Atlanta United wanted to make their club legend's last match one to remember. D.C. United had other plans. Brad Guzan played the final game of his career and put in a vintage effort in the first half to maintain an early advantage, but a goal midway through the second 45 knotted the score at 1-1. The 5-Stripes pressed late and came within inches of a winner, but the match finished all square.
What happened: Atlanta United wasted no time coming out with force, and it started with Miguel Almirón. After earning a corner, Bartosz Slisz whipped in a second cross that fell out to the top of the box. Almirón came on to the second-chance ball and thumped it on the half volley, sending it into the bottom right corner of the goal in just the third minute of play.
The 5-Stripes took that 1-0 advantage and ran with it, charging forward into space and forcing D.C United to retreat often. Emmanuel Latte Lath had a look at the net in the eighth minute off a rebounded save, but his chopped-at attempt went wide of the left post. In the 17th, they earned a free kick that was expertly placed at the back post by Alexey Miranchuk. Almirón was right there to meet it with a first-time finish, but the linesman's flag went up for offsides.
Brad Guzan was called into action in a big way in the 27th minute, parrying away a close-range header that hit off the post before getting cleared away. In the 40th, he made an even more impressive diving stop to deny Christian Benteke just few yards apart.
D.C. United did well to regain a foothold after a dominant first 20 minutes from the 5-Stripes. At half, the early goal and a couple of top-class saves were the difference. The visitors came out in a more aggressive press to try and shake things up out of the break.
Ronald Hernández stepped up a ripped a longshot in the 51st minute just outside the box on the right side of the Atlanta United attack, but the ball careened wide of the left post past a diving Jordan Farr.
The second half was a nervy one from both sides, with both sides a tad hesitant to send numbers forward and risk counter attacking possibilities for their opponent.
It looked as if Guzan had prevented yet another chance for D.C. United to equalize after saving another close look from Benteke in the 67th minute. But the rebound fell out to United again, and Gabriel Pirano converted the second chance with a dribbling shot.
Atlanta United were determined to get their club legend one more win. Head coach Ronny Deila went to his subs in the 74th minute, bringing on Jamal Thiaré to be a second striker and Saba Lobjanidze for wing support.
Steven Alzate took a crack on the half volley in the 77th minute, forcing an athletic save from Farr. The energy kept building, and Atlanta United felt the wind of momentum behind them.
Almirón won a free kick right outside the box in the 82nd minute. The save went out for a corner kick, and Saba got on the end of it. With a superb roulette, he spun his defender and struck the ball past the keeper, but a D.C. United defender cleared it off the line.
The 5-Stripes pushed and pushed, but a winner was just out of reach. Atlanta United ended the 2025 season with a draw, a just result given the chances over the course of the match.
Standouts: It's not just because it was his last game — Brad Guzan was class Saturday night. He made clutch saves to keep Atlanta United ahead, just as he's done his entire career. He had three shots saved from a variety of positions in the first half to keep the 5-Stripes ahead.
Saba was brilliant as a substitute, bringing skill and tenacity going forward. He was unlucky not to have a goal in the 82nd, with the ball inches from crossing the goalline before being cleared away.
Milestones:
- Miguel Almirón made his 100th start with Atlanta United in all competitions. He scored his sixth goal of the 2025 MLS regular season.
- Brad Guzan played the final match of his professional soccer career, his 552nd appearance over the course of two decades.
Up next: Atlanta United closed out its 2025 season with a draw. Stay tuned for MLS schedule releases for the 2026 season. Thank you for tuning into our coverage of the 5-Stripes all year long. And, as always, Unite & Conquer.
