Two substitutes combined for a late equalizer as Atlanta United rescued a point in the Lone Star State. On the club's first ever away trip to Austin, Jamal Thiaré scored in the 92nd minute, and the 5-Stripes drew 1-1 with Los Verdes. The 5-Stripes figured out parts of their set up, as a five-at-the-back formation minimized threats for a good portion of the first half. Still, their energy dwindled as Austin FC grew more confident. This time, though, they had a response.
Final score: Austin FC 1, Atlanta United 1
What happened: The first real chance of the match was the best Atlanta United had for nearly the entirety of it. From an Austin FC corner, the 5-Stripes counter attacked quickly in the seventh minute. Mateusz Klich perfectly weighted a ball over the top to Miguel Almirón, and the Paraguayan was through on goal with just Brad Stuver to beat. The Austin FC keeper made a tight save to deny Atlanta an opener.
Alexey Miranchuk tested Stuver again four minutes later on a tight-angled shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box, but Stuver stopped again.
Ronny Deila's five-at-the-back stabilized Atlanta United, both in and out of possession. With the ball, the switching was patient and guided, as the 5-Stripes exposed overloads and progressed the ball with line-breaking passes when Austin was slow to rotate. In defense, the numbers reinforced healthy aggression, as midfielders felt they could afford to try for a tackle knowing they had support behind them.
Brad Guzan, who hadn't had much action but a couple of grabs in the first half hour, was forced to make a save in the 36th. Osman Bukari cut in and fired a longshot from outside the box, but Guzan stayed high and tipped the ball over the bar.
Austin FC came knocking as the half carried on, but a couple of headed chances got away from them and went wide. Their best look came after Myrto Uzuni found his way through on goal on the left side. Guzan had to make a one-on-one save of his own, and Atlanta United's bald wall made the stop with his leg in the 43rd minute. Despite the flurry of shots, 15 between the two teams, the score was level at 0-0 at the break.
The second half started all Austin, and after conceding a free kick, Los Verdes had the opener. Brandon Vásquez's curling strike from distance made it past Guzan's glove in the 55th minute, the first time Atlanta United had conceded directly from a free kick this season.
Deila immediately made a triple sub, with Tristan Muyumba, Jamal Thiaré and Jay Fortune coming on to get a hold on the match. Saba Lobjanidze followed 14 minutes later as Atlanta United switched to their more frequently used 4-2-3-1 formation.
Saba was active on the left side of the attack, interchanging well with Fortune, who came in on the left side of the Atlanta United defense. Austin was tough to break down, though, as the center backs closed quickly on errant touches and misplayed passes.
Atlanta United never said die, though. Almirón connected with Lobjanidze running down the right channel. His fresh legs found him in behind the Austin defense, and another substitute ran through on goal. Saba's ball found Thiaré for a tap-in equalizer in the 92nd minute. The match fizzled out, and Atlanta earned a share of the points in Texas.
Key stat: 90+2. It was the latest goal Atlanta United had scored all season, and it put some serious wind back in their sails. Substitutes Saba and Thiaré combined, outpacing the Austin defense and finding the leveling goal.
Standouts: Saba Lobjanizde brought everything he could off the bench. His darting run down the right side of the Atlanta United attack found just enough space to get a cross into Thiaré. In less than 30 minutes of play, Saba proved clinical and earned his fourth assist of the season.
Derrick Williams commanded the three center backs in the 5-Stripe defense for nearly 70 minutes. Atlanta United's back five, particularly in the first half, was compact and uncompromising. It took a dead ball free kick for Austin to break through. Williams was taken off for attacking reinforcements in the 69th minute as Atlanta United tried to chase the result.
Milestones:
-- Atlanta United played their first ever match at Q2 Stadium. Their only other matchup against Austin FC came in July of 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
-- Noah Cobb made his third start of the season at center back. He played a full 90 minutes for his second-straight appearance.
-- Jamal Thiaré scored his first goal of the 2025 season, a 92nd-minute equalizer to earn his squad a point.
Up next: Atlanta United will play their third match in seven days when they return home to play Philadelphia Union Saturday, May 17. The Eastern Conference battle will be the first reverse fixture for the 5-Stripes this season, as they already faced Union on the road April 19.
