Atlanta United 2 earned a 3-1 victory over FC Cincinnati 2 Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Atlanta kept its playoff hopes alive as it came into the night facing elimination. Three separate players scored as Ajani Fortune earned his first for ATL UTD 2 this season, while Karim Tmimi scored and Nick Firmino added his 15th goal of the year.
Atlanta began the match on the front foot and nearly got out to an early lead. In the third minute, Clement Diop delivered a perfectly timed pass from inside Atlanta's own 18-yard box to Machop Chol racing down the center of the pitch. The Homegrown winger brought down the pass just outside the box but was brought down from behind by Joey Okpunonu who was shown a red card on the play. Firmino stepped up for the direct free kick but the ball was blocked by the wall.
Atlanta broke through in the 16th minute. After the home team's high press forced an errant pass by Cincinnati's keeper inside the box, Chol quickly found Tmimi open for the left footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net for his sixth goal of the season, and his first goal since May 28.
Fortune doubled Atlanta's lead in the 30th after a corner kick clearance fell right to the midfielder alone atop the right side of the box. The Homegrown midfielder took his time before powering a one-timed shot through a crowd of defenders. The ball took a deflection before falling into the back right corner of the net leaving no chance for Paul Walters in goal for Cincinnati.
Atlanta came out as the aggressor with a number of chances in front of goal to begin the second half. However, it was Cincinnati who found the back of the net first. In the 57th minute, Benjamin Stitz cut the lead in half for Cincinnati after receiving a ball in space inside the box and rolling a shot into the bottom right corner for the goal.
In the 62nd minute, Chris Gloster received his second yellow card of the match leaving both teams down to 10 men. However, in the 82nd minute, Firmino added to his season goal total scoring his 15th of the year. Shawn Lanza began the play down the right wing before finding Luke Brennan up the sideline. The homegrown winger cut back a pass to Jackson Conway before he dropped it off to Firmino at the edge of the box where he took a couple dribbles and gently tapped in the goal for the 3-1 lead.
ATL UTD 2 returns to action Sunday, Sept. 10 when it travels to Joe Davis Stadium to take on Huntsville City FC (7:00 p.m. ET, Apple TV - MLS Season Pass). Some ATL UTD 2 matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app while the remainder of matches are streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Match Summary
Stats
Shots: 18-14 Atlanta
Shots on target: 5-5
Corner kicks: 5-2 Cincinnati
Fouls Committed: 15-14 Atlanta
xG: 1.35 - .64 Atlanta
Possession: 62-38 Atlanta
Passing accuracy: 93-85 Atlanta
Scoring
ATL - Karim Tmimi (Chol) 16'
ATL - Ajani Fortune 30'
CIN - Benjamin Stitz 57'
ATL - Nick Firmino (Conway) 81'
Disciplinary
CIN - Joey Akpunonu 🟥 3'
CIN - Garardo Valenzuela 🟨 34'
ATL - Chris Gloster 🟨 34'
ATL - Chris Gloster 🟥 62'
ATL - Alan Carleton 🟨 72'
Notes
- Karim Tmimi scored his sixth goal of the year.
- Ajani Fortune scored his first goal of the season for Atlanta United 2.
- Nick Firmino added his 15th goal of the season.
- Machop Chol added first assist of the season for Atlanta United 2.
- Jackson Conway added his first assist of the season.
- Atlanta United 2 avoided playoff elimination with three games to go.
