RECAP | Atlanta United FC 1, FC Cincinnati 2

FC Cincinnati scored two goals in the 62nd and 64th minutes to come from behind and knock off Atlanta United FC, 2-1, Saturday night in front of 42,600 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

With the win, the Orange and Blue snapped a two-match skid and improved to 4-2-3 (15 points). Atlanta fell to 3-3-2 (11 points). 

The hosts scored first in the 59th minute on a superb strike from Thiago Almada to break the scoreless deadlock. But the lead would be short lived as the Orange and Blue would equalize three minutes later and then take the lead for good just five minutes later. 

Luca Orellano scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in the 62nd minute to send the visitors ahead, while the captain Luciano Acosta scored his 43rd career goal for FCC – tied with Brandon Vazquez for the most in club history – to put FCC ahead for good in the 64th minute.

Cincinnati defeated Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second-straight season in comeback fashion, 2-1. Saturday marked United’s first loss at home since August 30 of last season against FCC. 

AS IT HAPPENED
ATL: Thiago Almada, GOAL – 59’ (1-0) – Atlanta pushed the tempo on a counter, with Edwin Mosquera down the left side finding the host’s star midfielder Thiago Almada at the top of the box who curled a right-footed shot into the lower right corner of the net past a diving Alec Kann.

CIN: Luca Orellano, GOAL – 62’ (1-1) – FC Cincinnati quickly leveled the score, also on a counter. Luciano Acosta intercepted an intended short corner kick for Atlanta and the Orange and Blue were off to the races. Acosta drove down the left side and found Luca Orellano running in behind the Atlanta defense. Orellano took one touch and finely placed his left-footed shot past Brad Guzan for his first goal with FC Cincinnati.

CIN: Luciano Acosta, GOAL – 64’ (1-2) – FC Cincinnati doubled their lead just two minutes after the equalizer. Miles Robinson in Atlanta’s defensive half found DeAndre Yedlin on the right side. Yedlin lifted a perfectly-weighted pass into the box which found Lucho Acosta taking a perfect touch inside the penalty area. Acosta calmly placed his third MLS goal of the season into the back of the net.

FC Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium next Saturday, April 27 against the Colorado Rapids. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). The match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati and iHeart.

GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati are unbeaten in five-straight matches against Atlanta United.
- Saturday marked FC Cincinnati’s 50th win in MLS regular season competition. 
- FC Cincinnati are unbeaten in 10-straight matches on turf (3-0-7) … the last loss for FCC on turf came in March 2022 at Charlotte FC.
- Luciano Acosta recorded his second game of the season with multiple goal contributions … Acosta extended his club record in total games with multiple goal contributions (2+ goals or assists) to 24 across all competitions, 21 in regular season play. 
- Acosta scored his seventh regular season game-winning goal for FC Cincinnati, the most in club history. 
- Acosta matched Brandon Vazquez for the most goals across all competitions for FC Cincinnati (43).
- Acosta has scored nine times in his career against Atlanta, three more than any other opponent for the Argentine (6 vs CHI).
- Luca Orellano became the sixth first-time goal scorer for FC Cincinnati this season.
- Alvas Powell made his 200th career MLS regular season appearances.
- FC Cincinnati scored two goals in three minutes for the first time since October 9, 2022 at D.C. United (Acosta 6’, Brenner 8’).

FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Atlanta United FC
Date: April 20, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Attendance: 42,763
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 70 degrees, clear

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
ATL: 0-1-1
CIN: 0-2-2

ATL – Thiago Almada (Mosquera) 59’

CIN – Luca Orellano (Acosta) 62’, Luciano Acosta (Yedlin) 64’

LINEUPS
CIN: Alec Kann, Luca Orellano (Alvas Powell 89’), Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund (Ian Murphy 43’), DeAndre Yedlin (Bret Halsey 90’), Pavel Bucha (Malik Pinto 89’), Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C), Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird (Aaron Boupendza 76’)

Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Kipp Keller, Gerardo Valenzuela, Yamil Asad

Head Coach: Pat Noonan

ATL: Brad Guzan (C), Luis Abram, Brooks Lennon, Noah Cobb (Ronald Hernandez 46’), Caleb Wiley, Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba (Jay Fortune 60’), Saba Lobzhanidze (Tyler Wolff 86’), Thiago Almada, Edwin Mosquera (Xande Silva 60’), Daniel Ríos (Giorgos Giakoumakis 60’)

Substitutes not used: Josh Cohen, Dax McCarty, Efrain Morales, Nicolas Firmino

Head Coach: Gonzalo Pineda

STATS SUMMARY: ATL/CIN
Shots: 16 / 18
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 9 / 4
Fouls: 12 / 9
Offside: 1 / 0
Possession: 57.9 / 42.1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATL – Jay Fortune (Yellow Card) 68’
CIN – Miles Robinson (Yellow Card) 83’
CIN – Pavel Bucha (Yellow Card) 89’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Yellow Card) 90’+3

OFFICIALS 
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Ast. Referees: Cory Richardson, Logan Brown
Fourth Official: Sergii Demianchuk
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Tony Obas