PHOTOS: Atlanta United falls in home opener to Real Salt Lake

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PHOTOS: Atlanta United falls in home opener to Real Salt Lake

Atlanta United fell in the home opener to Real Salt Lake, 3-2, on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Five Stipes are now 0-3-0 to begin the MLS season.

Atlanta United fans cheer during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino shouts instructions during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino shouts instructions during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino reacts during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino reacts during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Cooper Sanchez (right) battles Real Salt Lake midfielder Juan Manuel Sanabria for the ball during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake forward Sergi Solans (iright) scores a goal past Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos (center) during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake forward Sergi Solans (left) scores on Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake forward Aiden Hezarkhani (right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos (left) is unable to block a shot on goal by Real Salt Lake forward Aiden Hezarkhani (center) during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino shouts instructions during the first half ofAtlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón (center) takes a shot as Real Salt Lake defender Philip Quinton (left) defends during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón (center) deflects a shot during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos shouts instructions during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United defender Elías Báez (right) makes a pass for an assist on a goal during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk (right) hugs defender Elías Báez after Miranchuk scored a goal during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk (right) makes a shot on goal against Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafael Cabral (1) during the second half in Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk (right) takes a shot on goal against Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafael Cabral during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United fans cheer during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United fans cheer during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (right) deflects a shot during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (center) reacts after deflecting a shot during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (center) reacts at the end of the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United players react at the end of the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk (left) celebrates with defender Tomás Jacob after Miranchuk scored a goal during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk (center) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

1996 Olympics medal-winning gymnast Dominique Dawes hammers the gold spike to start Atlanta United's home opener against Real Salt Lake at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake forward Aiden Hezarkhani (left) pulls the jersey of Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United defender Enea Mihaj (left) takes a shot as Real Salt Lake forward Morgan Guilavogui defends during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón (center) gets past Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad (right) during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake players react to no-call during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Real Salt Lake defender Philip Quinton (left) heads the ball past Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Atlanta United defender Elías Báez (center) works the ball against Real Salt Lake forward Zavier Gozo during the second half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

Atlanta United fans cheer during the first half of Atlanta United's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Real Salt Lake won 3-2 over Atlanta United. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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