A week after beating Lionel Messi as MLS Newcomer of the Year, Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis has made history once again in his first season.

In Atlanta’s 4-2 win over Columbus Crew on Tuesday night, the Greek striker became the first player in the club’s history to contribute to three goals in a single MLS Cup Playoffs match.

Giakoumakis kicked one goal and recorded two assists, scoring United’s first in the 38th minute – a header after receiving a cross from Brooks Lennon.

Regaining the lead right before the half, The Five Stripes saw another team goal, where the Heraklion born forward assisted a goal to Xande Silva.

His second assist came in the 83rd minute where he played the ball to substitute Edwin Mosquera, who shot past the goalkeeper.

Speaking after the match about his goal and the assist from Lennon, Giakoumakis said: “It’s something we always try to work on.”

“We had some similar goals during the season. He knows exactly where I’m going to be. It was nothing by luck.”

The number seven formerly played in Greece for AEK Athens and prior to joining the MLS, played under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic. He has also made 21 total Greek national team appearances (three U21).

In recent interview with The Athletic, the Greek talked about his career so far, and opened up about his time with Ange at Celtic, and it isn’t as positive as some may think.

“I wouldn’t think to leave Celtic if several things didn’t go wrong, and many of them were completely wrong. I cannot lie. My relationship with the manager wasn’t great, at the end of the day. We never had a specific fight, but he didn’t trust me as much as I wanted to feel trusted,” he said.

“I had to go. I had to go. I never regretted a moment. I was sad that I had to leave Celtic. I was living a life there. I was like a god for the fans. My connection with them was really special, and it was sad, but I had to make my decision. My last month in Celtic I was suffering because of some people at the club. I didn’t receive the respect from the people or from the club. So actually, I think they forced me to go out.”

So far for United, he has played 31 games for 18 goals and five assists.

Prior to the new club record being set, only two other Atlanta players had recorded one goal and one assist in a playoff match: Franco Escobar (2018 vs New York Red Bulls) and Julian Gressel (2019 vs Philadelphia Union).