Match recap: Lively second half ends in loss for 5-Stripes at hands of LA Galaxy

Atlanta United and LA Galaxy had a scrap Saturday night. It was a gritty affair full of flying tackles and flying football. Fans could barely keep their eye on the ball at points, but somehow, neither team was able to break the deadlock for the nearly the first 70 minutes. 

Jay Fortune and Gabriel Pec changed that very quickly, scoring within minutes of each other. Pec, though, did a double, and LA Galaxy went on to win 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday night. 

What happened

It was clear from the first 10 minutes that the 5-Stripes wouldn't be dominating possession in the same way they have in the last few matches. LA were patient when they got the ball, and Atlanta were more direct when they had it. 

That directness was a positive, though, as Atlanta's attack came out lively. Saba Lobjanidze and Emmanuel Latte Lath making runs forward, and players like Matías Galarza and Alexey Miranchuk were finding their sprints with passes. 

The action was back and forth, with defenses prevailing in the first quarter of an hour, with Lobjanidze registering the best chance right around the 20-minute mark. He cut inside on his right foot deep in Galaxy's box and just missed the right side of the goal. 

Things got gritty real quick, as Atlanta United were shown three yellow cards in the span of five minutes between the 26th and 30th. The tackles were flying both ways, slowing down the match from its energetic start. 

In the 41st minute, Saba whipped in a corner kick to the back post, and Juan Berrocal was streaking. He got all over the header and drilled the ball into the back of the net, but the goal was quickly ruled out due to a foul in the mix of players moving during the set piece. 

What started out as timid match turned very adversarial all around by the halftime whistle. Coming out of the break, it seemed the team who kept its cool the best in the second half would be rewarded. 

Latte Lath scored goal from an offsides position early in the second half in a spell of bright play from the 5-Stripes. But things were still back and forth in just as much of a frantic manner as the first period. Tomás Jacob nearly scored a worldie of a strike on a first-time volley in the 61st minute, hitting the outside of the left post. 

Jay Fortune entered the match, replacing Matías Galarza, and his moment of brilliance broke the deadlock in the 69th minute. The midfielder cut in from about 10 yards outside the left corner of the box and drove the ball forward. Juking out defenders, he found space and struck a longshot just outside the center of the box, burying it in the bottom corner. The roar of the 17s in attendance reflected just how much was building up to that first goal of the match.

But Galaxy didn't let things get too far away from them, and a breakaway goal from Gabriel Pec in the 74th minute leveled things. 

Five minutes later, he had his second, and it once again came on the break. Lucas Hoyos made the save on his first shot, but the ball deflected off Tomás Jacob and back into Pec's path. A stunning turn of events after Atlanta United's goal just 10 minutes prior left the hosts scrambling.

Pec caused a bunch of trouble on the counterattack, nearly scoring a third in the 86th if not for a Hoyos save. Atlanta United pushed for the equalizer but were unsuccessful after six minutes of stoppage time.

Standouts

• Tristan Muyumba was an engine in the midfield, doing all the dirty work on the night. Muyumba put in flying slide tackles, connected play, snapped up loose balls and commanded the midfield overall. The Frechman was 61-for-70 passing (a match high), won 4 tackles (tied for a match high), won 9 possessions (a match high) and had 2 interceptions (tied for a match high).
• Jay Fortune didn't need much time to make a grand impact. His substitute goal was the first of the season for Atlanta United, a stroke of individual genius.

Milestones

• Jay Fortune scored his first goal of the 2026 MLS regular season. 
• Atlanta United held LA Galaxy to just one shot in the first half, equaling their fewest in any half of a match this regular season.

Next up

Atlanta United hits the road to rivals Orlando City SC Saturday, May 16. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff will be the first of two consecutive matches against Orlando, as the sides will play each other in the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tuesday, May 19 as well.