New York City FC delivered a stunning performance against Atlanta United on Thursday night, securing a commanding 4-0 victory at Yankee Stadium. This match marked the first contest of the second half of the 2025 MLS regular season and featured a breathtaking explosion of goals from NYCFC in the second half, where they netted three goals within just four minutes.
The game began with cautious play from both sides, a likely consequence of the teams returning from an international break. Early on, Atlanta United showed promise with Saba Lobjanidze breaking down the left flank and delivering a precise cross to Jamal Thiaré, only to be denied by a diving Birk Risa. Despite the early attacking intent, the narrow pitch at Yankee Stadium posed challenges for Atlanta’s wide play, with a few promising combinations narrowly missing the mark.
Atlanta United’s offense gained momentum when Alexey Miranchuk orchestrated a clever pass to Thiaré, who was subsequently brought down by NYCFC goalkeeper Tomás Romero in the 13th minute. After a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review by Sergii Boiko, the referee ruled against awarding a penalty, a decision that kept the scoreline level. Miranchuk came close to breaking the deadlock himself in the 32nd minute when his left-footed shot from 18 yards struck the crossbar, the first shot on target for Atlanta in the match.
Atlanta seemed poised to take the lead in the 37th minute when Derrick Williams headed a corner towards goal, and Thiaré tapped the ball in. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call on Thiaré, a frustrating moment for the visitors. As the first half neared its end, a costly mistake by Brooks Lennon shifted the momentum dramatically. Lennon’s underhit back pass was intercepted by Hannes Wolf, who quickly set up Maxi Moralez to score from close range in the 44th minute, giving NYCFC a crucial 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Statistically, the first half was fairly even, with Atlanta United managing four shots and two on target from three created chances, while NYCFC recorded five shots and two on target from four chances. Yet, that single goal proved decisive as the second half unfolded.
The second half saw a dramatic collapse from Atlanta United. Just ten minutes after the restart, NYCFC’s Mounsef Bakrar unleashed a stunning right-footed shot from 18 yards, curling into the upper right corner and doubling the home side’s advantage in the 55th minute. This goal ignited a furious sequence of scoring that would seal the game decisively.
Hannes Wolf, who had already shown his attacking prowess earlier in the season, struck twice in quick succession. In the 57th minute, he found space inside the box and fired a low shot past Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Two minutes later, Wolf completed his brace by outrunning defenders Derrick Williams and Matthew Edwards to a through ball, slotting home a goal despite Guzan’s valiant touch. This rapid-fire trio of goals in four minutes was a first in NYCFC’s club history and left Atlanta United shell-shocked, trailing 4-0 by the 59th minute.
Following the scoring burst, Atlanta United made several substitutions, bringing on Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, and Emmanuel Latte Lath, who nearly scored shortly after entering the match but was denied by Romero. Luke Brennan and Nyk Sessock also made appearances, with Sessock making his MLS debut in the 88th minute after signing a Short-Term Agreement with the first team.
Atlanta United’s defensive woes were further highlighted by the loss of Derrick Williams to an undisclosed injury late in the match. The 4-0 defeat increased Atlanta’s goals allowed tally to 34, the second most in the league, and deepened their goal differential to minus-13, the fourth worst in MLS. Their struggles on the road continued, with the team remaining winless away from home this season (0-6-2) and winless at Yankee Stadium in regular-season play (0-4-4).
Head coach Ronny Deila, who faced his former club for the first time since managing NYCFC from 2020 to 2022, admitted the team’s second-half performance was disappointing. “We are better than opponents almost every time away, then you have to show character, you have to show discipline, you have to show communication, body language, information, and I see a team that is dying the longer the game goes, and that is painful to watch, and I’m responsible for that,” Deila said.
NYCFC, meanwhile, celebrated a historic moment with their first-ever three-goal burst within five minutes, powered by the outstanding performances of Hannes Wolf, who scored twice for the second consecutive game, and Maxi Moralez, who contributed both a goal and an assist. Mounsef Bakrar’s timely goal kicked off the scoring spree, showcasing the depth and attacking threat of the NYCFC squad despite missing key players due to international duty.
Tomás Romero, making his first MLS start in goal for NYCFC, was solid throughout, including a notable save in the 13th minute that prevented a penalty call. The victory propelled NYCFC (8-6-4) into the top five of the Eastern Conference standings, a significant step as the league approaches the international break.
Atlanta United (4-9-5), on the other hand, find themselves eight points adrift of the playoff line with 16 matches remaining. Their next four fixtures are all on the road, beginning with a challenging trip to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field on June 25. The team will need to regroup quickly and find resilience if they hope to turn their season around.
Despite a promising first half where Atlanta created chances and showed attacking intent, the mental lapses and defensive errors in the second half proved costly. The match underscored the difficulties Atlanta United faces this season, including injuries to key players such as Josh Cohen, Tristan Muyumba, and Stian Rode Gregersen, and the challenges of integrating returning international players.
As the MLS season progresses, both teams will look to build on their performances. NYCFC aims to maintain their momentum and secure a playoff spot, while Atlanta United must address their defensive fragility and find consistency on the road to keep their postseason hopes alive.
