MLS: Atlanta United had their first complete performance of the 2026 MLS season on Saturday, picking up all 3 points with a 3-1 win at home against the Philadelphia Union.
- Calum Ewing
- 5 hours ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 37 minutes ago
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Tata Martino made two changes to his starting 11 from the Real Salt Lake match, with recent debutant Matias Galarza making his first start in left central midfield. Steven Alzate moved to the bench after a strong performance, and with Juan Berrocal out due to a hamstring injury, Stian Gregersen made his first start of the season in the backline. In the attack, Alexey Miranchuk stayed in the lineup after becoming fully healthy and recording a brace against RSL, and Fafa Picault made his first appearance on the bench this year.
The Philadelphia Union entered Mercedes Benz Stadium with a tendency to get results against the Five Stripes home or away. They had not lost since 2023 and won twice last year (3-0 at home, 1-0 in Mercedes Benz), but would that matter when they matched Atlanta’s 0-0-3 start in league play? Other than a 12-0 aggregate win over a weak Defense Force side in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the team had scored just once in MLS and lost to DC United, NYCFC, and the San Jose Earthquakes. Indiana Vassilev had that only goal from a penalty and headlined the attack at left wing after 11 goal contributions in all competitions last year, and Andre Blake looked to be as solid as ever in the net, but the overall talent was a significant depletion from years prior. World-renowned 16-year old midfielder Cavan Sullivan, although he put in a great performance in the club’s 0-1 midweek loss to Club America, started on the bench.
Before kickoff, a key topic of discussion was Miguel Almiron’s indecisiveness on the final pass. He had been spearheading attacks well and making great runs in behind, but needed better timing on when to shoot or lay the ball off to convert chances into goals. The first minute of the match continued that struggle, in which he ran in from the right flank centrally and delayed a splitting pass to Elias Baez on the left. Baez’s subsequent pass into the box was broken up.
In the 3rd minute, the counter attacks that Atlanta have been so vulnerable to nearly hurt them again. After a giveaway in the attacking third, the team quickly played the ball forward and to the left channel, where Vassilev whipped it in first time to the striker Damiani. His effort to poke the ball past Hoyos when reaching went wide left.
Two minutes later, Almiron found himself in a great position driving forward into the attacking third. He made a great decision to float a cross towards a running and unmarked Emmanuel Latte Lath in the box, but he could not reach or control the ball. The DP forward continued to find himself just one step behind the ball, and he was additionally called offside.
The 11th minute saw the Union complete a 1-2 from the right flank between Lukic and Iloksi, the latter of who pulled a low curling effort from 20 yards out just wide of the far post. The best chance of the match came four minutes later for Atlanta, when Cooper Sanchez played a long ball over the top to meet the run of Tomas Jacob on the right touchline. He hit a low cross first time that perfectly met the runs of Emmanuel Latte Lath, but his shot inside the 6-yard box was saved with the left hand of a sprawling Andre Blake.
During the subsequent corner, Stian Gregersen dove for a header but went down from a slight tug on his shirt. VAR reviewed for a possible penalty, but only one angle showed the pull on his back and it was incredibly soft, so no foul was called.
Atlanta continued to create big chances as they grew into the game. In the 23rd minute, Emmanuel Latte Lath met a ball cleared from danger and megged a defender to play Almiron through in space. Going 1v1 against a defender to goal, he drove with skill but was forced outside. Once two more defenders came to support, he dragged the ball out of pressure and hit a great low cross to the top of the box for Alexey Miranchuk. His effort was the closest a shot off frame could possibly be, grazing the outside of the net and just missing the left post as it curled low. Blake could only watch it go by and give a sigh of relief.
The goal would finally come for the home side in the 28th minute. As Atlanta built out of the back, Cooper Sanchez played a ball to Galarza positioned almost like a left winger. He hit it first time centrally to Almiron, who ran into space and played Emmanuel Latte Lath through on goal. With only Andre Blake and the net in front of him, no mistake would be made as the ball was slotted home into the bottom left corner. The buildup and combination between key players was everything fans hoped for last year under Ronny Deila, and it gave United a deserved 1-0 lead.
A few minutes passed and Atlanta would put together a string of beautiful passes again. Combination play from the right side resulted in Miranchuk swinging a ball over to Almiron in space. He waited and perfectly timed a ball to meet the run of Elias Baez, and his shot from a tough angle was saved at the near post by Blake. Domination in possession continued, with great combinations led by Almiron, Sanchez, and Galarza.
