ATL Standard

Atlanta United achieved a thrilling comeback on Saturday night, securing a victory against New York City FC with a score of 4-3. This win marked the start of a three-match homestand for Atlanta United and broke a dry spell against NYCFC, recording their first victory over them since August 2019.

After going down 0-1 early in the match due to a defensive error, Atlanta United managed to draw level with a goal from Alexey Miranchuk in the 42nd minute, making it 1-1 at the half. New York City FC then extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second half, with a penalty and a goal from Hannes Wolf.

Atlanta United's head coach, Ronny Deila, expressed his relief and concern after the game, stating, "We know we're going to score goals. I'm not worried about that. We scored four now. But we need to defend as a team and we need to attack as a team."

The tactical adjustments made by Deila at halftime paid off as Atlanta United mounted a comeback with a forced own goal and a header from Miguel Almirón, bringing the score to 3-3. The decisive moment came when Latte Lath capitalized on a long ball to chip the ball over NYCFC's goalkeeper, securing a 4-3 victory for Atlanta United.

This dramatic win was a high point for several players, including Stian Gregersen and Saba Lobjanidze, who were instrumental in defense and attack, respectively. The victory also marked several milestones, with Dominik Chong Qui making his first MLS start, and Almirón and Miranchuk scoring their first goals of the season.

Atlanta United will continue their homestand, welcoming FC Dallas and New England Revolution in their upcoming matches. The team is looking to build on this exciting win as they face more competitors at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Quote from Ronny Deila: "But today, we're not attacking or defending in the first half. In the second half, we did much better. In the end, we deserved to win."