SOCCER: Saba Lobjanidze's brace sparks Atlanta over Montreal

Saba Lobjanidze scored a brace and Emmanuel Latte Lath netted the match-winner late in the first half as Atlanta United defeated visiting CF Montreal 3-1 on Saturday evening.

Alexey Miranchuk had two assists while Pedro Amador and Cooper Sanchez added an assist apiece for Atlanta (3-7-1, 10 points), which won its third straight match across all competitions and second straight in MLS play. It also snapped a four-match home winless streak (0-3-1).

Montreal (3-7-0, 9 points) saw a two-match win streak come to an end while its road losing streak reached four. It also finished the match with 10 men after Brayan Vera received a red card in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

Latte Lath put Atlanta ahead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time thanks to an interception by Sanchez. The Ivorian striker played a ball forward to Miranchuk, then scored on Miranchuk's return pass to make it 2-1.

Lobjanidze upped Atlanta United's lead to 3-1 in the 50th minute, scoring off Sanchez's assist.

Atlanta equalized in the 41st minute with Lobjanidze's first goal of the year. After receiving a pass from Miranchuk, Lobjanidze's shot deflected off Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier's hand and trickled past the goal line, tying the match at 1.

Matty Longstaff scored Montreal's lone goal of the evening in the sixth minute.

Lucas Hoyos finished the evening with four saves. Gillier stopped two Atlanta shots.

Atlanta United won back-to-back MLS regular-season matches for the first time since May 25 and 28, 2025. They have outscored opponents 7-2 during their win streak.

Montreal lost for the first time under interim head coach Phillipe Eullaffroy.

Miranchuk has two goals and two assists in his last three matches across all competitions.

-Field Level Media/Reuters