MLS: Sigh of Relief Heard ‘Round the World and Miranchuk Masterclass Guide Atlanta Over Montreal
- Calum Ewing
- May 2
- 7 min read
Credit: Atlanta United
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Atlanta, GA - A fantastic two-assist performance from Alexey Miranchuk, chaotic pressure and an assist from Cooper Sanchez, a return to the scoresheet for Emmanuel Latte Lath, and a “Saba Time” brace all led Atlanta United to a 3-1 victory over CF Montreal Saturday night.
The Five Stripes began with a considerably different lineup when compared to their last two matches, worrying fans on social media. While the backline and midfield were rather similar, save for Pedro Amador starting at left back in place of Elias Baez, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Saba Lobjanidze both returned to the starting lineup in the attack after spells of underproduction. Alexey Miranchuk, the only overperformer in the final third this season, was presumably set to start at right wing.
Credit: Atlanta United
As of late, Atlanta United fans have become wary of feeling hopeful before a match or after a string of results due to the club’s ability to let them down just as quickly. After a quiet start for both teams, the first chance of the match was a goal for the Canadians, proving fans right. Montreal were noticeably pressing Atlanta with their midfield higher than other teams have in Mercadez-Benz, and it caused a huge problem when Enea Mihaj played a poor pass intended for Tristan Muyumba under pressure inside the defensive box. The ball instead went straight to Price Owusu, who smartly took a touch and hit the ball to Matty Longstaff on his left side. Longstafff would drift just inside the 18-yard box before hitting a first-time shot with his right foot, rolling it comfortably past Hoyos into the bottom left corner for the 1-0 lead.
The atmosphere in the stadium was bleak, and rightfully so. Atlanta struggled to do much of anything in the attacking third, lacking the central attacking presence offered by Miranchuk in the last two victories. Their first opportunity came around 23 minutes in when a blistering low cross was just too far ahead of the outstretched Latte Lath. Soon after, Montreal started an attack of their own, and after Gregersen did well to block an effort from the left side of the box, captain Samuel Piette hit a low-pace strike that hit off the left post and wide.
In the 26th minute, Cooper Sanchez played a splitting ball intended for Tomas Jacob outside the 18. Jacob then went to ground after barging into a Montreal defender (not called a foul), allowing the pass to play through Saba Lobjanidze in the right side of the box. He took his shot from a tight effort at the near post, but Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier dove quickly to his left and made the save.
Another chance came three minutes later when Miranchuk played a long cross to the backpost. It was headed back centrally and to the top of the box by Latte Lath, where Matias Galarza would fail to catch the ball cleanly and see it spin and slowly float over the crossbar, scaring the goalkeeper but ending up harmless. A few minutes afterward, Stian Gregersen went down after contact with Prince Owusu chasing a through ball, and the landing appeared to have hurt his right hamstring. Gregersen injured this same hamstring to end his 2025 campaign early, but he was able to receive treatment and stay in the match.
Once we hit the 35th minute, it took the 200s sections full of “group ticket” buyers to create an atmosphere in the stadium. The Mexican wave started up alongside chants thanks to a good effort from youth soccer teams, but Montreal ruined the fun with what appeared to be another disastrous goal. The ball was played back in behind after a broken attack, bouncing over the head of an Atlanta defender to the Montreal left winger behind the play. With a quick cross to the unmarked Owusu and a awkward flick/chip over Hoyos, the away side believed they had a two-goal advantage, but it was called back as the initial attacker was considerably offside when the ball was played.
And then, life.
Alexey Miranchuk drifted into a central position in the midfield and completed a 1-2 with Pedro Amador to jumpstart the attack. He rapidly hit a pass first-time to Saba Lobjanidze, who appeared to take to big of a first touch to his right setting up a shot. However, the Georgian winger took a second touch to beat his defender and got a shot off rolling across his body, flicking off the outstretched right hand of the goalkeeper but still rolling under and into the back of the net. Saba Time had returned for the first time in the 2026 season, and Atlanta United pulled level at 1-1.
And then, life for Latte Lath in front of goal!
Cooper Sanchez stepped in front of a ball while Montreal was attempting to build out the back, winning it and playing it forward to Latte Lath in space. He took a touch and appeared ready to shoot, but shifted it forward towards Alexey Miranchuk. Miranchuk waited until the goalkeeper had stepped off his line to play it back to Latte Lath in space, and he hit it confidently into the back of the open net. With his first goal since March 14, the DP signing had finally made a needed impact on the scoresheet.
