Jay Fortune Answers as Atlanta United Rally Twice for 2-2 Draw With NYCFC

New York City FC took the lead in Atlanta twice on Saturday night. Twice, Atlanta United refused to let it stick.

Substitute Jay Fortune drilled a low finish into the bottom right corner in the 74th minute, and Atlanta United and New York City FC drew 2-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A Matt Edwards own goal and an Andrés Perea strike put the visitors in front on both occasions, and Giuliano Galoppo and Fortune cancelled them out. Both walked into the international break with a point and plenty of unfinished business.

Two Leads, Two Answers

The opener came early and it stung. In the fifth minute, a low Agustín Ojeda delivery across the six-yard box deflected in off Edwards, the Atlanta right back, with Perea waiting to pounce had it reached him.

Atlanta needed five minutes to fix it. Elías Báez whipped in a corner in the 10th minute, Enea Mihaj flicked it toward the back post, Tomás Jacob turned it back across, and Galoppo was waiting at the left side of the six-yard box to roll it home. Per the club, it was his first goal for Atlanta, scored in his first home appearance. Not a bad way to say hello.

From there the first half turned into a game of pinball. Bénie Traoré dragged a tight-angle effort just wide in the 14th minute. Lucas Hoyos kept out a Nicolás Fernández Mercau strike from distance in the 23rd and then denied Perea three minutes later. At the other end, Tomás Romero, starting in place of Matt Freese for a New York City side missing 10 players according to the club, saved a Breel Embolo header in the 29th minute and a long-range Mauricio Amaro effort in the 40th. Fernández Mercau had two more shots blocked in between. It was 1-1 at the break, and it felt about right.

The second half turned on the benches. Jacob came off in the 55th minute for Daniel Chica, a Short-Term Agreement signing making his MLS debut, and within a minute New York City were back in front. Ojeda found Perea arriving in the middle of the box, and the midfielder slotted a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner. That was 2-1 in the 56th minute.

New York thought it had a third moments after its first substitution in the 67th minute. According to the club, Ojeda curled a lovely left-footed shot into the net on his 100th appearance for the club, only for an offside in the buildup to wipe it out.

That reprieve mattered. Fortune, who had come on for Cooper Sanchez in the 67th minute, forced Romero into a save from long range three minutes later, and then delivered the equalizer in the 74th. Tristan Muyumba settled a Luke Brennan cross and laid it off, and Fortune drove a low shot past Romero, who got a glove to it and still could not keep it out.

The closing stretch was all nerves. Steven Alzate and Cameron Dunbar, the latter making his Atlanta debut, came on in the 86th minute, which meant Atlanta had used every change when Chica went down injured in the 89th minute. He went off in stoppage time, and Atlanta played out the final minutes a man light. Raul Gustavo blasted one high and wide for the visitors deep in added time and was booked moments later.

Perea, Ojeda and the Man Off the Bench

Perea was New York's most dangerous player. Two shots, both on target: one forced a Hoyos save, the other put his side back in front. Late runs like that are a habit, not an accident.

Ojeda was the engine behind it. He supplied the cross for Perea's goal, his low ball caused the own goal, and on a milestone night he nearly had the highlight of the evening before the flag ruined it. If you only watched New York's chances, you watched Ojeda.

For Atlanta, the night belonged to Fortune. He managed two shots after coming on, both on target, one in the net. Per the club, the appearance drew him level with former Atlanta player Caleb Wiley at 85, the most by a Homegrown player in club history. Some guys mark a milestone with a handshake. Fortune marked his with the goal that saved the night.

Galoppo deserves his flowers as well. Beyond the goal, he drew five fouls, more than anyone on the field. Fernández Mercau did the same job for the visitors, with three shots and four fouls drawn.

The Change That Changed It

The turning point was the 67th minute double switch. Atlanta sent on Fortune, New York sent on Luighi for Traoré, and only one of those moves paid off. Before Fortune came on, Atlanta had spent 11 minutes chasing a deficit without really testing Romero. Within seven minutes of his arrival, he had two shots on target, and the second was the equalizer. The Ojeda goal that was ruled out sits in that same window, which is the part New York will replay all through the break.

Numbers Worth Your Time

• Shots on target: Atlanta 5 of 7, New York City 3 of 9.
• Possession: Atlanta 51 percent, New York City 49 percent.
• Saves: Romero 3, Hoyos 2.
• Long balls: New York City completed 26 of 48, Atlanta 13 of 47.
• Fouls: 14 apiece, with one yellow card each, for Brennan and Gustavo.

Where This Leaves Both Clubs

Atlanta moved to 7-6-14 with 27 points and stretched its unbeaten run to three league matches, after a 1-0 win at Portland and a 0-0 draw at D.C. United. The club framed this one as a match with heavy playoff implications, and coming back twice keeps that conversation alive. Next up is a home date with FC Cincinnati on Oct. 10 after the international break.

New York City sit at 8-9-10 with 33 points. They came in off a 1-0 home loss to the Red Bulls and now have one win in their last five league matches, the 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 12. Pascal Jansen's side visits the Chicago Fire on Oct. 10.

Same Script, Different Ending

This one played like a sequel that keeps the original's plot and swaps the ending. New York scored first, Atlanta answered, and then the whole thing ran again in the second half. Second time around, Atlanta had a homegrown midfielder with a milestone on his mind and a low shot in his right boot. New York leaves wondering what an onside Ojeda would have meant. Atlanta leaves knowing it can take a punch twice and still be standing.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Match notes as reported by Atlanta United (atlutd.com) and New York City FC (nycfc.com).