Atlanta United 2-1 Sporting KC: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
MLS · Sunday 23 August 2026 · Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta · referee T. Penso · full time
Full time: Atlanta United 2-1 Sporting KC
Atlanta United won 2-1 at home to Sporting KC in MLS on Sunday 23 August 2026. The goals: Tomás Jacob 13', Fafà Picault 24', Stephen Afrifa 70'.
How Atlanta United won it
The opening goal came in the 13th minute: Tomás Jacob for Atlanta United, set up by Miguel Almirón. Fafà Picault made it 2-0 to Atlanta United in the 24th minute, set up by Elías Báez. Stephen Afrifa made it 2-1 to Sporting KC in the 70th minute, set up by Jayden Reid.
It was 2-0 at half-time.
The referee, T. Penso, showed 3 yellow cards: 2 to Atlanta United and 1 to Sporting KC.
Atlanta United: G. Martino, 4-3-3 · Sporting KC: R. Wicky, 4-4-2.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.87 for Atlanta United and 1.58 for Sporting KC.
Atlanta United scored about 1.1 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Atlanta United had 4 shots on target, Sporting KC 1.
Sporting KC had 51% of the ball, but Atlanta United took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Atlanta United came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.7 a match, with 1.46 expected goals for and 1.57 against, and had won 26% of their matches.
Sporting KC came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.2 and conceding 2.5 a match, with 1.18 expected goals for and 1.83 against, and had won 19% of their matches.
Atlanta United vs Sporting KC: the match in numbers
| Atlanta United | Match statistics | Sporting KC |
|---|---|---|
| 49% | Ball possession | 51% |
| 0.87 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.58 |
| 8 | Total shots | 8 |
| 4 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 2 | Big chances | 3 |
| 524 | Total passes | 526 |
| 85% | Pass accuracy | 89% |
| 2 | Corners | 6 |
| 8 | Fouls | 13 |
| 1 | Offsides | 1 |
| 13 | Tackles | 10 |
| 0 | Saves | 2 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), rated 8.0 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.
Atlanta United
- Miguel Almirón 8.0 1 assist
- Tomás Jacob 7.8 1 goal
- Fafà Picault 7.6 1 goal
- Cooper Wyatt Sanchez 7.1
- Elías Báez 7.0 1 assist
Sporting KC
- Lasse Berg Johnsen 7.2
- Moisés Mosquera 7.0
- Shapi Suleymanov 7.0
- Stephen Afrifa 6.9 1 goal
- Justin Reynolds 6.8
The lowest-rated starter was Lucas Hoyos at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Atlanta United: New York City vs Atlanta United Wednesday 28 October 2026 · MLS
- Sporting KC: Minnesota United vs Sporting KC Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Atlanta United vs Sporting KC
What was the score in Atlanta United vs Sporting KC?
Atlanta United 2-1 Sporting KC (half-time 2-0), MLS, Sunday 23 August 2026.
Who scored in Atlanta United vs Sporting KC?
Tomás Jacob 13', Fafà Picault 24', Stephen Afrifa 70'.
Did Moneyball predict Atlanta United vs Sporting KC correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Atlanta United vs Sporting KC?
Miguel Almirón, rated 8.0 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Atlanta United vs Sporting KC?
T. Penso.
Every match, before and after
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