Eight goals and eight points made it a crazy April for Atlanta United. The 5-Stripes filled the month with record-breaking performances, first-time appearances and heart-felt dedications. Let’s look back at some of April’s best moments.
BOOM GIAKOUMAKIS!
It’s no surprise that after tying the MLS record for most goals in his first five starts, Giorgos Giakoumakis earned Performer of the Month. The Greek striker extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games while tallying four goals, nine total shots and nine aerial duels won in the month of April.
First Goal for Chol
Coming on as a second-half sub against Toronto FC, forward Machop Chol found the back of the net with a header off a cross from Luiz Araújo for his first-ever MLS goal. The moment became extra special when Chol tore off his jersey to reveal a shirt that read “Anton Forever,” dedicating the goal to Anton Walkes, the former Atlanta United player who passed away earlier this year.
Goals Galore
Atlanta United is the only team in MLS to score at least one goal in every game this season, and the club's fastest and latest goals both came in April. Forward Tyler Wolff earned his first club goal two minutes and 37 seconds into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Memphis 901 FC. A few days prior, Atlanta won 2-1 against Chicago Fire FC after the ball bounced from Juanjo Purata off the back of a defender and went in for an own goal in the 99th minute, the latest goal in club history.
Red, Wiley and Blue
Caleb Wiley went from 5-Stripes to Stars and Stripes last month in his first appearance for the United States men’s national team. The 18-year-old Homegrown was subbed on in the 90th minute in the 1-1 draw against Mexico in the Allstate Continental Clásico. Following multiple appearances with the U.S. U-17s and U-20s, this match was Wiley’s debut with the senior national team.
Rooted in the Stripes
Atlanta United released Episode 1 of ‘Rooted in the Stripes,’ a documentary series that covers the club’s transition from the 2022 to 2023 MLS season. The series was produced by the club’s digital team, and it highlights a variety of voices, including interviews with President & CEO Garth Lagerwey, head coach Gonzalo Pineda and several Atlanta United players.
The 2s Three-peat
Atlanta United 2 closed out the month on a three-game win streak, it’s latest coming on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union II. The team leapt to the sixth spot in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings and now holds a record of 3-2-1.
