Behind big first half, Atlanta finally wins a third straight

Atlanta United scored twice in the first half and held off a push in the second half to win their third straight match, beating visiting Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday.

It's the first time United have won three in a row in MLS competition since the 2021 season.

Tomas Jacob gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. Cooper Sanchez chipped the ball ahead at midfield for Miguel Almiron, who retrieved it into the final third. He worked his way around Kansas City defender Moises Mosquera high in the box and brought the ball down before sending a cross to Jacob on the back door for an easy tap-in.

Almiron's work on a corner led to Fafa Picault doubling the hosts' advantage in the 24th minute. Almiron launched into the crowd of bodies in front of the net, with it going over the heads of the Sporting KC defenders, and Picault came charging in untouched to the middle of the goal area to deflect the ball off his foot and into the left corner of the net.

Kansas City came out jumping in the second half, leaving Atlanta flat-footed, but struggled to capitalize early. Capita Capemba hit the outside of the net from down low in the 47th minute. Eleven minutes later, a rush up the pitch with Capemba and Taylor Calheira flamed out just outside the box.

The visitors finally broke through in the 70th minute courtesy of Stephen Afrifa. Calvin Harris retrieved a ball along the touchline and fed it into the box. It rolled toward the opposition, but Atlanta couldn't clear it and Afrifa was first to the loose ball, directing a left-foot strike from the far side inside the right post to cut it to 2-1.

Kansas City continued to press for the equalizer as the half progressed, and had three consecutive opportunities to potentially capitalize, with a free kick followed by a pair of corners. But Sporting couldn't take advantage.

They came close in the second minute of second-half stoppage time on a Mosquera header that just missed over the net.

--Field Level Media