Despite strong play throughout most of the match, the tough stretch for Atlanta United continues as they fall to FC Cincinnati 1-0. With this result, they are now winless in their last seven regular season MLS matches.
The beginning of the match started off chippy for both teams, early aggressive play only seconds after kickoff. FC Cincinnati was able to get on the board first with the only goal scored in the match, only seven minutes in. Going against the run of play, Luciano Acosta managed to make a corner pass to Kevin Kelsy, who used a header to get the ball past Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
The less-than-ideal start for the 5-Stripes continued when Thiago Almada had to leave the match in the 16th minute due to injury. Xande Silva came in the match shortly thereafter to take his place.
Cincinnati controlled much of the play in the first half, till around the 35th minute when the tides started to change and Atlanta United started generating scoring chances. Silva and Giorgos Giakoumakis had the best chances for 5-Stripes, both coming inside the box and going far wide of the net.
Atlanta was able to settle in as time went on, the early chaos seamingly in the rearview mirror. Another scoring opportunity came in the five extra minutes of stoppage time. In the 48th minute, Dax McCarty made long ball to the right edge of the pitch in the offensive third where it found Brooks Lennon. Lennon made a swift pass to Giakoumakis for the scoring chance.
In the second half, the usual possession game that Atlanta likes to play was on full display. They were able to win most of the 50-50 balls while Cincinnati seemed to want to let the time tick down. In the 61st minute, Stian Gregersen and Jamal Thiare came in for Jay Fortune and Saba Lobjanidze respectively. McCarty had one of the better looks in the second half during the 62nd minute, but his shot went over the net. Cincinnati made their first substitutions of the night; Sergio Santos and Malik Pinto subbing in for Kelvin Kelsy and Obinna Nwobodo in the 65th minutes.
Both Atlanta and Cincinnati traded free kicks for the next couple of minutes as the physicality amped up. Tristan Muymba and Edwin Mosquera were subbed into the match for McCarty and Silva in the 74th minute. Only four minutes after coming in, Mosquera won a free kick after being fouled by Malik Pinto. Atlanta's best chance in the second half came off that foul. Bartosz Slisz's initial shot was blocked wide and the ensuing cross found Mosquera, but his attempt sailed wide.
After collision while going up for a header against former Atlanta United player, Miles Robinson, Giakoumakis had come out of the match in the 89th minute. Despite Atlanta not having anymore subs left, they were able to make a concussion protocol substitution with Daniel Rios coming in.
With seven minutes of stoppage time, the 5-Stripes make efforts to score and walk away with a draw against Cincinnati. Stian Gregersen won a free kick, but they were not able to capitalize on the opportunity. They now sit at 3-6-3 with 12 points in the Eastern Conference table.
FC Cincinnati | Atlanta United | |
|---|---|---|
Shots | 13 | 8 |
Shots on target | 5 | 1 |
Corner kicks | 7 | 3 |
Fouls committed | 11 | 10 |
xG | 1.7 | 0.5 |
Possession | 49% | 51% |
Passing accuracy | 84% | 81% |
Up Next - On to Broadway
This was the match was the first in a double matchweek for the 5-Stripes. They will travel to Tennessee to take on Nashville SC on Saturday. All the action, including an early 1:45 p.m. kickoff, can be viewed through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or on FOX Sports.
On Tuesday, May 21, they will play Charlotte Battery (USL Championship) in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
