ORLANDO, Fla. — Atlanta United fell 3-2 to Pumas in its second game in Phase One of Leagues Cup 2025 Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium.
After an even opening 20 minutes of the match, Alvaro Angulo gave Pumas the lead in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot after Brooks Lennon was called for a foul on Pedro Vite inside the box.
Saba Lobjanidze tested Pumas goalkeeper Keylor Navas for the first time in the 32nd minute, intercepting a pass in Atlanta’s attacking third and quickly firing a hard shot on frame that the Costa Rican international pushed away.
Atlanta leveled the match just three minutes later with Lobjanidze forcing an own goal from Navas. Ronald Hernández played a ball down the right wing to Miguel Almirón who turned and found Bartosz Slisz in the center of the field about 25 yards from goal. The midfielder delivered a ball over the top of the defense, picking out a streaking Lobjanidze who directed a right-footed first-time finish that deflected off of Navas and into the net.
Atlanta continued to put pressure on Pumas’ backline for the remainder of the first half, with Lobjanidze again forcing an impressive save from Navas on a curling shot towards the far post. Atlanta took the lead in the 43rd minute after a nice counter attacking sequence ended with a goal for Latte Lath. The play started with Lobjanidze intercepting a pass in the attacking half and quickly playing the ball centrally to Alexey Miranchuk who laid it off for Slisz. The midfielder played Almirón into space where he drove forward and slipped a pass into the right side of the box to Lobjanidze. The winger picked his head up and squared a cross to the far post where Latte Lath calmly slotted a left-footed finish into an open net.
Pumas tied the match in the 62nd minute when Adalberto Carrasquilla received a pass in the center of the box and blasted a strike into the top-right corner. Carrasquilla put Pumas ahead in the 89th minute. After Hernández was called for a foul inside the box, Carrasquilla’s penalty attempt was saved by Brad Guzan, however the rebound fell to the Pumas midfielder who passed the ball into the net.
In stoppage time, Pumas’ captain Navas was issued a straight red card for a challenge on Jamal Thiaré just outside the box. After a long delay, Slisz took the free kick but couldn’t direct it on target in what was the final play of the match.
Atlanta United (0-2-0, 0 points) returns to Leagues Cup action on Wednesday, playing host to Atlas FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the club’s third and final match in Phase One.
