Kratz bags a brace for Atlanta

NAMPA/AFPSubstitute Kevin Kratz scored with two sensational second-half free kicks on Saturday and Miguel Almiron also bagged a brace as Atlanta rallied for a 4-1 Major League Soccer victory over Montreal.Almiron's 70th-minute penalty pulled Atlanta level.Kratz curled his first into the top corner eight minutes later.Almiron struck again in the 84th before Kratz scored on another set-piece.Saphir Taider's early header for his first MLS goal had given the visiting Impact the lead.Chris Duvall delivered a pinpoint pass on Taider's opener. But it was Duvall's handball that led to Almiron's penalty.Montreal, coached by France's Remi Garde, have now conceded 16 times during a four-match losing stretch, with 13 of those goals coming after halftime.The Impact's 25 goals conceded are a league worst."I don't think the scoreline is indicative of the effort we put in," said Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. "Atlanta's a good team, so if you defend like that for too long, they're going to catch a break."In Toronto, the Chicago Fire secured a point on the road in dramatic style as second-half substitute Alan Gordon scored in the waning moments of stoppage time for a 2-2 draw against the reigning MLS Cup champions.German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger contributed a goal for the Fire and delivered the crucial pass on Gordon's equalizer.Toronto had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Sebastian Giovinco collected the ball and played a cross for a sliding Jonathan Osorio to finish.The hosts made it 2-0 in the 22nd via Victor Vazquez.Chicago's Nemanja Nikolic earned a penalty in the 36th minute after being clipped down in the box by Toronto defender Ashtone Morgan, the spot-kick awarded by Video Assistant Referee after it was initially waved off.Schweinsteiger stepped up to take it, but his low effort was stopped by Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono.He atoned with a 69th minute header that made it 2-1.Elsewhere, Alejandro Romero Gamarra scored in the 84th minute and Bradley Wright-Phillips added two assists as the New York Red Bulls eased past the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2.Gamarra converted from the spot to snap a 2-2 tie after the Galaxy's Dave Romney was called for a hand ball in the area.Former Manchester United and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a hand in setting up both Galaxy goals. L.A.'s Ola Kamara put away a through ball from Ibrahimovic in the 59th minute and Giovani dos Santos scored in the 66th after a Ibrahimovic corner kick to make it 2-2.The Galaxy have lost three consecutive games at home.

Kratz bags a brace for Atlanta

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

Please login to leave a comment

Kratz bags a brace for Atlanta

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

Please login to leave a comment

Login