Báez and Almirón Rally Atlanta United From Two Goals Down to a 2-2 Draw at Charlotte FC

At halftime in Charlotte, this looked like a rivalry game that had already been decided. Charlotte FC led 2-0, Bank of America Stadium was rocking, and Atlanta United had a lot of good intentions and nothing on the scoreboard.

Then the second half happened. Elías Báez headed one in, Miguel Almirón found the equalizer in the 76th minute, and the two Southern rivals finished level at 2-2 on Wednesday night in front of 28,077 fans. Per Atlanta United, it was the first time in club history the 5-Stripes had come back to earn a result against Charlotte. For Charlotte, a point that felt like a loss. For Atlanta, a point that felt like a statement.

A First Half Built for Charlotte

Charlotte, playing for the first time since the World Cup break, came out sharp. Lucas Hoyos saved a Pep Biel effort in the third minute, and the hosts kept pushing. In the 16th minute they broke quickly: Liel Abada slipped in Archie Goodwin, Hoyos stopped Goodwin one-on-one, and Kerwin Vargas pounced, firing a left-footed shot into the high center of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

The fallout was immediate. VAR reviewed a Will Reilly challenge from the counterattack, and the Atlanta midfielder ended up with a yellow card in the 22nd minute. Atlanta did create chances. In the 38th minute a well-struck Hoyos clearance found Almirón, who got in alone on Kristijan Kahlina, but the Charlotte keeper won the duel. Five minutes later Kahlina saved from Alexey Miranchuk.

Charlotte struck again right on halftime. From a corner, Biel delivered a cross to the back post and Abada headed it into the bottom left corner from the left side of the six-yard box. The fourth official put up eight minutes of stoppage time, Kahlina made another big stop on Miranchuk, and Charlotte went to the locker room 2-0 up and feeling pretty good about life.

The Comeback

Tata Martino kept the same 11 on the field for the second half, per Atlanta. It paid off in the 57th minute. Báez, the left back, roamed forward and met a Tomás Jacob cross with a powerful header into the bottom left corner. According to the club, it was his first goal in an Atlanta United shirt.

Charlotte made four changes in the space of two minutes, including Rodolfo Aloko for Abada, who left with an injury. Kahlina saved a Báez header in the 73rd minute. Three minutes later, Almirón found space in the middle of the box and drove a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner. ESPN's data credits no assist on the goal; Atlanta's recap described a Báez delivery that Jacob headed across the face of goal. Either way, 2-2.

The final stretch was all Charlotte. Vargas went off injured in the 85th minute, Idan Toklomati became a one-man aerial bombardment, and the fourth official added nine more minutes. Hoyos saved a Tyger Smalls effort, then a Toklomati header in the eighth minute of stoppage time, and Toklomati missed with another header a minute later. Biel and Djibril Diani both missed in the 11th minute of stoppage time. Charlotte finished with 24 shots and nothing to show for the second half.

Who Stood Out

Miguel Almirón scored his first goal of the 2026 season, per the club, and had four shots, two on target. Atlanta said he also completed 33 of 37 passes. The captain was everywhere.

Elías Báez scored, had three shots and nearly added a second with that 73rd-minute header. Not bad for a left back.

Tomás Jacob assisted Báez's goal and, per Atlanta, helped set up Almirón's equalizer too. He also took a yellow card for handball deep in stoppage time, a small price for a big night from the right back.

Lucas Hoyos made seven saves according to ESPN's data, though Atlanta's recap counted eight. Either way, he kept a game that could have gotten out of hand within reach. He even set up Almirón's first-half chance with a clearance.

Kerwin Vargas was Charlotte's most dangerous player before his injury, with five shots and the opening goal. Idan Toklomati came off the bench in the 63rd minute and still took six shots.

Kristijan Kahlina made four saves, several of them excellent, but could not stop either of Atlanta's second-half goals.

Turning Point: The 57th Minute

Báez's header changed the energy completely. Before it, Atlanta were chasing the game. After it, Charlotte answered with four substitutions and fresh legs, and Atlanta responded by slowing things down, keeping the ball and picking their moment. The Atlanta recap credited patience, and it is hard to argue.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: Charlotte 24, Atlanta 12. On target, 9 to 6.
• Saves: Hoyos 7, Kahlina 4.
• Possession: Nearly even, 50.8 percent for Charlotte.
• Fouls: Charlotte committed just three all night. Atlanta committed nine.
• Corners: Charlotte 6, Atlanta 3.

What It Means

Charlotte move to 6-4-6 (wins, draws, losses) with 22 points and are unbeaten in three league matches, after wins over Toronto and New England before the break. Still, letting a two-goal lead slip at home in a rivalry game will sting.

Atlanta are 3-3-10 with 12 points, and they are winless in five league matches, going back to a home loss to the LA Galaxy in May. But this one felt different. Two of their players scored their first goals of the season, 17-year-old Ignacio Suarez-Couri made his first-team debut late on, becoming the fifth-youngest player to debut for the club per Atlanta, and Júnior Alonso made his Atlanta United debut, though he left in stoppage time with an injury.

Both teams play again Saturday: Charlotte visit Red Bull New York, and Atlanta head to New England.

The Closing Take

This was a heist movie where the crew gets caught in the first act and still walks out with half the loot. Charlotte will wonder how they let it go. Atlanta will remember this as the night the 5-Stripes refused to fold.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Club notes as reported by AtlUtd.com and CharlotteFootballClub.com.