Atlanta United recorded their highest margin of victory this season in a 3-0 road win over CF Montreal on Wednesday.
Miguel Almiron, Giuliano Galoppo, and Breel Embolo all scored for the Five Stripes, who are 5-3-3 in their last 11 matches.
The victory keeps the Five Stripes (8-15-6, 30 points) afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Atlanta United are still in 14th place in the East, but only six points out of the final playoff spot.
Five Stripes goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos made two saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season.
Atlanta entered the match with a league-low 33 goals, but the three-goal outburst is further evidence of the club’s offensive revival. After scoring only 14 goals in their first 15 regular-season matches, the Five Stripes made transfer-window additions that have helped power the team to 22 goals in the past 14 matches.
CF Montreal (6-17-6, 24 points) are in last place in the Eastern Conference and all but officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza stopped three of the six shots he faced.
Prince Owusu wasn’t available for the lineup on Wednesday, and Montreal’s offense was clearly lacking without the star striker. Atlanta outshot Montreal 18-9, including a 6-2 edge in shots on target.
CF Montreal’s closest chances didn’t come until second-half stoppage time, when Hennadii Synchuk and Olger Escobar both hit the goalpost.
That same post helped Almiron score his sixth goal of the season. In the 22nd minute, Almiron’s shot from outside the penalty arc got through traffic in front of the net, deflected off the near post and over the goal line.
In the 42nd minute, Embolo’s close-range header was stopped by Breza, but Galoppo was in position to deposit the rebound. It was Galoppo’s second goal in four matches with Atlanta since joining the team on a loan deal from Argentina’s River Plate in early September.
Embolo then scored his second goal off another rebound in the 60th minute, as the striker got the finish after Almiron’s initial attempt was saved. Embolo is another new arrival, signing a Designated Player contract in August.
–Field Level Media
