Brooks Lennon stood over the ball some 30 yards from Montreal’s goal in the second minute of stoppage time Saturday.
His team, Atlanta United, trailed 3-2, and Lennon’s right foot could be the difference between a valuable point or being forced to stew over losing a game at home, which would have snapped the team’s nine-game unbeaten streak at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, for the next two weeks.
Really, Atlanta United had no business getting an opportunity to tie. It had been outplayed for most of the final 60 minutes after “losing its way” during a three-goals-allowed stretch in the final 14 minutes of the first half.
No matter.
Josef Martinez was fouled to earn the kick, a few yards to the left of the center of the pitch.
After a brief discussion with teammate Thiago Almada, Lennon stood ready. He looked at Montreal’s wall. He looked at goalkeeper Sebastian Breza, who was leaning to his left, expecting the shot to be aimed at his left corner.
Lennon took his run-up and struck the ball.
The ball arrowed toward Lennon’s left, away from Breza. He dove and got a hand on it, but couldn’t stop it.
Tie score, 3-3.
“I don’t think it was right in the corner, I would say, but happy it went in and happy to come back from 3-1 down, to be able to have the fight with 10 men. To be able to come back and tie the game shows what kind of heart this this group has,” he said. “And, you know, that’s gonna be a very important result for us going forward.”
It was Lennon’s third goal for Atlanta United and his first this season.
Lennon is one of several Atlanta United players who practice free kicks after training sessions.
“Once I hit it, I knew I had a chance,” he said.
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
April 10 at Charlotte, 1:30 p.m., ABC, ESPN Deportes
April 16 vs. Cincinnati, 6 p.m., Peachtree TV
April 24 at Miami, 1 p.m., ESPN
April 30 at Montreal, 4 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 7 vs. Chicago, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 15 vs. New England, 2 p.m., ESPN
May 21 at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. FOX
May 28 vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 19 vs Miami, 4 p.m., ESPN2
June 25 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 30 at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 3 at NYCFC, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 9 vs. Austin, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
August 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
August 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 21 at Columbus, 6 p.m., FS1
August 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
August 31 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
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