Saturday night's match presents an unbelievable opportunity for 20-year-old Jayden Hibbert. He's set to make his MLS debut in goal for Atlanta United as the 5-Stripes face Toronto FC in the final match of their road trip. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass.
Brad Guzan, Atlanta United's captain and starting keeper, will be available for selection off the bench. He's dealing with a fractured cheek bone he suffered against D.C. United last Saturday. Guzan had surgery to repair the fracture this past week. The 5-Stripes' other first team option in net, Josh Cohen, is listed as out with an arm injury per Atlanta United's availability report Friday.
The team in front of Hibbert will be tasked with keeping things clean for the debutant. The backline is the same as the D.C. trip July 5, with Pedro Amador and Brooks Lennon flanking Luis Abram and EfraÃn Morales. It's a back four, aligned with head coach Ronny Deila's preferred system he began the season with.
The midfield double pivot pairing of Bartosz Slisz and Tristan Muyumba returns. Muyumba is now healthy after dealing with knee and adductor injuries this season, and Slisz served his suspension for Yellow Card Accumulation. They'll establish the rhythm of the midfield along with Alexey Miranchuk, one of Atlanta United's top goal producers this season.
Up front, the trio will be the same as last Saturday. Miguel Almirón and Saba Lobjanidze start on the wings, and Emmanuel Latte Lath will play at the No. 9 spot. The three will face a disciplined Toronto defense that has conceded 28 goals this season, one of 18 in MLS to have given up less than 30 so far this season. Almirón will assume the captaincy and lead the 5-Stripes as they look to close out their road trip with three points.
Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United at Toronto FC:
Jayden Hibbert, Brooks Lennon, EfraÃn Morales, Luis Abram, Pedro Amador, Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba, Alexey Miranchuk, Miguel Almirón (C), Emmanuel Latte Lath, Saba Lobjanidze
Reserves: Brad Guzan, Noah Cobb, Matt Edwards, Ronald Hernández, Mateusz Klich, Will Reilly, Luke Brennan, Jamal Thiaré, Cayman Togashi
Roster Notes:
-- Jayden Hibbert will make his MLS debut. The No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft has started 10 matches for Atlanta United 2 this season. He holds the single-season saves record for the 2s.
-- The 5-Stripes are fresh off their second clean sheet of the season, and the same four defenders return to the starting XI Saturday night.
-- Atlanta United is facing a Toronto FC side that has produced the least amount of expected goals in MLS this season with 21.9. The 5-Stripes' total of 34.1 xG is closer to league leader San Jose's 44.2 than Toronto.
-- The match will be Latte Lath's 20th appearance with Atlanta United. The forward has scored five goals and earned one assist, but he's looking for his first goal contribution since March 29.
-- Toronto FC will be without their first and third-most prolific goal creators this season. The club announced it parted ways with Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne July 1. Bernardeschi leads the side in goals, assists, shots and shots on goal in the 2025 campaign.
-- Atlanta United and Toronto FC are dead even in their regular season history, as the 5-Stripes are 5-5-6 (W-L-D) against the Reds.
-- The 5-Stripes will be without Cohen, Stian Gregersen, Jay Fortune and Derrick Williams due to injuries per the club's availability report Friday.
