Late penalty rescues Atlanta United in 1-1 draw with Toronto FC in MLS play

Hamilton Spectator

13-07-2025

TORONTO - Ivory Coast forward Emmanuel Latte Lath scored from the penalty spot in the 101st minute to lift Atlanta United into a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday in a clash of two teams at the wrong end of the MLS Eastern Conference.
Atlanta called for the penalty in stoppage time when Luke Brennan went down in contact with Toronto substitute Charlie Sharp's boot. Referee Jon Freemon pointed to the spot after reviewing the play on the pitchside monitor.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had been excellent all night, got a hand on the ball but it still went in.
Latte Lath, who joined Atlanta in early February for a reported MLS-record US$22-million transfer fee, had not scored in his previous 13 appearances after recording five goals in his first six outings. He had a goal called back in the 21st minute for offside.
Deybi Flores had put Toronto ahead in the 48th minute, rising unchallenged to head home a Matty Longstaff corner. The set piece came after stand-in goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert parried Theo Corbeanu's hard shot.
It was the second goal of the season for the Honduran midfielder, back from International duty at the Gold Cup. Flores had to exit the game five minutes after scoring and was later seen limping back to the bench.
Toronto (4-11-6) lost forward Ola Brynhildsen in the 35th minute reportedly due to illness. He was replaced by Deandre Kerr.
Attendance was announced at 23,100.
Atlanta (4-10-7) arrived in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, one place and one point above Toronto. Its high-priced roster has not delivered, a predicament TFC has some of its own history with.
Saturday marked Toronto's second game since buying out Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.
Atlanta has just two wins in its last 15 league outings (2-8-5) since a March 29 decision over New York City FC. Toronto, which had not played since a 3-1 loss at New York City FC on July 3, had won just one of its last six (1-4-1).
Tsubasa Endoh, who spent five seasons with TFC from 2016 to 2021, was honoured before the game. The 31-year-old winger from Tokyo, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2022, signed a one-day contract this week so he could retire as a Toronto player.
Endoh received a standing ovation when he brought out the match ball before the game.
Atlanta was coming off scoreless draw last Saturday at D.C. United, just its second clean sheet of the season, that snapped a three-game losing streak.
Atlanta has yet to win away from home this season with an 0-7-4 away record.
Toronto has suffered at home (2-7-4) and away (2-4-2).
Toronto coach Robin Fraser made three changes to his starting lineup with Flores, Richie Laryea and Derrick Etienne Jr. slotting in. Laryea started at centre back alongside Sigurd Rosted in a makeshift backline.
Toronto was missing captain Jonathan Osorio and defenders Nicksoen Gomis, Henry Wingo and Zane Monlouis, with all three likely out for the season. Veteran defender Kevin Long, not listed on the league's injury report, did not dress.
Osorio, injured on international duty with Canada, is close to returning and was seen doing a fitness test on the field before Saturday's game.
Midfielder Markus Cimermancic, who last played for the first team May 28, started on the bench.
Toronto's nine-man bench, which included two goalkeepers, had a combined 21 career MLS goals with 14 of those from Kerr.
Atlanta was missing injured goalkeeper Josh Cohen, defenders Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams and midfielder Jay Fortune. Veteran 'keeper Brad Guzan, who underwent surgery this week to repair a fractured cheek bone suffered against D.C. United, was on the bench with the 20-year-old Hibbert making his first career MLS start.
Atlanta's three designated players — Latte Lath, Paraguay's Miguel Almirón and Russian Alexey Miranchuk — led the attack along with Georgia international Saba Lobjanidze.
It was one-way traffic early on with Atlanta leading the dance. But TFC began to claw its way back with Corbeanu a threat on the right flank.
Johnson had to stop a long-range rocket from Bartosz Slicz in the ninth minute. Latte Lath's low shot went just wide in the 34th minute with Johnson beaten and Lobjanidze just missing getting a foot to the ball before the shot went past the post.
A the other end, Hibbert had to stop Corbeanu from a tight angle in the 39th minute for TFC's first shot on the mark after six attempts off target. Brooks Lennon hammered a shot right at Johnson in first-half stoppage time.
Toronto outshot Atlanta 8-6 in the first half (2-2 in shots on target).
While the overall series with Atlanta was even-steven at 5-5-6 before Saturday, Toronto held a 4-1-2 edge at BMO Field.
Toronto plays its next four games on the road, at San Diego, Nashville, Charlotte and Philadelphia, with its next home outing Aug. 16 against Columbus.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.