In the face of adversity, Atlanta United showed character and fought through the final whistle but ultimately fell to Charlotte FC 3-2 Saturday night. After leading 1-0 at the break, the travelers found three goals in a row and held off a late push from the 5-Stripes. A streaky affair, both sides had their spells of dominance. Charlotte's run of three goals in just over 30 minutes in the second half made the difference.
What happened: Atlanta United won a corner within the first 20 seconds of the match, and it was a truly rapid start for the 5-Stripes, pushing the ball forward with intention and whipping balls into the box.
In the heat of a rivalry, Atlanta United supporters in The Gulch took time to honor the late Anton Walkes with a moment of silence between the fourth and fifth minutes of the match. Walkes, who played for both Atlanta and Charlotte, passed away back in 2023.
What was a tense next 10 to 15 minutes unraveled when the shortest player on the pitch won a header. Tristan Muyumba rose up and flicked on a cross from Bartosz Slisz, and the contact was brilliant. The ball flew into the left side netting, and Atlanta United had a 1-0 advantage in the 19th minute.
Charlotte came back with fire of their own, pushing the ball forward into dangerous areas, but they weren't able to register a shot on target in the first half. It was in part due to Derrick Williams, who made 50 touches and cleared the ball three times throughout the first 45.
A light show and special halftime performance by Demola The Violinist welcomed the 5-Stripes back home in Atlanta after nearly two months without a match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium until this week. The sounds of the "We Ready" chant on strings kept the energy going through the break.
Though the home crowd was loud and ready to go for the next 45, Charlotte flipped the script within the first thirty seconds of the first half. Kerwin Vargas broke out on the right side and fired a low cross into the box, and the ball trickled into the net after Idan Toklomati got just enough on his touch. The transition moment was so quick out of the half that the Atlanta defense hadn't gotten the chance to consolidate.
The 5-Stripes rebounded quickly, and Muyumba nearly had his second in the 55th minute. Luke Brennan whipped a ball to the back post, and Latte Lath headed it down into the path of the French midfielder. He stuck out a leg and put it on target, but Kristijan Kahlina made the save to his left.
The pace started to pick up as Charlotte responded with a near-longshot goal in the 57th minute. Two minutes later, they had their second through Wilfried Zaha. He darted through the middle of the pitch, shoving over Derrick Williams on his way to a one-on-one finish to give the away side a 2-1 lead.
Atlanta attacked with consistency throughout the second half, and Almirón nearly leveled things in the 71st after the ball ricocheted around the box and to his feet. His curling, left-footed strike was pure, but Kahlina got to it and put it away for a corner.
Before that corner, head coach Ronny Deila made a triple substitution, bringing on Jamal Thiaré, Saba Lobjanidze and Brooks Lennon. Thiaré rose up at the near post on the ensuing cross, but his header zipped just over the bar.
Charlotte had a third in the 78th minute, once again manufactured by Zaha. He found the ball on the left side and squared it across to Pep Biel. His first-time left footed strike crept underneath the defense and rolled home.
Atlanta kept the fight up even as time ran low. Some smooth combination between Almirón, Saba and Latte Lath found the Ivorian forward in on goal in the 87th minute. He snuck his shot in at the near post, and it bobbled into the net off the keeper. It was new life for the 5-Stripes, who felt the backing of the over 60,000 17s in attendance.
The 5-Stripes left just about everything out on the pitch, pushing through eight minutes of added time to try and equalize, but the goal never came.
Key stat: Shots on goal turnaround. Charlotte were unable to register a shot on goal in the first half, but they flipped things on their head in the second. Through the first 35 minutes of the second half, they put three shots on target, and all of them found the net.
Milestones:
-- Brad Guzan started in his 300th career MLS regular season appearance.
-- Luke Brennan started on the left wing, his first career MLS start. An Atlanta United academy product from the 404, Brennan made history for Homegrowns Saturday night.
-- Bartosz Slisz started his 50th match for Atlanta United, becoming the 28th player in club history to reach the total.
-- Latte Lath scored his team-best seventh goal of the season, his second goal in three matches.
Up next: Atlanta United stays at home for a match against Seattle Sounders Saturday July 26. The 5-Stripes will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET against their third Western Conference opponent of the season.