Credit: Atlanta United
And, with the collective sigh of relief heard ‘round the world, Atlanta United took a 2-1 lead into the locker room for halftime.
In the 50th minute, buildup play went wary again for Montreal as Cooper Sanchez pressed a midfielder from the left side, winning the ball and leaving him on the ground in his wake. He attacked the space in front of him and subsequently laid it off to Saba Lobjanidze on the left side of the box. With a finish using his left foot over the goalkeeper to the right of goal, Saba had his brace, Atlanta had their second straight MLS game with a goal within the first five minutes of the second half, and the lead was extended to 3-1.
Just six minutes later, Saba nearly had an improbable hat trick! Latte Lath received the ball in his own half, turned, and played through Lobjanidze’s run, kept onside by the halfway line. He ran and ran and ran towards the only man standing between him and the goal, but as he tried to round Gillier under pressure from a retreating defender on his back, he took too heavy of a touch and the ball ran out a play. However, the crowd gave their roar of approval to the Five Stripes, a passion and energy that hasn’t been heard in a long time. Cue Garth Lagerwey’s “We’re Back”.
Credit: Atlanta United
In the 64th minute, Saba lost his chance at a 3rd goal, being subbed off to a thunderous standing ovation from fans for Fafa Picault. Meanwhile, Latte Lath was subbed off for Ajani Fortune, pushing Alexey Miranchuk up as the false 9. It had appeared that Atlanta had dropped Miranchuk into a more central midfield position to start the second half, a conclusion drawn from his general positioning during build-up play and Cooper Sanchez playing in the right flank when he created the 3rd goalscoring opportunity. This allowed Saba to play like a true winger, exploiting space and opening space up for Latte Lath to turn on the ball and advance the attack. If I’m a rational reporter and fan, I should remember my comment that this team can let you down as quickly as they bring you up. But, when the Atlanta Hawks lost by over 50 in an NBA Playoff game, and you haven’t gotten to celebrate many wins from the press box this year, I think it’s ok to comment that Tata Martino may be starting to figure this thing out.
About ten minutes after Saba’s substitution, Miranchuk played a bouncing ball to Fafa Picault, through into space behind the backline. He ran and ran and ran like Saba towards the 1v1 opportunity, but Montreal defenders caught up and one stuck his arm out, sending him to the ground. No foul was called, and it was likely the correct decision, as the contact was at an awkward spot near his shoulder and back and he was already cutting in front of the defender from a heavy touch. However, some MLS referees could have made the DOGSO call, and all that resulted was Picault having to be subbed off a few minutes later for an injury sustained on the play.
Luke Brennan subbed on and immediately made an impact, driving at players on the left flank and even creating a great chance for Ajani Fortune by finding him inside the box, only for a heavy touch to kill the opportunity. Alexey Miranchuk got off a dangerous shot from the right side of the box just a minute later, forcing a quick diving save by Gillier. Chances continued to comfortably flow for Atlanta until an Alexey Miranchuk giveaway allowed a rapid shot from outside the box by Montreal, but Lucas Hoyos made a fantastic save diving to his right and keeping the ball close to his body.
As stoppage time was being announced over the PA, a skirmish broke out between Atlanta and Montreal players when former Five Stripes striker Daniel Rios had a hard collision with Enea Mihaj and ignited an argument. As players closed in for a shoving match, with Montreal getting off two large pushes behind the referee’s back, Brayan Vera went directly to Matthew Edwards and grabbed him by the throat, resulting in an immediate red card and ejection. After he left the pitch, the referee regained control of the match, handing out yellows to Rios and Mihaj.
The fight would be the last notable event in the match, as Atlanta’s backline saw off the away side’s half chances and claimed all 3 points! Improving to 3-1-7, Atlanta now find themselves only 2 points off of ninth place for a play-in spot and only 3 points off of 7th in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. The win marked the club’s first 3-game win streak since the end of the 2024 season, which included a PK shootout win over Montreal in the play-in round. Most importantly, belief has returned under Tata Martino, and his tactical vision that has so clearly shown itself on the field despite losses is starting to bear the fruit of goals and results.
Atlanta United will next face the Los Angeles Galaxy at home on May 9. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm EST.
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