bingham | Dissent | |
| 31’ | San Jose | Kofi Sarkodie | Repeated fouls, pulling Asad down from behind | |
| 41’ | Atlanta | Carlos Carmona | Foul | |
| 44’ | Atlanta | Leandro González Pírez | Foul | |
| 73’ | Atlanta | Jeff Larentowicz | Foul | |
| 89’ | Atlanta | Josef Martínez | Removed shirt after scoring | |
| 92’ | San Jose | Víctor Bernárdez | Reckless challenge, listed as violent conduct |
Closing Thoughts
Atlanta finished with 19 shots, nine on target, five corners, and 516 passes. San Jose finished with 13 shots, four on target, four corners, and 264 passes, while its defense recorded 30 clearances on a night spent mostly short-handed.
Atlanta had to keep pushing through a game that was physical, uneven, and harder than it should have been considering the team was up a man for nearly an hour. By the end, the scoreboard reflected Atlanta’s attacking pressure, not the difficulty it took to get there.
Walkes gave the match its defining moment in the 80th minute, when the 20-year-old Tottenham loanee rose to meet Gressel’s service and headed in his first senior goal. I can’t even explain it. It happened so quickly. It was a great ball in from Julian [Gressel], from what I can remember, and I was just lucky enough to get that contact on it. Anton Walkes, Atlanta United Defender - Speaking with ATLUTD Reporter Brittany Arnold
Garza, Gressel, and Almirón each supplied an assist. Almirón also added a second assist. Martínez supplied the finishing, scoring twice on five shots.
Martino was asked about Walkes after the match. We always practice set pieces, sometimes you score and sometimes you don’t. It was a very important goal because it was the third and it’s also good that Anton scored because he’s been putting in a great effort playing in what’s not his natural position, so it’s a good reward for him. Tata Martino, Atlanta United Head Coach - Post-Game Press Conference 
Kyle Reynish got through his first Atlanta United start without recording a save. San Jose put four shots on target and scored twice, once in the opening minutes and once after Atlanta had taken the lead.
The night ended with the scoreboard matching the holiday. Atlanta had four second-half goals, San Jose had two red-card dismissals, and the match carried enough tension to feel unstable until Martínez put away the fourth. When the postgame fireworks lit up the sky over Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta had already supplied its own.