Saba Lobjanidze delivered a brilliant two-goal performance to lead Atlanta United to a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over CF Montreal on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The match started on a sour note for the home side, as Matty Longstaff struck early for Montreal in the 6th minute. Prince Owusu set up the goal with a crisp pass, marking his fourth assist of the season—just one shy of his career high set last year. Longstaff's finish was his second goal of the campaign and the fourth of his 67-game professional career, putting Montreal (3-7-0) ahead before the crowd could settle in.
But Atlanta United (3-7-1) refused to fold. Lobjanidze, who surprisingly failed to find the net in 33 appearances last season, equalized in the 41st minute with a clinical finish off assists from Alexey Miranchuk and Pedro Amador. It was a moment of redemption for the Georgian winger, who now has 12 goals in 39 matches for the club.
The momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Miranchuk turned provider once again, setting up Emmanuel Latte Lath for his second goal of the season. Latte Lath, who has now scored nine times in 41 career appearances, gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead at the break. Miranchuk's assists were his first two of the season, showcasing his growing chemistry with his teammates.
Lobjanidze wasn't done yet. Just five minutes into the second half, he struck again to extend Atlanta's lead to 3-1. This time, 18-year-old rookie midfielder Cooper Sanchez chipped in with his third assist of the season, showing the depth of Atlanta's attacking options.
Goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos was solid between the posts, recording four saves in his 10th start of his debut MLS season. At the other end, Montreal's Thomas Gillier made two stops in his 17th career start, but it wasn't enough to slow down Atlanta's resurgence.
The win improves Atlanta United's all-time record against Montreal to 9-5-5, with an impressive 7-1-1 mark at home. For fans looking to celebrate this comeback, it's a reminder of the electric atmosphere at Mercedes-Benz Stadium—and the perfect excuse to gear up in Atlanta United's latest kits and training apparel.