New York City FC defeated Atlanta United by scoring four unanswered goals in the first game of the 2025 MLS regular season’s second half.
The home team scored three goals in a four-minute burst during the second half. Despite a first half with more chances for the 5-Stripes, they all succumbed to fatigue at once.
For the first three minutes, both teams played slowly and cautiously, as if they were still recovering from the international break. However, Saba Lobjanidze then broke away on the left. Birk Risa dived to intercept a precise pass intended for Jamal Thiaré.
Atlanta United needed some time to adjust to the narrowness of Yankee Stadium’s pitch, the tightest in MLS. Slightly wide passes thwarted promising attacking moves, resulting in throw-ins.
Alexey Miranchuk was the first player to breach the New York City defense. A forward pass to Thiaré, who goalkeeper Tomás Romero subsequently tackled, resulted in a foul in the 13th minute. The play happened quickly, and a nearly four-minute VAR review by head official Sergii Boiko resulted in no penalty kick.
Atlanta’s strategy was straightforward: long balls, aggressive attacks. With Williams and Hernández providing good passes and the 5-Stripes winning many second balls, their attack was very effective.
They also had a goal scoring opportunity in the first half. Brooks Lennon opened up space, then played a pass to Miranchuk in the box. A long-range attempt in the 31st minute launched with plenty of space struck the crossbar and bounced away.
Williams headed the ball after the referee awarded Atlanta United a corner kick at the 36-minute mark. Thiaré tapped in a goal-bound ball, but the assistant referee immediately signaled offside.
Atlanta United suffered a goal just before the half due to a poor back pass. New York City swiftly seized Brooks Lennon’s layoff, and Maxi Moralez converted a close-range opportunity in the 44th minute following a pass.
Brad Guzan made a crucial 54th-minute save, using his head to keep the ball from entering the net. However, NYCFC swiftly scored again in the 55th minute; Bakrar’s precise shot soared into the top of the net.
Two minutes later, the 5-Stripes’ situation deteriorated. Just inside Atlanta United’s box on the right, Hannes Wolf picked up the ball, skillfully cut, and put it past Guzan’s outstretched arm.
Shortly thereafter, they had a fourth. Breaking through the defense, Wolf ran onto a through ball, finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Though Guzan touched the ball, the shot went in anyway, completing Guzan’s two goals and making it NYCFC’s third goal in four minutes. The score remained at 4-0 in the 59th minute.
Noah Cobb, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Luis Abram entered following the scoring surge. As the two teams alternated periods of possession with little genuine opportunities, Romero saved an almost instantaneous chance for Latte Lath, and the game ended.
Story and Photo’s by Charles Amoako Adofo
