Atlanta United Wins Preseason Opener

New-look squad dominates USL side Lexington in friendly

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Atlanta United kicked off the Gerardo Martino era with a convincing 4-0 win over USL club Lexington in a preseason friendly match. Miguel Almirón and Alexey Miranchuk each scored two goals in the first half, with Pedro Amador providing two assists and Miranchuk adding one of his own.

Why it matters

This preseason victory provides an early positive sign for Atlanta United as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season and build momentum heading into the 2026 MLS campaign under new head coach Gerardo Martino.

The details

Atlanta United dominated the match from start to finish, with Almirón and Miranchuk each finding the back of the net twice in the opening 45 minutes. Amador was the primary facilitator, recording two assists, while Miranchuk also contributed one of his own. The lopsided result suggests Atlanta United's new-look squad is gelling well under Martino's leadership.

  • The match took place on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Miguel Almirón

Attacking midfielder for Atlanta United.

Alexey Miranchuk

Forward for Atlanta United.

Pedro Amador

Midfielder for Atlanta United.

Gerardo Martino

Head coach of Atlanta United.

Lexington

USL club that played against Atlanta United in the preseason friendly.

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The takeaway

This dominant preseason victory suggests Atlanta United has the potential to bounce back in 2026 under new leadership, with their talented attacking duo of Almirón and Miranchuk leading the way.