ATL Standard

Emmanuel Latte Lath made a memorable debut for Atlanta United by scoring twice in the match against CF Montréal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The forward's performance was highlighted by broadcaster Mike Conti, who enthusiastically declared, “It’s a double latte!” after Latte Lath's second goal.

Latte Lath's goals came at crucial moments in the game, first in the 41st minute and then again in the 63rd minute. His debut brace set a record as he became the first player in club history to achieve such a feat in their initial match. Head coach Ronny Deila praised Latte Lath's abilities, stating, “He’s so quick, and his change of direction is very good. His finishing, left foot, right foot, he can jump like Air Jordan.”

Despite uncertainty about his playing time due to a recent signing from Middlesbrough FC earlier this month, Latte Lath managed to make an impact before being substituted in the 90th minute. Reflecting on his performance, he said, “It was my personal goal to score in the first game, so I’m really, really happy.”

Latte Lath's opening goal resulted from a corner kick delivered by Saba Lobjanidze. He described it simply: “I jump.” The second goal followed a sequence initiated by Ronald Hernández and Miguel Almirón, leading to Latte Lath capitalizing on a rebound from Montréal’s keeper Jonathan Sirois.

Coach Deila noted that when Latte Lath is fully engaged, he poses significant challenges for defenses: “When he’s switched on and he has legs, he can terrorize a defense. That’s for sure.”

Latte Lath joined Atlanta United as their final designated player addition on February 4. His presence contributed significantly to the team’s success during their home opener of the 2025 season. Alongside fellow designated players Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almirón, all three started Saturday's match.

Deila expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance: “All three DPs were good – very, very good things,” adding that their attitude and teamwork are essential for lifting the team's overall performance.