Last-Minute Magic! Atlanta United Snatch Point vs. Seattle Sounders!
Colaboradores
Atlanta United pulled off a dramatic draw against Seattle Sounders this past Saturday, thanks to a stunning late goal by Alexey Miranchuk. The match, played at home, saw Atlanta display a dominant performance, especially in the first half. Miranchuk's goal, his fourth of the season, secured a crucial point for the team.
First Half Domination
From the kickoff, Atlanta showcased an aggressive approach, consistently pressuring Seattle's defense. Miguel Almirón and Ronald Hernández were instrumental in dictating the tempo, particularly down the right wing. Their relentless pressure created numerous opportunities for Atlanta in the opening 45 minutes.
Notably, the match marked the return of Derrick Williams and Stian Gregersen as the team's central defensive pairing, a combination that hadn't been seen for four months. This defensive stability contributed to Atlanta's control of the first half.
The Opening Goal
Atlanta's early pressure paid off with a well-constructed goal. Pedro Amador initiated the play with a recovered ball that involved every Atlanta defender. Hernández then delivered a perfectly weighted long ball, finding Almirón behind Seattle's defense. Almirón, who had been requesting these types of passes from his defenders, controlled the ball under pressure and linked up with Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Latte Lath quickly passed the ball to Luke Brennan, who then sent a well-timed pass back to Latte Lath. Latte Lath's first-time cross deflected off Seattle's Yéimar Gómez, beating the goalkeeper and giving Atlanta a deserved lead.
Seattle's Fightback and Miranchuk's Heroics
Despite Atlanta's dominance, they failed to convert their seven shots into further goals in the first half. Seattle resisted Atlanta's attacks and managed to stay within one goal. Seattle gained momentum in the second half and even took the lead towards the end of the match. Just when it seemed like Seattle would secure the victory, Miranchuk stepped up with a moment of brilliance, salvaging a point for Atlanta United.
Sounders' Lineup Changes
Seattle Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made several changes to his starting lineup for the match against Atlanta United. Jackson Ragen, Danny Musovski, and Alex Roldan replaced Jon Bell, Jordan Morris, and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi.
Also, Sounders FC forward Jesús Ferreira is one goal away from setting the record for most goals before the age of 25. He is currently tied with Landon Donovan with 56 goals.
Midfielder Obed Vargas recently competed in his first MLS All-Star Game this week, helping the MLS team win 3-1 over the Liga MX All-Stars. He also participated in the Skills Challenge, which the MLS side also won.