The bad: Atlanta United is now winless in three games to begin the 2026 season.
The good: Atlanta United is no longer without a goal scored. More on that later.
Real Salt Lake came into Mercedes-Benz Stadium having won a game and lost a game. They are now 2-0-1 following a 3-2 victory in Atlanta on Saturday night.
During the first half, both teams had attempts at goal that could have shifted the momentum of the match. Both Miguel Almiron and Emmanuel Latte Lath, the human litmus tests for this club, took shots that nearly missed the mark.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Almiron, wearing his signature lime green boots, took shots-on-goal in the 17th, 19th, and 22nd minutes. If any of them went in, it would have blown the roof off of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But it was the right feet of Real Salt Lake’s Spanish forward Sergi Solans and American forward Aiden Hezarkhani that put the first goals on the scoreboard and gave Real Salt Lake a 2-0 lead.
The goals, scored in the 22nd and 27th minute, zommed past Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. In his two and half games with the club to that point, Hoyos had yet to prove to supporters (and certain members of the media) why he was starting over Jayden Hibbert.
Asked after the match is he believes there needs to be a change in goal, Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino said no.
“When you lose games, people are always asking for a lot of changes,” he said. “As coaches we try to protect the players.”
Speaking of players, the combined age of the first two goal-scorers for Real Salt Lake is 41.
Two of Atlanta United’s youngest players, Jay Fortune and Will Reilly, were out of the lineup for the Five Stripes on Saturday night. Fortune hasn’t played in a game since he was injured last season. He has been participating in training since camp opened in January.
Alexey Miranchuk pulled Atlanta United within a goal in the 38th minute, before Real Salt Lake took back its two-goal advantage in the 40th minute. United States National Team midfielder Zavier Gozo was responsible for that goal.
Miranchuk’s second goal of the match came in the 74th minute, and once again put the Five Stripes in position to tie the match. The goal came on assists from Latte Lath and Tristan Muyumba, and displayed the ease in which this team can move the eball when fully focussed.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The second half saw the Five Stripes debut of Matias Galarza. The Paraguyan midfielder subbed into the game in the 59th minute, replacing Cooper Sanchez, another first-year player. Martino also brought Matt Edwards and Tomas Jacob into the match in the 79th minute. When healthy, Atlanta United has one of the deepest rosters in Major League Soccer. The same could not be said about last year’s team.
Edwards made a stop in extra time to keep the score 3-2.
What’s Next: Atlanta United will play its next three matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Next Saturday, March 14, the Five Stripes will host Philadelphia United (3:15 p.m.), followed by D.C. United on Saturday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. April will begin with a home match against the Columbus Crew. That match has a scheduled 7:30 p.m. first kick.