Atlanta United drew on the road to Toronto FC 1-1 in the last of their five-straight away fixtures thanks to a Latte Lath penalty kick that snuck its way into the net off of the goalkeeper's glove. The match was full of great chances, as both teams traded key saves and near misses in a game of what ifs. The home side capitalized once, a lone goal came off a set piece, and the 5-Stripes found a way to equalize by the time the minutes hit triple digits. It was the latest goal Atlanta United has ever scored in their MLS regular season history.
What happened: Energy was high from the jump on a lovely Saturday evening in Toronto. Bartosz Slisz took an early crack at goal from outside the box in the eighth minute, and keeper Sean Johnson made a less-than-comfortable save.
Atlanta United broke away on the counter and earned their first corner of the match in the 14th minute, but Saba Lobjanidze's cross flew just above a few flying headers.
Latte Lath thought he had the opener in the 21st minute. Alexey Miranchuk and Slisz combined well to counter and played the ball out wide to Brooks Lennon. His ball was perfectly placed into the path of Latte Lath, who slotted the chance away, but after a quick look was found to be just offsides.
Jayden Hibbert, on his MLS debut, parried away a dangerous cross in the 30th minute to fend off a Toronto attack. He saw a lot of the ball at his feet in the first half, as Atlanta United patiently waited for avenues through the opposing defense by playing the ball back to Hibbert often. The 20-year-old didn't seem at all fazed by the moment, and he finished with four saves.
A beautiful passage of play found Latte Lath through on goal again in the 34th minute. Almirón combined with him on the right side of the attack, and the striker got a chance to beat the keeper one-on-on, albeit from a tight angle. His low-driven shot missed the left post by inches.
Atlanta United's transition play in the first half earned them a couple more chances to break with numbers. Almirón seemed to be involved in every forward movement, and the 5-Stripes fired off five shots in the first half. Lennon had a good look on a bouncing ball in the 48th minute, but Johnson made another high save.
Slisz won a free kick about 25 yards out from goal in the 51st minute. Almirón, the captain for the 5-Stripes on the evening, stepped up and lifted the ball over the wall, but it soared just over the crossbar, and the half ended 0-0.
Coming out in the second half, Theo Corbeanu cut inside and fired off a shot that forced a tall stop from Hibbert. The ball went wide for a corner, and Deybi Flores rose up for a header that bounced past Atlanta United's keeper for 1-0 in the 48th minute.
After Miranchuk won a free kick on the right side, the ensuing cross trickled out to Brooks Lennon in the 57th minute. He took a crack with his weak foot, but the ball was just wide right of the net.
EfraÃn Morales, making his third start of the 2025 season, developed chemistry with Almirón playing him over-the-top through balls down the right side in the second half. The space was open, but Atlanta United lacked the runners to support Miggy when he got into those wide areas.
Luke Brennan was head coach Ronny Deila's first substitute choice in the 65th minute. The young winger stayed on the left side of the attack, able to cut in on his preferred right foot. The next was Jamal Thiaré, who came on for Tristan Muyumba in the 76th minute in an attacking.
Another Hibbert save kept Atlanta alive in the 79th minute, as Corbeanu countered with pace after the 5-Stripes lost possession. They did have most of the ball as the match winded down, and they found themselves with another close freekick opportunity a couple minutes later. Miranchuk's shot sailed over, and Toronto got a chance to clear. That was the last prime look Atlanta United got at the net in open play.
The 5-Stripes had an appeal for a penalty in the 96th minute, as Brennan appeared to have gotten to the ball first in the box and was chopped down. Head official Jon Freemon took a long look at the monitor and called a penalty kick by the 100th minute.
The man who stepped up to take it, Latte Lath, was looking to end a goalless drought. His shot went left, and so did Johnson. The Toronto FC keeper got a full hand on the ball, but it glanced into the bottom right corner in the 101st minute. The match ended 1-1 as a hush fell over the home crowd at BMO Field.
Key stats: 1-1 in another way. Atlanta United and Toronto FC drew the match with two goals from set pieces. The Reds had a corner kick find the head of a runner, and the 5-Stripes put away a penalty kick to walk away with a point.
Standouts: The attack flowed through Miguel Almirón all night long. The captain on the evening had a soft first touch and was set on moving the ball vertically. He put in a few dangerous balls across the face of goal that just missed their intended target.
Milestones:
- Jayden Hibbert made his MLS debut in goal. He posted four saves and was active with his feet in build up during the match, often playing as more of a sweeper keeper in possession.
- Latte Lath scored his team-best sixth goal of the season and first since March 29. His penalty kick found its way in almost impossibly after he was denied a goal earlier in the match by an offsides call.
Up next: The 5-Stripes finally return home after nearly two months without a home match. Atlanta United hosts Chicago Fire Wednesday July 16 and Charlotte FC Saturday July 19. Get your tickets to be a part of the welcome back celebrations here!
