Atlanta, GA

RSL Dominant in 5-2 Home Trouncing of Atlanta United | Real Salt Lake

Published

1 year ago

July 7, 2024

RSL Dominant in 5-2 Home Trouncing of Atlanta United | Real Salt Lake

SANDY, Utah (Sat., July 6, 2024) – Real Salt Lake (12-3-7 / 43 points / T-1^st West) came out red-hot in front of a fifth consecutive sold-out crowd at America First Field (20,396, and its seventh in 11 home matches this season. RSL needed only 43 seconds to claim the advantage over Atlanta, as MF Matt Crooks’ early score with assists from Diego Luna and Braian Ojeda claimed the title of fifth-fastest goal in Club history. Following a lackluster first half, the final 45 minutes would be dominant for RSL, matching its season high with another five-goal performance, improving to 8-2-1 / 25 points at home this season.

The clear “Man of the Match” for RSL tonight was 20-year-old playmaker Diego Luna, finishing with a goal and three assists. The “hat trick” of assists marks just the fourth time in the Club’s 636-game MLS history that an RSL player has set up three goals (Espindola, 2012; Ruiz, 2023; Luna, 3/3/24 & tonight). The four total goal contributions for Luna are the most in any match in his professional career, matching the most of any RSL player in a game this season (Arango). Alongside Luna on the scoresheet was MLS MVP and Golden Boot frontrunner, RSL Captain Chicho Arango, the Colombian frontman bagging his 17th goal of the campaign. Arango’s 17 goals are the most in MLS, while Luna’s 12 assists rank third-most in the league entering Sunday’s action.

Also contributing was midfielder Braian Ojeda, his 59th minute goal his second in as many games, previously playing 66 consecutive RSL appearances without a goal, scoring in the last two. In addition to Ojeda, DF Alex Katranis also came forward from his natural position to get on the scoresheet, the former Greek youth international scoring for the third time in his inaugural stateside season.

The win was a comprehensive example in ball control for Manager Pablo Mastroeni’s side, his team dominating 62% of possession and outpassing Atlanta 650-383. RSL’s three points keeps it even with LAFC at 43 points atop the Western Conference table, now staring down a three-match road trip to Portland Timbers, LAFC and Colorado Rapids July 13, 17 and 20, heading into the MLS All-Star break and then the Leagues Cup kickoff.

RSL – 1’ – Matt Crooks (Diego Luna, Braian Ojeda): As RSL took possession to open the match, calmly passing throughout the midfield for players’ first touches of the evening, Braian Ojeda took control in the midfield. Seeing green grass ahead, Ojeda launched himself forward, pulling off a devastating dribble to cut between the only two oncoming defenders. Now drawing the attention of the entire ATL defense, he laid it off to Diego Luna charging into the right side of the box. Without taking a touch, Luna whipped it back across the face of goal with pace for the incoming run of Matt Crooks, his English teammate able to tap in the point-blank scoring chance.

ATL – 31’ – Saba Lobjanidze (Daniel Ríos, Bartosz Slisz): Despite Real dominating possession and more than doubling Atlanta in completed passes, the Five Stripes equalized in the 31st minute of play. Controlling possession deep in Claret-and-Cobalt territory, the ball found its way to the feet of Bartosz Slisz on the edge of the box. With his teammate flashing to the ball, Slisz fired a quick pass to the center of the box for Saba Lobjanidze with a defender at his back. Lobjanidze played a flashy back-heel give-and-go with Daniel Ríos, popping out on the other side with just enough space to get off the shot – his right-footed attempt bending around the outstretched glove of Gavin Beavers and inside the near post.

RSL – 59’ – Braian Ojeda (Unassisted): Coming out for the second 45 with refreshed legs, it wouldn’t take long for Real Salt Lake to re-establish control of the game. As Alex Katranis stood alongside the flag, preparing to take a 59th minute corner kick, his teammates flooded the box. Katranis floated a high, arcing ball to the center of the box when Captain Chicho Arango rose up and headed it at goal. As Arango’s attempt deflected by an ATL defender up into the air, Braian Ojeda, with his back to the goal, flipped his hips and sent it into the side netting with a spinning shot. After having not scored in his first 66 RSL appearances, Ojeda has now gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive matches.

RSL – 68’ – Chicho Arango (Diego Luna): Keeping the feet on the gas, Pablo Mastroeni’s side took a commanding two-goal lead in the 68th minute. With Diego Luna standing over a free kick opportunity on the edge of the attacking third, his teammates flooded the box in a coordinated rush. As Luna’s cross zipped over the main crowd and towards the back post, Arango outpaced his only marker on the outside to get on the end of it, sending a thundering downward header back against the ‘keeper’s momentum and into the far post side netting.

