ATLANTA — Atlanta United fell to CF Montreal 2-1 Saturday night at Stade Saputo.
Jake Mulraney scored his first goal of the season, but a pair of second-half goals from Romell Quioto secured all three points for Montreal.
During a scoreless first half, Ezequiel Barco had Atlanta’s best chance in the 45th minute. Brooks Lennon played Barco in behind the defense on the left side and the midfielder drove the ball into the box, side-stepped two defenders to his right, cut back to his left foot to send Montreal goalkeeper James Pantemis to the ground before chipping a shot off the crossbar.
Later in first-half stoppage-time, Santiago Sosa nearly put Atlanta ahead in with a strike from outside the box aimed for the top corner. However, a diving save from Pantemis kept the match level heading into halftime.
Gonzalo Pineda made two substitutions at halftime, bringing on Mulraney and Luiz Araújo. The two quickly combined to score the game’s opening goal in the 48th minute as Araújo played a ball between Motreal defenders to Mulraney who took a touch and slotted a right-footed finish into the net.
Montreal quickly responded through Quioto in the 50th minute. Just five minutes later, Quioto put Montreal ahead from the penalty spot, hitting a shot to the right corner of the goal after Joaquin Torres was taken down inside the box.
With the upcoming FIFA international window, Atlanta (10-9-9, 39 points) is off until Oct. 16 when it travels to face Toronto FC at BMO Field (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Southeast, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
