Daniel Royer scored the tying goal for the Red Bulls. (Jason Getz/USA Today Sports)
ATLANTA — Trailing by a goal entering the final 15 minutes of their season opener at Bobby Dowd Stadium Sunday, the Red Bulls struck for two goals within a six-minute span to register a 2-1 triumph over expansion Atlanta United.
Daniel Royer tallied in the 76th minute and Atlanta’s Anton Walkes scored an own goal six minutes later to snap a 1-1 deadlock as the Red Bulls spoiled the hosts’ very first Major League Soccer match.
Yamil Asad had given Atlanta a 1-0 advantage in the 25th minute off an assist by Tyrone Mears in front of a crowd of 55,297.
The Red Bulls, however, refused to give up.
First, Royer headed home a Sacha Kljestan corner kick to the far right post to equalize before Walkes accidentally knocked the ball past his own goalkeeper Alec Kann in the 82nd minute.
Bradley Wright-Phillips got a touch on a Kemar Lawrence cross on the game-winner. He was not credited with a goal, but he did enough to cause a deflection of the cross off Walkes into the Atlanta net. The play started with a backheel pass from Mike Grella to Lawrence.
United’s Carlos Carmona was red carded for violent play in the 88th minute.
