New York City 2-1 Atlanta United: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
MLS · Wednesday 28 October 2026 · Citi Field, Bronx · referee T. Penso · full time
Full time: New York City 2-1 Atlanta United
New York City beat Atlanta United 2-1 in MLS on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at Citi Field. The goals: Nicolás Fernández Mercau 70', Breel Embolo 88', Bénie Traoré 90+5'.
How New York City won it
Nicolás Fernández Mercau put New York City ahead in the 70th minute. Atlanta United levelled at 1-1 in the 88th minute through Breel Embolo. Bénie Traoré made it 2-1 to New York City in the 90th minute (+5), set up by Kevin O'Toole.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The referee, T. Penso, showed 6 yellow cards: 2 to New York City and 4 to Atlanta United.
New York City: P. Jansen, 4-2-3-1 · Atlanta United: G. Martino, 4-1-4-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Under 3.00. On 2-1 it landed exactly on the line: neither right nor wrong.
The estimate's most likely result was a New York City win at 48%, and that is what happened. Its single most likely score was 1-1 (12%).
On goals the estimate was close: about 3.0 expected, 3 scored.
Over 2.5 goals had been put at 57%; with 3 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.
Both teams to score was 59%; both did, in line with the estimate.
Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-28, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 2.16 for New York City and 1.26 for Atlanta United.
New York City had 6 shots on target, Atlanta United 6.
New York City's goalkeeper made 5 saves.
Atlanta United had 54% of the ball, but New York City took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
New York City came into it with 34 MLS matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 1.49 expected goals for and 1.41 against, and had won 29% of their matches.
Atlanta United came into it with 34 MLS matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.8 a match, with 1.49 expected goals for and 1.41 against, and had won 26% of their matches.
New York City vs Atlanta United: the match in numbers
| New York City | Match statistics | Atlanta United |
|---|---|---|
| 46% | Ball possession | 54% |
| 2.16 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.26 |
| 11 | Total shots | 19 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 4 | Big chances | 3 |
| 383 | Total passes | 451 |
| 77% | Pass accuracy | 75% |
| 3 | Corners | 3 |
| 13 | Fouls | 14 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
| 14 | Tackles | 16 |
| 5 | Saves | 4 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 4 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Kevin O'Toole (New York City), rated 7.9 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.
New York City
- Kevin O'Toole 7.9 1 assist
- Nicolás Fernández Mercau 7.6 1 goal
- Tayvon Gray 7.2
- Bénie Traoré 7.1 1 goal
- Matt Freese 7.1
Atlanta United
- Breel Embolo 7.7 1 goal
- Miguel Almirón 7.6
- Aleksey Miranchuk 7.3
- Giuliano Galoppo 7.1
- Júnior Alonso 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Matthew Edwards at 6.1. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
Questions about New York City vs Atlanta United
What was the score in New York City vs Atlanta United?
New York City 2-1 Atlanta United (half-time 0-0), MLS, Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Who scored in New York City vs Atlanta United?
Nicolás Fernández Mercau 70', Breel Embolo 88', Bénie Traoré 90+5'.
Did Moneyball predict New York City vs Atlanta United correctly?
Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Under 3.00. On 2-1 it landed exactly on the line: neither right nor wrong.
Who was man of the match in New York City vs Atlanta United?
Kevin O'Toole, rated 7.9 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed New York City vs Atlanta United?
T. Penso.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball is a football statistics site. No model predicts football reliably: every figure is an estimate.