Through stealth and deception, Jamal Thiaré became a hero for Atlanta United on Saturday.
With the game tied in added time against Toronto FC, Thiaré scored an unexpected goal to give his team a 2-1 victory. The subsequent replay showed what happened.
Thiaré had approached the goal to drink from Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran’s water bottle after an Atlanta goal-scoring opportunity. Gavran was oblivious to the play or the Senegalese forward who was following him as he walked away from goal with the ball.
As Gavran moved the ball forward to clear it, Thiaré quickly moved forward to steal it and score the winning goal.
No Toronto player on camera was looking back to warn Gavran of his shadow.
“Exactly how we wanted it,” Atlanta interim coach Rob Valentino said. he joked after the match“I would say I’m one of the youngest in terms of training and playing, but I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Thiaré is in his first season with Atlanta United after five years with French club Le Havre.
The win was much-needed for Atlanta, which now has a 6-6-8 record amid a disappointing season that has already seen it fire head coach Gonzalo Pineda. They currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC for the final guaranteed spot in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.