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Atlanta United scores flurry of goals in final minutes to knock down LAFC

The Five Stripes scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of play.
Photo: Brett Davis- USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Football Club may be the new expansion team in MLS, but Atlanta United FC showed it's still the team to beat.

Atlanta United won its fourth consecutive game and remained undefeated at home with a 5-0 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Miguel Almiron scored two penalty kicks in the final minutes after a penalty in the box followed by a hand ball in the box. Romario Williams scored during stoppage time to add injury to insult for LAFC. Atlanta scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of play (including stoppage time).

It was also the second consecutive clean sheet for goal keeper Brad Guzan who had one save in the match. After losing its season-opener to Houston 4-0, Atlanta United has only conceded two goals in its last four games.

The Five Stripes took the lead in the 17th minute as Almiron sent a cross into the box intended for Josef Martinez. Martinez missed, and it went directly to Julian Gressel who was by the post. With the defense no where to be seen, Gressel tapped it in for his first goal this season, sixth in his MLS career.

Martinez had another chance just before halftime on the cross from Gressel, but Laurent Ciman deflected it and was visibly frustrated. His moment came in the 67th minute when Gressel crossed it to Martinez in the box who had enough space between him and the defender to head in the goal. His goal was his 24th in 25 regular season MLS matches

Atlanta United's back line was resilient in the first half despite missing Leandro Gonzalez Pirez who missed the game after receiving a red card in Atlanta's win against Minnesota United. Miles Robinson made his MLS debut and made a couple nice plays.

He cut off Diego Rossi, who was one-on-one with Brad Guzan. He blocked a shot from Latif Blessing, helping Atlanta United fend off some late attacks in the first half. Atlanta had 24 clearances in the match.

Atlanta United, coming off a hard-fought win against Minnesota United where they played most of the match with 10 men, nearly had to play a man down on Saturday after Chris McCann was given a red card in the opening minute.

McCann and Benny Feilhaber were running towards the ball from opposite sides. McCann played the ball then slid into Feilhaber. The refs used VAR after the red was given, and reduced it to a yellow.

The refs used VAR again to call a foul on Walker Zimmerman in the box. Almiron scored on the first penalty kick in the 88th minute, then Joao Moutinho received a red card for a hand ball in the box, setting up another penalty kick for Almiron. He has three goals this season.

Atlanta Untied and LAFC won't meet up again in the regular season. LAFC has now lost two consecutive games after starting its first season strong.

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