Red Bulls Lose It Late at Atlanta United

By Daniel Feuerstein | Atlanta, GA | August 15th, 2026

Red Bull New York traveled to the Peach State to face the last-place Atlanta United in the East. For the fourth time, they faced a side that was at the bottom of the Conference, and once again, they couldn’t get the job done. Not only were they dominated in the last three by CF Montreal twice, but they came out of the World Cup break with a horrible loss at the Philadelphia Union. This time they had a lead, couldn’t add a second goal to put more pressure, and lost it from the middle of the second half till the end, as they dropped the full three points to Atlanta United by the final score of two goals to one.

The Captain opens the scoring.

An early goal was scored by the visitors as they were on their game and looked determined to get on the front foot. They were inside the Atlanta area and looked to run their hosts over every time they had the ball. When the initial chance was blocked, Julian Hall retrieved the ball and threw it back outside to the middle of the park. Adri Mehmeti was right there to collect it, then delivered a fabulous pass right at the feet of Emil Forsberg. He spun around, took a step or two, and went short side, blasting it inside the near post for the opener in the 6th minute, as the Captain put his side ahead.

Fabulous runs, but nothing to show for it

Throughout the entire first half, the Red Bulls were the dominating ones when they had the ball. It looked like Atlanta United was hanging around, trying to stop them at every chance they had. But when the final pass was made, nothing connected after Forsberg’s tally. When the ball was crossed in the middle of the park, either Mijahir Jimenez or Cade Cowell couldn’t get a foot on the ball, or if they did, it deflected off of them and went out for a goal kick or a throw-in for Atlanta. Lucas Hoyos did make a few strong saves, but overall it wasn’t a strong night for the offense after the goal was scored.

Golazo from Muyumba for the equalizer

Atlanta kept playing a low-block defense and used counterattacks in the second half to get back into the match. Even when they had their chances to level the match, they kept missing sitters, or Ethan Horvath would make the stop. Everything changed when Tomas Jacob gave the ball to Alexey Miranchuk, and he gave a quick short pass from the far side to Tristan Muyumba just inside the semicircle on the outside of the area. He delivered a fabulous bending ball that went for the upper far 90, and there was nothing Horvath could do about it in the 69th minute.

Short Corner, big winner

The Red Bulls felt the pressure to try and get the lead back. Trying to push forward and get that second goal to get ahead. But it was Atlanta United who got the lead for the first time in the match, and they earned a corner to do it. They went short at the far side as Miranchuk gave a quick pass to Miguel Almiron, and he delivered a long, bending cross toward the back post. Running towards that back post and not a single defender covered him was Fafa Picault as he got to the ball and headed it inside the post and forced Horvath to scramble and miss, keeping the ball out for the winner in the 82nd minute.

Fourth loss to a last-place side

It has been disturbing and mesmerizing how this Red Bulls side, which has looked really good at times, is currently in a playoff position. When they face a club that is worse than them, somehow that club finds a way to get the win. Facing CF Montreal twice and losing by a combined seven goals to one, then returning from the World Cup break, the last-place Philadelphia Union was their first opponent, and they lost at Subaru Park three goals to one. Dominated by two clubs a combined three times, now having a lead and lost it at the back end of the match by the new resident of last place, Atlanta United. The Red Bulls, in four matches combined against three cellar dwellers, have been outscored 12 to 3, plus they have to face the Union and Atlanta United again at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Playing the kids is great, and the future of the club is in good shape, but when you get taken out in the way this Red Bulls side has been, it’s domination three times, and the fourth was worse than the dominated games. Coughing up a lead that lasted 68 minutes until the last 22, giving up the equalizer and the go-ahead goal. Something has to change, and something this simple needs to be drilled into their heads. But now the club is heading back for a three-match home stand against Nashville SC, Chicago Fire, and the Philadelphia Union.

Started the game really well. Scored a really good goal. Generally speaking, for most of the night, played quite well in terms of our ideas, our football, in terms of the way that we were able to move up the field, get you know in and around on the edge of the box in a lot of different ways. We need to be able to get the second ball, I think it’s a game that if you score the second goal at any point, then it is becomes a game where the third comes, and you can really walk away from here with three points and a really good win, but when you can’t make the play to get the second goal, then you leave it open, and you leave a team that is desperate in some ways. You leave them hanging around. They’re able to hit a good shot to get back to one, and then we don’t deal with a defensive set piece well enough, and so in the end, we walk away with nothing. And so that is that’s a really disappointing feeling to have,” said Head coach Michael Bradley

EMIL FORSBERG: Scored his third goal of the season, and his 23rd career MLS Goal

ADRI MEHMETI: Earned his 5th Assist of the season

JULIAN HALL: Earned his 5th Assist of the season, and his 6th career MLS assist

Red Bull New York dropped all three points as they lost their lead to Atlanta United.

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