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Atlanta United’s playoff hopes ended Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a 2-1 loss to New York City FC at Citi Field. Bénie Traoré scored for NYCFC in the 95th minute, just minutes after Breel Embolo’s late equalizer gave Atlanta a chance to take points from the match.
Nicolás Fernández Mercau put the hosts ahead with a free kick in the 70th minute. Embolo made it 1-1 in the 88th, but Traoré’s stoppage-time goal settled the result. The loss officially eliminated Atlanta United from playoff contention.
It is the second consecutive season Atlanta has missed the postseason. The result came during the final stretch of the regular season, with one home match remaining on the club’s schedule.
Atlanta starts with early pressure
Atlanta created several opportunities in the opening half. Júnior Alonso attempted a long-range shot in the second minute, and Giuliano Galoppo sent a volley wide shortly afterward.
In the 14th minute, Embolo held the ball up and set up Alexey Miranchuk for a chance against goalkeeper Matt Freese. Freese made the save. Atlanta continued to press, and Tristan Muyumba later tested him with a free kick and a long-range effort.
Embolo appeared to put Atlanta ahead with a header in the 22nd minute. The goal was ruled out after video review because Alonso was offside in the buildup.
NYCFC had fewer clear chances before halftime. Lucas Hoyos stopped a Nicolás Fernández attempt in the 42nd minute, and the teams went into the break scoreless.
Atlanta United’s official match recap reported that Atlanta had 1.1 expected goals in the first half, compared with 0.3 for NYCFC. The visitors also outshot the home team 9-3 in the opening 45 minutes, according to Deadspin’s match report.
Fernández Mercau breaks the deadlock
The teams remained level through the first part of the second half. Atlanta had an opportunity involving Embolo and Miguel Almirón, while Hoyos made saves to keep NYCFC from moving ahead.
Fernández Mercau scored in the 70th minute from a free kick taken nearly 30 yards from goal. The NYCFC midfielder sent the ball into the bottom-right corner to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
The goal put Atlanta in a difficult position. The Five Stripes needed a win to maintain their remaining playoff possibility, and a draw would not keep their postseason hopes alive.
Embolo equalizes late
Atlanta continued to search for an answer. Freese denied a close-range attempt from Tomás Jacob, and Hoyos made additional saves as NYCFC looked to extend its lead.
Atlanta found the equalizer in the 88th minute. A shot struck the post and rebounded into the box, where Embolo headed the ball into the net. The goal made the score 1-1 and gave Atlanta a brief opportunity to pursue a winning goal.
Embolo’s finish was his fourth goal in his first 10 MLS appearances, according to the Associated Press report. The late goal also followed an earlier Atlanta strike that had been disallowed for offside.
Traoré scores in stoppage time
The tie lasted only a few minutes. Traoré, who entered as a substitute in the 90th minute, scored in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. His shot gave NYCFC a 2-1 lead and proved to be the match winner.
The final whistle confirmed Atlanta’s elimination from the playoffs. NYCFC, meanwhile, kept its own postseason hopes alive with the win. The club moved within one point of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff position, according to the AP.
What the result means for Atlanta
The loss leaves Atlanta United out of contention for the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. It also marks a second straight season without a postseason appearance for the club.
Atlanta entered the match needing to win to preserve a slim chance of reaching the playoffs. The 2-1 result ended that possibility, regardless of the outcome of the club’s remaining regular-season game.
The match also showed how quickly the result changed late. Atlanta had chances in the first half and found an equalizer with two minutes of regulation time remaining. Traoré’s stoppage-time goal, however, left the visitors without a point.
The official Atlanta United recap and the AP report both describe the 2-1 result and playoff elimination. Deadspin’s coverage also reports the match’s scoring sequence and standings impact.
Season finale scheduled for Sunday
Atlanta United is scheduled to host Toronto FC on Sunday, Nov. 1, in its final home match of the 2026 regular season. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, with the club’s Fan Appreciation Night planned for the match, according to the club’s recap.
With playoff contention no longer at stake, the Toronto match closes Atlanta’s home schedule for the season. The team will have one final opportunity to play in front of its home supporters before the regular season concludes.
For Atlanta supporters across the metro area, the NYCFC result marks the end of the club’s postseason pursuit and the beginning of the offseason conversation. The immediate focus is the scheduled finale against Toronto and how Atlanta closes its regular-season campaign.
For more Atlanta-area coverage, visit the Atlanta Wave TV blog.
