Let’s all enjoy Thiago Almada in MLS while we can.
On MLS opening day, Atlanta United entered stoppage time trailing 1-0 to San Jose as a crowd of 67,538 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was set to go home disappointed.
Jeremy Ebobisse gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute and despite a number of chances, Atlanta could not find the back of the net.
But then Almada lighting struck twice, as the recently crowned World Cup winner scored not one, but two incredible goals to give the Five Stripes a dramatic 2-1 win.
In the 93rd minute, the 21-year-old was played a short corner and with some time at the top of the box, he fired home a stunning effort off the underside of the crossbar.
THIAGO.
EZEQUIEL.
ALMADA. pic.twitter.com/zbxbdCzHRq— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 26, 2023
But Almada was far from done. In the 99th minute Atlanta United was given a free kick, setting the stage for the Argentine to curl home the winner.
Per Opta, it was only the second time in MLS history a player had scored a match-tying and match-winning goal in stoppage time of a single match.
Thiago Almada only scores bangers™️ pic.twitter.com/jTcaN2t0Nu
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 26, 2023
Almada has been widely tipped to depart Atlanta United in the near future, with clubs in Europe lining up for his signature. He may have earned his club a couple extra dollars with his match-winning heroics on Saturday.
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