Bénie Traoré delivered the decisive twist at Citi Field on Wednesday, October 28, striking in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure New York City FC a dramatic 2–1 Major League Soccer victory over Atlanta United FC.

Nicolás Fernández had put the hosts ahead with a 70th-minute free-kick, only for Breel Embolo to bring Atlanta level with an 88th-minute header. A draw was within reach for the visitors before substitute Traoré restored NYCFC’s advantage at 90+5 minutes, turning a tense finish into three points for the home side.

Goalless first half sets up a late contest

Neither side found a breakthrough before the interval. The first half instead brought four bookings: NYCFC’s Tayvon Gray in the seventh minute and Talles Magno in the 43rd, either side of cautions for Atlanta’s Mauricio Amaro in the 11th and Paulo Díaz in the 34th.

Across the full match, Atlanta enjoyed more of the ball and produced more attempts. The visitors finished with 54 percent possession and 19 shots to NYCFC’s 11, although both teams registered six efforts on target. That balance underlined the distinction between Atlanta’s greater volume and the hosts’ ability to make their opportunities count.

Fernández breaks the deadlock before Embolo responds

The opening goal finally arrived in the 70th minute, when Fernández converted a free-kick to give NYCFC a 1–0 lead. After more than an hour without a goal, his set-piece breakthrough left Atlanta chasing an equaliser.

The visitors found it in the 88th minute through Embolo, whose header made it 1–1 and put a valuable away point within their grasp. With regulation time almost complete, Atlanta had undone the hosts’ advantage and brought the fixture back into balance.

Traoré has the final word

NYCFC still had time for one decisive response. Traoré struck at 90+5 minutes to put the hosts back in front, settling a match in which all three goals came from the 70th minute onward.

For Atlanta, the late defeat was particularly frustrating after their equaliser and greater share of possession. For NYCFC, it was a victory built on taking decisive chances rather than dominating the statistical totals.

New York City FC next face CF Montréal on Saturday, October 31, at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Atlanta United return to action against Toronto FC on Sunday, November 1, at 1:30 p.m. PST.