Things were peachy until the 40th minute, in which after a clearance in the box from Atlanta, Elias Baez’s arm unintentionally hit the back of a Union player’s head. Although there seemed to be no foul given or advantage signaled, the referee waited around 10 seconds until he signaled for a penalty. When this mishap threatened to kill all positive momentum, Lucas Hoyos and the woodwork came to the rescue. It appeared that Hoyos may have gotten a hint of a touch on the ball, but even if he didn’t, the penalty from Iloski hit the left post and bounced back in front of the goal line and out of play.
After that entire sequence, tied together by a yellow card for seemingly separate individuals on the Atlanta United bench before and after the PK attempt, alternating chants of “A-T-L” and “REF YOU SUCK” filled the stadium (first time those have been combined), and a shocking eight additional minutes were added on for stoppage time. However, no side was able to capitalize, and the Five Stripes went into the half with a 1-0 lead.
There were some interesting tactical changes to note with Cooper Sanchez’s move to right central midfield preventing him from dropping to left back in build up play and sending Baez high. Matias Galarza often would move into the space of a left winger from midfield when appropriate, supporting Miguel Almiron who sat in a more central line of three with Miranchuk and Latte Lath. This action most directly helped the attack develop and thrive. The frontline would stretch to support four if Cooper Sanchez dropped into the backline as a right centerback, and that was what now allowed Baez to move up the left flank and spread out the Union backline. Muyumba could drop back into the backline if needed, but he mainly stayed as the single-pivot #6, Jacob could push up high on the right, and Miranchuk also could drop in as a more natural #10, but these were all products of circumstance. This ability to modify how the team built out of the back and set up in the attack depending on player positioning or the Union shape was very noticeable, and this adaptability was as crucial to success in the second half as it was in the first.
That crucial nature of adaptable positioning was seen when the second half started with an early goal! In the 47th minute, a 1-2 down the left side of the pitch between Galarza and Baez allowed the former to play in Miguel Almiron’s run to their right. He moved into the box and played a great ball across the six that just missed Emmanuel Latte Lath, but Tomas Jacob was there at the back post to hit a shot off of the sprawling Andre Blake’s left arm and in at the near post for a huge 2-0 lead. It made fans reminiscent of Franco Escobar’s late follow-up runs for important goals, and this new Tata Martino squad was flying with what felt like the first goal in the first five minutes of the second half in a long, long time.
Atlanta should have made it 3-0 just three minutes later. A long clearance bounced over the Union backline and met the run of Miguel Almiron, kept onside by the halfway line. He raced into a 1v1 opportunity against Blake, but pulled his half-volley attempt wide right.
The Union tried to work their way back into the game, making 3 substitutions and capitalizing on errors building out of the back. One such giveaway led to substitute Alejandro Bedoya making an unmarked run into the box behind Elias Baez. Bedoya cut the ball back to another substitute Agustin Anello in the box after Lucas Hoyos was forced to leave goal and cut off the scoring angle, and Anello managed to hit the ball over the near-open net (partially blocked by Atlanta field players).
Philadelphia would regret missing the chance. Emmanuel Latte Lath received the ball at midfield after an incredible flick on by Almiron with the outside of his foot. He’d cut back away from the two centerbacks and wait until he could play a through ball to Miguel Almiron. The Atlanta legend put in an incredible weighted through ball of his own to meet the run of Alexey Miranchuk on his right, and the Russian international calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner from inside the box. The on-field embodiment of Sporting Director Chris Henderson’s vision for the club’s three Designated Players made it 3-0 and all but guaranteed the first win of the 2026 season for Atlanta United.
Tata Martino decided to make two substitutions directly after the goal, subbing out Latte Lath and Galarza for Fafa Picault (club debut) and Steven Alzate, making Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almiron the alternating false 9. Almiron solely took the role after Saba Lobjanidze subbed on for Miranchuk in the 78th minute. In between the substitution windows, Philadelphia had two semi-threatening chances headed or shot wide right of goal. A great chance came in the 81st minute, in which a strike from 20 yards out curled towards the top right corner. Lucas Hoyos was there, however, getting across and making a huge save with his outstretched right hand.
Unfortunately, United would not keep a clean sheet. The 87th minute saw a cross from the right flank by Bedoya get headed back in from the left by Francis Westfield. Agustin Anello, who missed the open net earlier in the half, wouldn’t miss this time from close range as he hit the ball first time with pace past Hoyos and made the score 3-1. However, it would be too little too late, and Atlanta United would see out their first win of the MLS season.
The Kings of the South improved their record to 1-0-3, good enough for 10th in the East. Next Saturday at 7:30pm EST, they will stay at home to face DC United in hopes of continuing their inspired performances and positive momentum.
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