ATLANTA — Ezequiel Barco scored Atlanta’s first MLS goal of the season and an own goal by the Fire propelled United to a 3-1 victory in its home opener Saturday night, giving new coach Gabriel Heinze his first league victory.
The Fire tied the score at 1 in the opening minute of the second half on Luka Stojanovic’s second goal of the season, taking advantage of a sloppy effort by Atlanta’s back line.
But United (1-0-1) regained the lead in the 66th minute. Marcelino Moreno’s cross escaped goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, deflected off Fire defender Johan Kappelhof and rolled into the net for an own goal.
“If Bobby comes out, Bobby needs to clear that ball,” Fire coach Raphael Wicky said. “If he wouldn’t come out, then we need a center back there. I think they were there, but I haven’t spoken to them. In that moment of the game, [it’s] a tough one.”
Emerson Hyndman clinched it for Atlanta in the 85th by knocking in a rebound after Shuttleworth made a brilliant save on Jake Mulraney, who set up his shot with a dazzling bit of footwork in front of the net.
The Fire (0-1-1) fell behind in the 23rd off an Atlanta free kick.
Barco drove it into the Fire wall, but he was able to retrieve the ricochet and rip a right-footed shot that caught the inside of the top left post to beat Shuttleworth.
The Fire stormed back after the break.
Boris Sekulic ran onto a long cross at the corner of the area and one-timed a pass toward the opposite post, the ball somehow getting through four United players before Stojanovic flicked it into the net.
The Fire had plenty of other scoring chances, knocking three shots off the post.
“We put up a good fight there for quite a long time,” defender Jonathan Bornstein said. “We got a little unlucky, hit the post a few times, but it’s a game of inches. We just came up a little short today. A lot of things to build on. It’s a long season.”
Atlanta United, which has set numerous MLS attendance records, played in a stadium that had a much more familiar feel after the pandemic-marred 2020 season. The team opened up the two lower decks of Mercedes Benz Stadium and allowed 50% capacity.
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