Atlanta Take Control After Slow Start, Ride Saba Brace to 3–1 Win over Montréal

From the opening minutes, it appeared that Montréal’s good form would continue, as they pressed aggressively and forced Atlanta into its own half. They closed down quickly, moved the ball with confidence, and kept Atlanta reacting instead of building. Atlanta, by contrast, started sluggishly. They only warmed up for about 15 minutes, while Montréal used the full 30. The difference showed immediately, with Atlanta slow on the ball and struggling to handle the pressure.

Both teams stayed on that course through the opening 20 minutes. The game was played almost entirely in Atlanta’s half, with Montréal controlling midfield and circulating possession across the pitch. They switched play, kept the ball moving, and forced Atlanta into defensive sequences without relief. Atlanta chased ghosts, struggled to clear, and could not sustain possession long enough to move the game forward.

It took about 25 minutes for Atlanta to shake off the sleepy start and begin to settle. They started winning second balls, completing short passes, and finally moving the game into Montréal’s half. Those sequences led to repeated entries into the box, and the control began to shift as Montréal were forced to defend deeper.

From that point on, the game was in Atlanta’s hands. Montréal still found occasional looks at goal, but they no longer dictated the match. Atlanta controlled possession, created chances, and turned pressure into goals, including a stoppage-time strike that completed the first-half turnaround.

The match never settled into a perfect performance, but it stayed entertaining throughout. Both teams created chances, Atlanta added another goal in the second half, and the physical edge built into a late confrontation that brought out a red card. The home side saw it out, controlling the match to the end. Both teams had chances, there was a goal in stoppage time, and a dust-up late. The 34,703 in attendance got an entertaining match from start to finish.

1st Half

Atlanta’s first attempts to build came through Mihaj, who walked the ball out of the back, starting things slow and daring Montréal to step to him. ATLUTD still could not get out of its half on that sequence. On the next touch, pressure forced him to put the ball out.

Montréal played the ball back to the goalkeeper, and Latte Lath pressed hard to close him down. The two collided, with the keeper going down easily, and Latte Lath was shown a yellow card. It felt harsh that early in the match, and the referee would struggle to keep control as the game became more physical.

Montréal kept the ball moving and, at times, kept it in the air, with Atlanta chasing each touch.

Atlanta were pinned into their own box. Hoyos played a short ball across to Mihaj, who looked up and surveyed his options. The only Atlanta option was Muyumba at the top of the box, and he was marked. Mihaj played the ball directly to Owusu. It could not have been set up any better for Montréal. Mihaj did not recognize the error immediately and was slow to react. Owusu took it and passed left to Longstaff, who shot into the left corner, too far for Hoyos to reach. Montréal 1-0.

After conceding in the 8th minute, ATLUTD had difficulty clearing the ball. Montréal reached every loose ball and kept the sequence alive inside their attacking third. The ball stayed in Atlanta’s half, with Montréal holding control through midfield while Atlanta chased without a clear shape.

For a stretch, it felt like Atlanta might revert to early season form and collapse after the goal. They could not get out and every clearance turned into another Montréal sequence.

Even goal kicks became difficult. Hoyos took his time on a goal kick, looking intently for an available option. The ball came right back, and Montréal won a corner, keeping Atlanta pinned in its own half.

Jaime pressed hard on a goal kick, forcing the ball across the back line and nearly winning it off Hoyos. On the next sequence, the ball went over the top into Jaime’s run, and Gregersen came out of nowhere to clear it before a shot was taken. Atlanta continued to leave space on the left, with Jaime receiving again and carrying the ball into the box.

Mihaj seemed to be telegraphing every pass and kept ending up on his second option. Montréal were in full control of midfield, and Atlanta had no discernable shape.

Atlanta finally found a way through when Miranchuk turned under pressure with a no-look touch and slipped the ball wide to Tomás, whose cross into the box just missed Latte Lath. Montréal still found space going the other way. A ball over the top sent Jaime through, and Gregersen came out of nowhere to clear it before a shot. Moments later, he stepped in again to break up another attack, but the ball fell to Piette, whose shot hit the post and went out.

