ATLANTA — Atlanta United clinched a spot in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with a convincing 4-1 win against CF Montreal Saturday night in front of 42,569 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Xande Silva, Thiago Almada, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Edwin Mosquera all found the back of the net while three different players recorded a goal and an assist in the same match for just the second time in club history. Giakoumakis continued his pursuit for the Golden Boot with his 15th goal of the season and Almada scored his 10th goal of the season to become the third player in club history to reach double digits in goals and assists in the same campaign.
Atlanta United was in control from the opening whistle, producing a series of threatening attacks while firing eight shots through the first half hour. Silva eventually broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after finishing off a well-worked attack. Giakoumakis sprayed a ball out to the right wing for Saba Lobjanidze where he delivered a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box for Silva. The Portuguese winger one-timed his shot on goal as goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois got a touch to it while it bounced towards goal. A Montreal defender attempted to clear it off the line, but the ball crossed the goal line and Silva earned his second goal for the club. Lobjanidze and Giakoumakis each recorded their third assist of the season.
Atlanta doubled its lead just three minutes later after a quick build up from the back. Luis Abram found Silva on the left wing where he laid it off for Caleb Wiley. The Homegrown dribbled into the box before returning the ball to Silva at the top of the penalty area. Silva took one touch toward goal to draw out Sirois, dribbled around him and found Almada alone in the center of the box for a tap-in. It was Almada's 10th goal of the season while Silva picked up his third assist since joining the club.
Montreal pulled one goal back before the half. Joel Waterman played a long ball down the left side where Lassi Lappalainen ran onto it near the end line and cut it back for Ahmed Hamdi. The midfielder struck it first time from the edge of the penalty area and picked out the bottom right corner in the 40th minute.
Giakoumakis quickly restored Atlanta's two-goal advantage less than a minute into the second half. Atlanta applied pressure high up the field and Silva forced Gabriele Corbo into an errant back pass that fell to Giakoumakis. With Sirois off his line, the Greek international chipped the goalkeeper for his 15th tally of the season. The goal was initially ruled offside, but video review reversed the decision and gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead.
The early second half goal allowed Atlanta to see-out its comfortable lead. Jamal Thiare made his club debut late in the match and was involved in a play that saw Waterman earn a red card in the 87th minute. Almada chipped a ball behind the defense for Thiare to run onto, but Waterman pulled him down as he was in on goal.
Two minutes later, Mosquera sealed the victory against 10-man Montreal with his second goal of the season. The Colombian led a break and played Almada down the right side. The Argentine cut the ball back for Mosquera where he one-timed a shot on goal that took a slight deflection before soaring into the net. It was Almada's league-leading 16th assist of the year.
Atlanta United (13-8-10, 49 points) returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 4 when it travels to face Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
