That is exactly what you read. Brad Guzan of Atlanta United made it happen on Saturday night in Queens, New York, as the goalkeeper was given a secondary assist on the team’s lone goal of the game. This is a statistic that doesn’t frequently include a goalkeeper’s name.
The assist set up Jamal Thiaré’s goal in the 65th minute to tie Atlanta United’s score with New York City FC. The play began at Guzan’s feet and proceeded fast from end to end. He sent a long ball up Edwin Mosquera’s right flank, where he could run. With his first touch, the quick winger sent a crisp cross after chasing it down. Thiaré scored his third goal in two games after racing into the box and beating his opponent with a header that went past the far post.
In the end, the equalizer served as the goal. The 5-Stripes’ first road point of the season came in a 1-1 draw against New York City FC and Atlanta United.
“We talked before the second half, ‘Hey, let’s come out and try to find this goal early,’” Guzan said.
In MLS, Guzan’s assist was his first. It should be noted that in the goalkeeper’s 19-year career, this was not his first assist. While playing in the English Premier League for Aston Villa, Guzan did record one assist. 2013 saw him provide his first assist of the career in an Aston Villa vs. Manchester City game. Andreas Weimann, an Austrian international, scored the game-winning goal after another long boot play.
The goalkeeper described his assist with Atlanta United as “a lot more accurate” than his one with Aston Villa when questioned about it at the team’s post-match media conference.
The 39-year-old captain has had a fantastic start to the season, and now he gets his first MLS assist. Guzan has recorded two clean sheets in the season’s first six games. Atlanta United is tied for second place in the MLS goal difference (+5) and has given up the fewest goals this season (5), along with FC Cincinnati.