By the 25th minute, Atlanta began to turn it all around, even if it still looked shaky. The ball started to move more cleanly, and the next sequences pushed play higher up the pitch.

Tomás found Miranchuk on the wing, and the cross looked dangerous as Atlanta began to stretch Montréal’s line. Moments later, Saba chased a loose ball in the box and got a quick shot off, forcing it out for a corner. It was Atlanta’s closest chance to that point. Atlanta entered the box in three straight sequences, shifting the game into Montréal’s half and forcing them to defend deeper.

Galarza played into Amador and got it back, before Amador was knocked down from behind and took contact to the head. The ball stayed around the area and fell to Galarza at the top of the box, where he shot just over.

Montréal broke forward with Owusu, matched by Gregersen in a duel. Stian got the worst of it, going down afterward holding his ankle, again asking questions of his durability. During the ensuing stoppage, several Atlanta players gathered in pairs to talk tactics. One player could be seen coming off the bench to speak with Saba.

In an attack, Montréal scored through a completely unmarked Owusu in the box. Fortunately, the flag went up for offside. On the next sequence, Muyumba found Sanchez in the middle, and he drove forward quickly into space, looking sharp by that point in the match.

Another Montréal shot followed, partially blocked by Mihaj, then stopped by Hoyos, before Amador cleared the rebound.

It had been building. A ball comes in from Amador, then Miranchuk, before finding Saba. He moved across the box from left to right and got a shot off, but it was weak. The goalkeeper fumbled it, and it dribbled over the line for the equalizer. Atlanta 1-1.

The half grew more physical from there. Owusu continued to challenge from behind and was eventually booked after repeated fouls. Moments later, he was involved in a duel with Tomás as the ball went out. Tomás shoved Owusu and stared him down. The game was decidedly chippy.

Latte Lath got the ball at the top of the box, drove to his right, and struck a shot that hit Saba and went out.

And then it happened, Latte Lath finally got his goal. He received the ball at the arc, running towards goal. He fakes a shot but passes to his right to a surging Miranchuk. The ball is immediately bounced back to Latte Lath. He had to start his run again before finishing it with one touch. Atlanta 2-1.

All members of ATLUTD ran to him in the corner. The subs ran to him. The bench cleared. You could tell how much it meant not just to Latte Lath, but the entire team.

2nd Half

Atlanta condensed the pitch vertically to start the half. Montréal worked the ball left, then right, then back to the keeper, and back out again, but options were limited. Montréal got into the box and earned a corner. Piette found Owusu in the middle, but Mihaj stepped in with a nifty backheel to take it off him.

Sanchez steals the ball, pushing over Petrasso in what could have been a foul, and plays it left to Saba. Saba lifts it over Gillier for his second goal of the night. Atlanta 3–1.

Atlanta was feeling it now, with everyone trying to get up toward the Montréal box.

Montréal tried to go long into the box, but Amador read it and cleared, and Atlanta came right back the other way. Galarza pushed the ball forward quickly, and the attack stayed alive around the edge of the box. Saba had a shot blocked, and Muyumba stepped in right after to win it back and keep the sequence going. Latte Lath stayed involved, getting on the ball again and trying to take on multiple defenders, but was bodied off it.

Atlanta kept pushing. Latte Lath combined with Saba and released him for a breakaway. Saba got into the box but shot wide left, one he should have done better with. Galarza then carried the ball out of the defensive third and drove it all the way forward before finding Miranchuk, continuing the same stretch of pressure.

There was still a moment of risk, as Hoyos tried to clear under pressure and passed it straight to a Montréal player. But ATLUTD was fortunate that Montréal wasn’t able to convert.

Substitutions began to change the shape. Saba came off to a loud reaction from the crowd, while Latte Lath received high-fives from staff along the sideline. Miranchuk moved higher up the field as Atlanta adjusted.

