Alexey Miranchuk scored on a second-half penalty kick and added an assist, leading Atlanta United to a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Tyler Wolff scored the other goal for Atlanta (9-14-10, 37 points), which snapped a five-match winless skid at home across all competitions and now has six points in its last five matches (1-1-3) to keep its MLS Cup playoff hopes alive in the Eastern Conference.
Serge Patrick Ngoma Jr. had the lone goal for New York (11-8-14, 47 points), which lost to Atlanta for just the second time (9-2-5). The Red Bulls concluded their two-match road trip with three of a possible six points (1-1-0).
Wolff doubled Atlanta’s lead on a breakaway in second-half stoppage time, taking a Miranchuk through ball and putting a right-footed strike past keeper Carlos Coronel for his first of the season.
Ngoma pulled the Red Bulls to within one just before the second-half whistle, putting a right-footed strike past keeper Brad Guzan.
Atlanta was awarded a penalty kick in the 69th minute after Red Bulls defender Noah Eile took down Jamal Thiare at the side of the box.
On the ensuing penalty kick, Miranchuk put his strike from the spot past Coronel for his third goal this season.
In the 66th minute, Red Bulls defender Dylan Nealis was sent off with a red card for his challenge on Edwin Mosquera outside the area.
Atlanta dominated the first-half possession and had three shots on target, but New York had the best scoring opportunity in the opening 45.
The Red Bulls nearly opened the scoring in the 14th minute as Felipe Carballo’s strike got behind keeper Guzan, but defender Ronald Hernandez was there to clear the ball off the line.
Saturday was the second and final MLS regular-season meeting between the two clubs. New York and Atlanta played to a 2-2 draw on Sept. 21.
–Field Level Media