The MLS season kicked off with thrilling matches, as Atlanta United triumphed over CF Montreal and FC Dallas edged past the Houston Dynamo, showcasing new talent and setting the tone for the season.
Atlanta United secured a solid 3-2 victory over CF Montreal on Saturday night, thanks to the standout performance of Emmanuel Latte Lath, who marked his MLS debut with two goals. Shortly thereafter, Edwin Mosquera scored the go-ahead goal late in the match, clinching the win for Atlanta. Mosquera, who was only on the pitch for two minutes before scoring, split the defenders and fired off a rising shot from the penalty box corner, beating goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The match started with Latte Lath, a 26-year-old Ivorian international acquired for what is reported to be MLS’s record transfer fee of $22 million, delivering the first goal for Atlanta. He netted it just before halftime, heading home from a corner kick delivered by Saba Lobjanidze.
Montreal showed resilience when 21-year-old homegrown midfielder Nathan Saliba leveled the score at 1-1 shortly after the halftime break. Saliba's efforts were propelled by the mishandling of the ball by Atlanta’s Miguel Almirón, giving Latte Lath the chance to put Atlanta back on board at 2-1 with his putback shot.
Montreal countered with Prince Owusu equalizing at 2-2 after 71 minutes of play. Following a setup from George Campbell and Tom Pearce, Owusu capitalized on the chance with point-blank precision.
Atlanta's goalie Brad Guzan showcased solid defense, stopping four shots and helping to secure the win for his team. Sirois, on the other hand, faced challenges with five saves, underscoring the tense competition on the field.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas was also victorious, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1, led by the dual contribution of Petar Musa, who netted one goal and assisted another. Dallas found their rhythm after going down early, courtesy of Amine Bassi's header from close range, which put Houston on the scoreboard first.
Musa swiftly brought Dallas back to level pegging at 1-1. After dispossessing Dynamo’s Jack McGlynn, Musa made his way through the defense and skipped past goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell. His effort was followed by Anderson Julio's go-ahead goal, which came at the 76-minute mark, sealing Dallas's win.
Julio took full advantage of Musa's deft pass, darting past defenders and calmly finishing after evading Tarbell, making it 2-1. The victory was particularly sweet for Dallas, as they not only secured three points but also demonstrated their ability to come from behind.
Overall, this opening weekend of the MLS season proved to be just the excitement fans had anticipated, with teams tirelessly competing and new talents making their mark.
With these high-stakes season openers, both Atlanta United and FC Dallas have showcased their ambitions for the upcoming MLS season, setting up what could be another thrilling chapter of American soccer.