Montréal worked the ball into shooting positions, but Mihaj stepped in to block one effort, and another shot went over the bar. Hoyos paused again on the ball inside the box, taking his time until the referee began counting him down. He’d end up seeing yellow five minutes later for further delays.

Picault then broke forward and was taken down from behind near the arc with no call. He stayed down after the play and had to come off.

Brennan found Fortune in the box, but scuffed the shot. Miranchuk had a shot blocked, and Atlanta followed it with three shots in quick succession on the same sequence. Atlanta did not look like a team protecting a lead. They wanted another.

Hoyos dealt with a stretch of pressure, first smothering a ball in the box before needing two touches to bring a shot from outside the 18 under control. He followed that by diving to his right to stop a low rocket across goal.

Mihaj was knocked to the ground, and a Montréal player stood over him. Sanchez stepped in and shoved him out of the way. Players from both sides came together in a scrum. Edwards and Sanchez were in the middle of it, sticking up for their teammates. Love to see this.

Vera was shown a red card for grabbing and pulling Edwards by the neck. Former Five Stripe Daniel Rios also went into the book. Mihaj saw yellow, and Tomás Jacob would also be booked shortly after.

Fortune gave Edwards a high-five after the scrum.

And then it was over. Atlanta wins 3-1. After the match, Matt Edwards was seen shirtless, flexing like a gladiator, amped up and screaming to the crowd through the tunnel.

Player Impressions

Lucas Hoyos

Made important saves and kept Atlanta in control when Montréal found chances. Distribution, once a strength, became uneven and put Atlanta under pressure.

Stian Gregersen

Recovered plays he had no business reaching. Cleared danger, absorbed contact, and spent much of the night as Atlanta’s pain magnet.

Tomás Jacob

Solid along the back and useful getting forward. Made good runs and gave Atlanta a steady performance with little missing.

Enea Mihaj

Very shaky at the start. His giveaway caused the Montréal goal, and that mistake hung over the rest of his night.

Pedro Amador

Had good and bad moments. Found ways to contribute, but the performance never fully settled.

Tristan Muyumba

Another good night. Grew into the game, connected play, and looks like he has re-found his form.

Cooper Sanchez

Unstoppable at times. Played like someone trying to claim the starting spot and keep it.

Matías Galarza

Invisible for stretches and did not consistently influence team play. Still showed flashes with clever flicks and quick touches.

Alexey Miranchuk

His best match for Atlanta. Two assists, near-perfect decisions, and strong work both on and off the ball.

Saba Lobjanidze

Played on instinct and was on fire. His running changed the game. Although still had trouble with the final ball into the box.

Emmanuel Latte Lath

Still came too deep and turned off the jets at times. But he scored a good goal, and the team rallied around him. I'm not convinced he'll keep scoring.

Jay Fortune

Did not influence the game the way he normally does. Missed some simple balls and never fully imposed himself.

Juan Berrocal

Played more of a role in closing out the match than influencing it.

Matt Edwards

Was not great technically, but helped hold the team together emotionally. Drove Atlanta forward with his rallying.

Luke Brennan

Got into good spots and had chances to make plays. Lost the ball a few times, but with more opportunity, some of those actions may connect.

Closing Thoughts

Atlanta’s night changed once they found a way out of their own half. What started as a slow, disjointed performance turned once they began winning second balls and pushing numbers forward, and from there they controlled where the game was played.

Latte Lath got his goal, but the rest of his game did not change much. He still struggled to stay involved, and without that finish, the performance looks very different. Tata does not have much choice now. After getting on the scoresheet, he likely stays in the lineup next week against the Galaxy.

Saba continues to look better as a starter. He is not the cleanest technically, but he puts defenders under pressure and forces decisions. That showed again in this match, and it is hard to see him having the same impact coming off the bench.

The next question is Miggy. Whether he keeps starting, keeps the armband, or shifts into a different role is now a real decision. There is a case for using him later in matches, where his energy can change the tempo.