Some second-half stoppage time heroics from Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada spoiled the debut of San Jose Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez in Saturday’s MLS season opener.

Almada scored twice in second-half stoppage time to rally host Atlanta to a 2-1 win over San Jose, which has now gone 20 calendar years since winning a season-opening game on the road.

Jeremy Ebobisse, last year’s goals leader for the Earthquakes, scored in the 12th minute, redirecting a cross from teammate Cristian Espinoza to give San Jose the lead. They held it until stoppage time in the second half.

Almada, the 5-foot-7 winger from Argentina who won the FIFA World Cup with his national team two months ago fired from distance and struck the underside of the crossbar, getting enough of a deflection off the ironwork to allow the ball to bounce across the goal line in the third minute of extra time.

That tied the match at 1.

But Atlanta wasn’t finished. It pressed for the three points and moments before the final whistle, earned a free kick from outside of the box. Almada stepped up to take it, and his strike found a corner of the net off the fingers of San Jose goalkeeper Daniel.

That was essentially the final play of the match.

Nashville defeats New York City FC >> Walker Zimmerman and Jacob Shaffelburg scored and Nashville SC defeated New York City FC 2-0 in the first game of the Major Soccer League season in Nashville.

Zimmerman scored following a free kick after Fafa Picault centered the ball in front of the goal in the 34th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Shaffelburg’s goal came in the 80th minute off an assist from Hany Mukhtar.

Kessler lifts Revolution over Charlotte >> Henry Kessler scored in the 89th minute and Djordje Petrovic made four saves to lead the New England Revolution to a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC in a season opener.

Kessler’s game-winner was unassisted.

Pablo Sisniega had four saves for Charlotte.

Golf

Kirk battles, takes 2-shot lead at Honda >> Chris Kirk’s last win on the PGA Tour was nearly eight years ago. He’s put himself in a position to change that at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Kirk battled his way to a 4-under round of 66, putting him at 13-under 197 for the week and giving him a two-shot lead over Eric Cole (66) through three rounds at PGA National.

His last win on tour was at Colonial in 2015 — 180 tournaments ago. He’s a four-time winner on tour, played in the Presidents Cup in 2015, and has been waiting to hoist a trophy again since.

Justin Suh holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the par-4 12th, and is alone in third at 10 under. He shot even-par 70 on Saturday.

Shane Lowry (65) is 9 under, and right in the mix after having a chance to win the Honda last year until the 72nd hole. He’s tied with Ben Taylor (69).

Among those lurking: defending champion Sepp Straka, who followed opening rounds of 69 and 68 with a 66.

Thai rookie Vongtaveelap takes LPGA lead >> Thai rookie Natthakritta Vongtaveelap shot a bogey-free 64 to grab a four-stroke lead over fellow countrywoman Atthaya Thitikul after round three of the US$1.7 million LPGA Thailand.

Vongtaveelap will try to become the first player to win on her LPGA Tour debut since Japanese Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 Women’s British Open.

Ex-college teammates share LIV lead >> Talor Gooch made a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole to tie Peter Uihlein for the lead in a LIV Golf season debut at Mayakoba in Mexico that looks to be an Oklahoma State alumni reunion.

Uihlein was in the lead for most of the day at El Camaleon until a bogey-birdie-bogey finish led to a 5-under 66. Gooch played bogey-free, ending his round with an approach to short range on the par-4 first hole.

They were teammates at Oklahoma State — Uihlein was a junior having won the U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay when Gooch was a freshman.

They were at 9-under 133, one shot ahead of Charles Howell III, who played for the Cowboys more than a decade earlier. Howell opened with three straight birdies and closed with a birdie for a 66.

Paul Casey was in the mix until three bogeys over his last four holes gave him a 71 and left him three shots behind, along with Branden Grace (68).

Tennis

No. 1 Swiatek loses in Dubai final >> Top-ranked Iga Swiatek was upset by Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the Dubai Championships.

Krejcikova closed the tournament by beating the top three players in the WTA rankings: No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, then Swiatek. No. 8 Daria Kasaktina was also overcome in the second round.

Medvedev outlasts Murray to win Qatar Open >> Daniil Medvedev won the Qatar Open in Doha when he defeated Andy Murray 6-4, 6-4 in a final matchup of former No. 1s.