RSL – 78’ – Alex Katranis (Diego Luna): Pouring it on in front of the home fans, Real pushed the lead to three goals in the 78th minute. Another corner kick, this time from the left side, began as Luna stood over the ball with menacing intentions. Faking as if he was sending in a traditional cross, Luna unleashed a worm burner to Alex Katranis on the near side. Shuffling his feet as the ball approached, Katranis caught it pure on his left boot with a first-time shot, his attempt curling up and over the glove of Brad Guzan as it sailed into the back of the net.

ATL – 80’ – Daniel Ríos (Brooks Lennon): Against the run of play, Atlanta immediately stole one back in the 80th minute. With Atlanta pressing far up the pitch in desperation, a long cross made its way from the left side through the box untouched, resettling at the feet of Brooks Lennon on the other side. Holding play for the run of his teammate, Lennon whipped in an accurate ball to the head of Daniel Ríos in the box, Ríos able to connect and send it into the back of the net.

RSL – 84’ – Diego Luna (Maikel Chang): Capping off an unreal flurry of offensive action, RSL scored yet again in the 84th. As Atlanta attempted to break out from its own end, an errant pass was intercepted by Maikel Chang and immediately converted into a counter attack. Running directly at the defenders, Chang reached the edge of the box when he sent a line drive pass to the chest of Luna in the box. Controlling it with a masterful first touch to set up the shot, Luna pounded a half-volley back into the ground that bounced perfectly into the corner.

NOTES FROM RSL 5 : 2 ATLANTA UNITED

Chicho’s goal tonight represents his 17^th this year, tying the franchise single-season record of 17 goals, set by Alvaro Saborio over a decade ago in 2012. RSL’s captain now needs just one more to break and claim sole possession of the all-time single-season RSL scoring mark.
Matt Crooks’ goal 43 seconds into the match now stands as the fourth-fastest goal scored in RSL Club history.
19-year-old Gavin Beavers gets the win in goal, bringing his season record to 4-1-1 (+9 Goal Differential) when between the posts.
Captain Chicho Arango extends his MLS Golden Boot lead to three goals with his 17th of the campaign, ahead of both Christian Benteke (DCU) and Denis Bouanga (LAFC), with 14 goals each.
Diego Luna’s three assists now represent his second triple-assist game of the year, and only the fourth time a player has recorded up to three assists in a game in RSL’s 636-game MLS history (Fabian Espindola and Pablo Ruiz in 2012 and 2023); Luna’s 12 assists this season now ranks him third in all of Major League Soccer.
RSL improves to 8-2-1 / 25 points at home in 2024. With one more win, RSL would equal its home point total from 2023 (6-7-4 / 22 points), with six home League games remaining, all coming in the final nine MLS matches after Leagues Cup, resuming Aug. 24
MF Braian Ojeda earns a goal for the second time in as many matches, and the second MLS/RSL goal in his 68th game across all competitions since first joining the Claret-and-Cobalt in Sept. 2022.

Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Gavin Beavers; Brayan Vera (Bryan Oviedo, 67’); Bode Hidalgo; Philip Quinton (Andrew Brody, 46’); Alex Katranis; Emeka Eneli (Nelson Palacio, 46’); Braian Ojeda; Andrés Gómez (Maikel Chang, 79’); Diego Luna; Matt Crooks (Anderson Julio, 67’); Chicho Arango ©

Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Tommy Silva, Zavier Gozo, Noel Caliskan

Atlanta United (4-2-3-1): Brad Guzan ©; Ronald Hernández (Matthew Edwards, 89’); Derrick Williams; Brooks Lennon; Noah Cobb; Caleb Wiley; Bartosz Slisz (Luke Brennan, 90’); Saba Lobjanidze (Jay Fortune, 69’); Dax McCarty (Tristan Muyumba, 60’); Xande Silva (Tyler Wolff, 60’); Daniel Ríos

Subs not used: Luis Abram, Efrain Morales, Josh Cohen, Nicolas Firmino

RSL: Diego Luna (Caution, 57’)

ATL: Derrick Williams (Caution, 67’)

ATL: Jay Fortune (Caution, 89’)

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Atlanta, GA

Want a rental for the World Cup in Atlanta? Demand up as much as 4000%

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Want a rental for the World Cup in Atlanta? Demand up as much as 4000%

Are you trying to find a short-term rental in Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on match day?

The players on the field won’t be the only ones facing fierce competition.

