Match recap: Home Opener sees scoring frenzy as 5-Stripes fall to Real Salt Lake

Atlanta United's Home Opener was nothing if not dramatic. Five goals were scored as the 5-Stripes battled back from a two-goal deficit but fell short, losing 3-2 to Real Salt Lake. The home side 

What happened: Both teams were lively to start the match, cutting through the defenses with quick transition play. Atlanta United knew they'd be in for a high tempo match when scouting Real Salt Lake, and they brought some energy of their own backed by the 17s in attendance. 

Tomás Jacob was called into action inside one minute played when Salt Lake broke through on goal. The right back sprung to block a shot that deflected off the crossbar and out for a corner. 

Emmanuel Latte Lath registered the first chance for the 5-Stripes, a shot on goal in the 7th minute that was saved straight up by RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral. 

It was end-to-end intensity for the entire first half, and Miguel Almirón was at the center of things. He often found the ball in central areas and roved forward, taking on defenders at will. 

Real Salt Lake broke out on the counter in the 23rd minute and punished. It was a neat spell of possession for the 5-Stripes, but the visitors pounced on a blocked Tristan Muyumba shot and went straight through. Sergi Solans made Lucas Hoyos guess which direction he would shoot, dispatching the chance to put RSL ahead 1-0. 

Aiden Hezarkhani would make it 2-0 moments later. He didn't have too much space but carved out a keen strike across his body into the top left corner to keep his side buzzing. The two goals in succession were a shock to a 5-Stripes side that was humming leading up to the 20th minute. 

They kept their heads down and ran, and it paid off in the 38th minute. Alexey Miranchuk, starting for the first time this season, put a lovely left foot on a cross from Elías Báez in the 38th minute. His shot rippled the net to tally Atlanta United's first goal of the season.

It looked like Atlanta was going to run with the momentum they had created, but Real Salt Lake had other ideas. Zavier Gozo struck a pure liner past Hoyos for a third in the 40th minute. 

Chances came in bunches for both sides in the first half, but RSL's timely strikes were the difference at the halftime whistle.  

Both teams came out of the break a little more tentative, and Tata Martino went to his bench for a spark. New 5-Stripe Matías Galarza made his club debut in the 59th minute. 

Slowly but surely, Atlanta United applied pressure, but the final product in the attacking third was just not there. That was until Latte Lath finally played the precise pass the 5-Stripes needed. He whipped a cross to the back stick, where none other than Miranchuk was there to tap the ball across the line in the 74th minute. The 5-Stripes brought it back to 3-2 and were itching for an equalizer.

The 17s were solid as ever, as Mercedes-Benz Stadium's volume was every increasing throughout the match. 

But as time winded down, the chances dried up. Saba Lobjanidze, Matt Edwards and Sergio Santos all came on for some fresh legs, but the 5-Stripes couldn't capture the tying goal. The closest they came was Edwards' longshot in the 93rd minute that just soared left of the frame. 

Standouts:

• Alexey Miranchuk had a brace on the night in his first start of the season. His clinical nature in front of goal was on full display, converting both of his shots on target.

Milestones:

• Alexey Miranchuk scored his first and second goals of the 2026 campaign, also his team's first two of the MLS regular season. 
• Cooper Sanchez earned a secondary assist on Miranchuk's 38th minute goal. The 17-year-old became the fourth youngest Atlanta United player to record a goal contribution in club history. 
• Atlanta United completed 320 passes in the first half at an accuracy rate of 91.4 percent. That total was the sixth most in the first half of a regular season match in club history.

Up next: Atlanta United stays at home for the second of four consecutive home matches. The 5-Stripes will face off against Eastern Conference foe Philadelphia Union Saturday, March 14. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.