Atlanta crush Atlas 4-1 in historic Leagues Cup win as Pineda faces rough return | OneFootball

Atlanta United stormed to a resounding 4-1 victory over Liga MX side Atlas FC in their final Leagues Cup group stage match, finally putting an end to their poor run of results against Mexican opponents. Not only was it the Five Stripes’ first-ever win in Leagues Cup history, but it also served as a bittersweet return for former head coach Gonzalo Pineda, now managing Atlas. What was billed as a tense reunion turned into a one-sided affair at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as Atlanta spectacularly rediscovered its attacking firepower.

Coming into the match, Atlanta had lost both of their previous Leagues Cup games this season, including their latest 3-2 loss to Universidad Nacional. That defeat left them on the brink of early elimination and desperately needing a strong response. And respond they did — with arguably their best performance of the season under new manager Ronny Deila, who continues to make his case to secure his role and win the hearts of the fans.

Electric start and statement goals

The tone was set early. From the opening whistle, Atlanta looked sharper, quicker, and hungrier than their Mexican counterparts. Alexsey Miranchuk pulled the strings in midfield with trademark flair, and Saba Lobjanidze’s pace down the right caused constant problems for Atlas. Atlanta opened the scoring in the 8th minute through Jamal Thiare, who coolly slotted home a penalty kick from twelve yards after Stian Gregersen was bundled over in the box by Matheus Doria. The goal ignited the home crowd and set the stage for what was to come.

Just twenty-five minutes later, Miranchuk doubled the lead with a sumptuous dink over goalkeeper Camilo Vargas after collecting a sublime give and go pass from Luke Brennan.  Atlas looked rattled — slow in possession and disorganised at the back. The Mexican side struggled to deal with Atlanta's fluid movement and aggressive pressing. Before halftime, the Five Stripes made it 3-0 with a thunderbolt free kick from 30 yards out from Saba Lobjanidze, who made them pay from a cheap turnover to score his first Leagues Cup goal of the year.  The Georgian reminded everyone why he's among the most valuable players in MLS, orchestrating attacks and punishing defensive lapses.

Pineda’s return ends in disappointment

Atlanta United v Atlas - Leagues Cup Phase One | Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/GettyImages

For Gonzalo Pineda, the night could not have gone worse. The former Atlanta United boss, who led the team from 2021 until his dismissal last season, was visibly frustrated on the sideline as his new team failed to match the intensity of his old one.

His return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium was met with a mixed reception — some applause, some indifference — but by halftime, the narrative had shifted firmly against him. Atlas was outshot, outrun, and outthought throughout the first 45 minutes, a stark contrast to the energy Atlanta showed under Deila.

To his credit, Pineda made several changes after the break in an attempt to rescue the match. Atlas pulled one back in the 83rd minute through Deigo Gonzalez, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed because Cayman Togashi had made it 4-0 earlier with a well-placed header in the 72nd minute — his first goal for the club.

A turning point under Deila?

Atlanta United v Atlas - Leagues Cup Phase One | Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/GettyImages

The 4-1 result was Atlanta’s largest win since May and perhaps their most complete performance of 2025. Head coach Deila has now overseen multiple high-quality performances since taking over from Pineda and interim coach Rob Valentino, and his team appears to be responding to his leadership with renewed spirit and clarity on the pitch.

In this match, every line delivered. The defence, anchored by Gregersen and Ronald Hernandez, was disciplined and alert. Midfielders Will Reilly and Bartos Silisz balanced ball control with hard tackling. Up top, Thiare and Miranchuk were unplayable, Brennan and Lobjanidze brought the width and pace that Atlanta lacked in earlier matches.

With new signings like Cayman finally getting on the scoresheet and the team showing signs of cohesion, fans are starting to wonder if this could be a turning point — not just in the Leagues Cup, but for the rest of the MLS season.

What's next for Atlanta United?

Despite the emphatic result, the Five Stripes were already eliminated from the Leagues Cup after Pumas clinched the group with two wins. That leaves Atlanta with some extra rest before their return to MLS play — where they’ll need to carry over this momentum to climb out of the lower half of the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta United will next face CF Montréal on Saturday, August 10 at Stade Saputo. Montréal currently sit just above Atlanta in the standings, making it a crucial six-point clash in the race for the final playoff spots.

With Miranchuk in form, 4 goals from six matches and Deila energising the squad, Atlanta now looks far more dangerous than they did a month ago. If the team can translate their Leagues Cup performance into MLS consistency, a late-season surge isn’t out of the question. The 4-1 win over Atlas will be remembered for multiple reasons: it was Atlanta United’s first-ever Leagues Cup victory, a cathartic performance for fans after weeks of disappointment, and a symbolic parting shot at a former manager whose tenure ended in frustration.

Whether it proves to be a one-off or the beginning of a resurgence depends on how they follow up in league play. But for now, Atlanta United can finally say they’ve conquered a Liga MX side — and they did it in emphatic fashion.