Atlanta United’s Jamal Thiare tricks goalkeeper for sneaky goal-winner in stoppage time

Through discretion and cunning, Jamal Thiaré became a hero for Atlanta United on Saturday.

With the match tied in stoppage time against Toronto FC, Thiaré scored a goal out of nowhere to give his team a 2-1 victory. A later replay showed what happened.

Thiaré had wandered behind the goal to playfully drink from Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran’s water bottle after an Atlanta scoring chance. Gavran did not notice the movement, nor did the Senegalese striker who followed him as he walked away from the goal with the ball.

As Gavran rolled the ball forward to clear it, Thiaré rushed forward to steal it and score the winning goal.

Not a single Toronto player on camera looked back to warn Gavran of his shadow.

“Exactly how we wanted it,” Atlanta interim head coach Rob Valentino joked after the game. “I would say I’m on the younger side as a coach and the younger side in the game, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Thiaré is in his first season with Atlanta United after five years with French club Le Havre.

The win was much needed for Atlanta, who now sit at 6-6-8 amid a disappointing season that has already seen them fire head coach Gonzalo Pineda. It currently sits ninth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC for the final guaranteed spot in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.