Atlanta United defeated Chicago Fire FC 4-1 on Saturday evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ronaldo Cisneros scored the first hat trick of his career to secure Atlanta its biggest margin of victory of the MLS Regular Season.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the third minute, its quickest goal of the season. Quick passing play between Thiago Almada, Marcelino Moreno, and Luiz Araújo opened up Chicago’s backline before Araújo threaded through a pass for Cisneros. Cisneros took two touches into the Chicago box before powering a deflected shot over goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
The equalizer came in the 11th minute for Chicago. Xherdan Shaqiri received the ball on the left flank with a diagonal pass from Federico Navarro. The Swiss midfielder sent a cross into the box for a sliding Chinonso Offor, who scored after Shaqiri’s pass took a touch off Brooks Lennon.
Cisneros retook the lead for the hosts in the 27th minute. A one-two pass between Matheus Rossetto and Moreno created a shooting opportunity for Rossetto. Slonina saved the attempt right into the path of Cisneros, who tucked his shot into an open goal.
An Atlanta counterattack in the 36th minute ended with Cisneros’ third goal of the match. Almada turned quickly before sending Cisneros through on goal. The striker dribbled around Slonina and completed his first-half hat trick, the third player to score three goals in one match in Atlanta United’s MLS history.
Brooks Lennon scored Atlanta’s fourth and final goal in the first minute of stoppage time. Lennon was the first one to the loose ball after a Emerson Hyndman cross for Cisneros was partially cleared.
Atlanta (4-4-2, 14 points) returns to action Wednesday, May 11, visiting Nashville SC for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at GEODIS Park (8 p.m., ESPN+).
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of ATL UTD