FC Cincinnati earned a 1-0 win against Atlanta United FC Wednesday night at TQL Stadium. It is the Orange and Blue’s (8-2-3, 27 points) fifth-consecutive win while Atlanta (3-6-3, 12 points) have now lost three-straight league matches.
Forward Kevin Kelsy scored for the second-consecutive match in the 7th minute to give the Orange and Blue an early first half lead. Luciano Acosta played provider on Kelsy’s goal, earning his 50th MLS Regular Season assist for the club in the process.
Kelsy’s goal proved to be enough as the Orange and Blue notched their fifth league shutout of the season. FCC’s defense stymied Atlanta all night as Cincinnati held the 5 Stripes to eight shots and just one shot on target.
On Saturday night against St. Louis CITY SC, Cincinnati can extend their winning streak to six matches, which would tie the club’s longest single-season MLS win streak.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Kevin Kelsy, GOAL – 7’ (1-0) – The move began with Miles Robinson stepping in and winning possession from Thiago Almada and driving into the Atlanta box. Robinson’s attempt on goal was blocked but found the feet of Luciano Acosta down near the goal line. Acosta, who assisted on Kelsy’s goal against Columbus, floated a perfect cross in towards Kelsy who was left unmarked at the back post where he headed it past Brad Guzan.
FC Cincinnati are back home at TQL Stadium this Saturday, May 18, as they take on St. Louis CITY SC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK) and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530.
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati swept Atlanta United in the 2024 season … Wednesday marked Cincinnati’s first win over Atlanta in the Queen City (entered Wednesday 0-2-3).
- Luciano Acosta extended his goal contribution streak to seven-consecutive games, matching the club record he set from April 24 – May 28, 2022.
- Acosta netted his 50th MLS Regular Season assist with FC Cincinnati.
- Acosta’s nine goals and eight assists in his career against Atlanta United are both the most by any player in league history against the 5 Stripes.
- Acosta recorded seven shots, matching a career-high (Twice prior: 6/24/23 at DC; 2/22/24 at CAV (CCC)).
- Kevin Kelsy became the fastest teenager to score two goals in MLS Regular Season action, with his second goal in 58 minutes across two matches coming early Wednesday night.
- Under Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati across all competitions are 11-2-5 in 18 matches on a Wednesday.
- Roman Celentano’s five clean sheets continue to pace MLS … He entered the night tied for the league lead in shutouts with four other keepers.
- FC Cincinnati are 22-4 since the start of 2023 in MLS Regular Season games decided by one goal.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Atlanta United FC
Date: May 15, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 24,593
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 69 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CIN: 1-0-1
ATL: 0-0-0
CIN – Kevin Kelsy (Acosta) 7’
ATL – None
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Luca Orellano (Yamil Asad 90’+3), Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson (Nick Hagglund 89’), Yuya Kubo, Obinna Nwobodo (Malik Pinto 65’), Pavel Bucha, Luciano Acosta (C), Kevin Kelsy (Sergio Santos 65’), Gerardo Valenzuela (Bret Halsey 83’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Kipp Keller, Isaiah Foster, Stiven Jimenez
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
ATL: Brad Guzan (C), Caleb Wiley, Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Brooks Lennon, Jay Fortune (Stian Gregersen 61’), Dax McCarty (Tristan Muyumba 74’), Bartosz Slisz, Thiago Almada (Xande Silva 16’, Edwin Mosquera 74’), Giorgos Giakoumakis (Daniel Rios 89’), Saba Lobjanidze (Jamal Thiare 61’)
Substitutes not used: Josh Cohen, Ronald Hernandez, Nicolas Firmino
Head Coach: Gonzalo Pineda
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/ATL
Shots: 13 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 1
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offside: 2 / 1
Possession: 48.8 / 51.2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATL – Bartosz Slisz (Yellow Card) 23’
ATL – Giorgos Giakoumakis (Yellow Card) 74’
OFFICIALS 
Referee: Ted Unkel
Ast. Referees: Ryan Graves, Tyler Wyrostek
Fourth Official: Jon Freeman
VAR: Michael Radchuk
AVAR: Joshua Patlak