In the days since the announcement of the group stage match-ups last week, demand for short term rentals in Atlanta has skyrocketed, reaching nearly a 5000% increase in some neighborhoods.

In a report published by AirDNA — a vacation rental analysis group that uses data from companies like Aibnb, VRBO and rental partners — researchers compared searches for short-term rentals in Atlanta in June and July 2025 to searches for the coming year during the same time period.

Here is what they found.

These Atlanta neighborhoods have highest demand

AirDNA found that in the city of Atlanta, the year-over-year change in demand for short term rentals for the dates of the group stage games increased 286% overall, as of Dec. 10.

For the round of 32 date, demand went up 351% from 2025 to 2026. During the round of 16, the demand was up 284%. The semi-final match led to an increase in demand of 213%.

For specific neighborhoods, the year-over-year increase in nightly demand for rentals was astronomical.

Here are the top 10:

Chosewood Park — 4450%
Buckhead — 2400%
Atlanta University Center/ Vine City — 1911%
Cabbagetown — 1833%
Edgewood — 1638%
Ben Hill — 1200%
Bankhead — 1141%
Grant Park — 1044%
Downtown Atlanta — 1034%
North Druid Hills — 900%

More than 30 other neighborhoods and cities in the greater Atlanta metro area saw increases in nightly demand by more than 200%.

Only six areas — Doraville, Brookhaven/North Buckhead, Douglasville, Powder Springs, Vinnings and Chamblee — saw a decrease in nightly demand for match days compared to 2025.

Rentals for night before also in high demand

When AirDNA compared demand for the night before a match versus the night after, the demand was similar if not higher in some cases.

The demand for rentals on June 14, the day before the first group stage match, is the same for demand on June 15 when the match is actually played, the data shows.

On June 20, however, demand for a rental in Atlanta overall is higher than on June 21, the day of the third group stage match.

Overall demand in Atlanta stays high once the World Cup begins, with some slower breaks in between the later tournament matches.

Can I still get World Cup tickets for Atlanta matches?

The Random Selection Draw period is on now for specific match tickets. Spectators hoping to see a specific match can request to enter the drawing through the FIFA ticketing website.

Tickets are also available for some of the more elaborate World Cup experiences, as well as through packages from Qatar Airlines. Tickets will open for resale on Dec. 15.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

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Atlanta, GA

Falcons-Buccaneers on ‘Thursday Night Football’: What We Learned from Atlanta’s 29-28 win

Published

14 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Falcons-Buccaneers on ‘Thursday Night Football’: What We Learned from Atlanta’s 29-28 win

FULL BOX SCORE

Falcons pull off shocking upset in spite of countless mistakes. The Carolina Panthers might have to add the Falcons to their Christmas card list. Trailing by 14 points with less than 10 minutes remaining, the Falcons engineered two touchdown drives and — after the Bucs failed to shut the door — drove 45 yards to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired. Kirk Cousins overcame a final-drive fumble that was ruled simultaneous possession, keeping the ball with Atlanta. Cousins threw for 134 yards in the fourth quarter alone, keeping his mastery of the Bucs’ defense alive from last season, when he gutted them for 785 yards and eight TDs. Cousins threw for 373 yards and three TD passes on Thursday, all to Kyle Pitts, and showed he still has a little magic left. The way they played for most of the game, the Falcons had absolutely no business winning this contest — only their second victory since Week 6 — but somehow found a way.
Just a crushing loss for the stumbling Bucs. Leading by two scores early in the fourth quarter, the Bucs appeared to be putting the Falcons away and making them pay for their countless mistakes throughout the game. But Tampa Bay’s defense allowed the Falcons to drive twice for touchdowns, with Baker Mayfield’s interception an absolute killer with just over eight minutes left. Even though the Falcons missed two two-point tries, Atlanta stopped Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense with just under two minutes left and drove 45 yards to set up Zane Gonzalez‘ game-winning kick. This loss (the Bucs’ sixth in seven games since the bye) helped push the Panthers into first place heading into Sunday’s matchup at the Saints, and it suddenly puts the Bucs in real danger of missing the postseason for the first time since the 2019 season. Not even Mike Evans‘ impressive return to the field could spur the Buccaneers enough. The division will still come down to the Bucs’ two matchups with Carolina, but with the way they’re playing, you have to say the Panthers have the edge now.
Pitts made money with career-best game. One of the more intriguing 2026 free agents is helping his cause to get paid in the offseason, and Thursday was his best game yet. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts registered career highs in receptions (11), receiving yards (166) and touchdowns (three), lifting the Falcons to the stunning win. Pitts had two of his three scores in the first half, helping Atlanta take a 14-13 lead into the break, and his 7-yard TD catch — with his keister barely touching in the end zone before his elbow hit out — with 3:34 left cut the Bucs’ lead to two points. Atlanta faced a third-and-28 on the final drive, but Pitts’ 14-yard catch at least made the fourth down manageable, with David Sills (who dropped a would-be TD earlier) snagging a 21-yarder on fourth-and-14 to put the Falcons in business. But the story on the night was Pitts, who was shredding the Bucs even after they issued extra defensive attention his way. The 25-year-old hasn’t produced as expected — he had one TD coming into the game — but has been on a recent hot streak and could parlay that into a big March payday.
Pass protection let the Bucs down. Baker Mayfield has to take responsibility for his un-pressured interception in the fourth quarter, but he was under fire for most of the night Thursday. Mayfield was sacked five times, and that number would have been higher had it not been for Atlanta penalties wiping other sacks out. The Bucs’ interior OL trio of Mike Jordan, Dan Feeney and Graham Barton really struggled to handle the Falcons’ rush inside all night, creating some muddy pockets on a field that looked pretty chewed up to begin with. All of that disrupted the timing of the Bucs’ offense, even with Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back in the lineup — the first time all season they had a full complement of wide receivers. Evans, McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin all made big plays, but the Bucs failed to stick with the run game and Mayfield’s late pick cut deeply.
Falcons won in spite of record penalty night. It’s incredible to think how the Falcons won this game in spite of repeatedly shooting themselves in the feet. It would almost be easier to list the plays on which the Falcons were not flagged Thursday night. They finished with 19 accepted penalties — a Falcons record and the most in an NFL game this season — including 13 flags through the first 37-plus minutes. They had two sacks of Baker Mayfield erased on defensive holds by A.J. Terrell. A hold wiped out a 30-yard Bijan Robinson run. Dee Alford’s illegal contact call on a third-and-13 incompletion kept a drive alive, setting up a Bucs TD. Cousins also was flagged for intentional grounding, knocking the Falcons out of field-goal range. Throw in David Sills’ dropped bomb, Robinson’s fumble at the Atlanta 25-yard line (his second in as many games) and two missed two-pointers, and it’s hard to figure out how the Falcons were victorious. Darnell Mooney also fumbled inside the red zone, and yet Atlanta came away with it — in spite of three orange jerseys swarming around the loose ball. The Falcons tempted fate, but somehow the football gods were on their side Thursday.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Falcons-Buccaneers (via NFL Pro): The Falcons’ win probability was as low as 4.8% with 13:29 left in the fourth quarter (trailing, 28-14) in their 29-28 comeback win over the Buccaneers.

NFL Research: Falcons edge James Pearce Jr. now has the franchise rookie record for most sacks in a season with eight.

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Atlanta, GA

Braves reportedly sign Robert Suarez to three-year, $45 million deal

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

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Braves reportedly sign Robert Suarez to three-year, million deal

The Braves were involved in a few rumors but nothing turned concrete. Maybe that’ll be the case in the near future? We’ll see what happens.

Well, less than 24 hours later, the Atlanta Braves have made two big free agency signings. They brought Mike Yastrzemski into the fold on a two-year deal and now they’ve apparently got the man that they were linked to earlier this week. There were multiple reporters saying that the Braves were interested in Robert Suarez and as it turns out, there was something to that rumor because Suarez is now a member of the Atlanta Braves.

Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the Braves and Suarez have agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract.

The Braves were searching for a high-end reliever to pair with Raisel Iglesias after they brought him back on a one-year deal earlier this offseason and they’ve pulled it off with this deal. Although Suarez is heading into his Age-35 season, he’s coming off of the best season of his career where he finished with an ERA of 2.97 (73 ERA-), a FIP of 2.88 (71 FIP-), a career-low walk rate of 5.9 percent and a solid strikeout rate of nearly 28 percent. The Braves clearly feel that he can keep on providing that type of production and it’ll certainly be exciting to see him light up the radar gun with that elite heater of his that sits at nearly 99 miles per hour.

The All-Star hurler will now join a bullpen that suddenly looks pretty tough to deal with at the end of ballgames. Atlanta was in search of improving their bullpen and they’ve done just that with the addition of Suarez. While the Braves could still use a starting pitcher, they’ve definitely done a solid job of improving their roster here in the offseason and it’ll be very interesting to see what’s next for improving the squad going forward.

UPDATE [1:05 p.m. ET]: The Braves have officially announced the signing and also announced that they designated Ryan Rolison for assignment in order to make room for Suarez on the roster, so there’s that.

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