Atlanta United fell 2-0 to FC Cincinnati Saturday night at TQL Stadium in its MLS season opener. Lucas Hoyos, Tomás Jacob, and Elías Báez made their Atlanta United debuts, while Homegrown midfielder Cooper Sanchez became the youngest player in club history to start a season opener at 17 years and 332 days old.
Atlanta created the first chance on goal of the match in the sixth minute when Saba Lobjanidze received the ball on the left wing. He cut inside and curled a right-footed shot from 20 yards out towards the far post, forcing a diving save from Roman Celentano.
Miguel Almirón put Atlanta’s second shot on target a few minutes later. In the 22nd minute, Tomás Jacob won the ball back in midfield and played Latte Lath in behind Cincinnati’s backline, but the striker was unable to get a clear shot off.
Cincinnati had a chance to take the lead in the 56th minute as an Atlanta pass deflected off a Cincinnati attacker into the path of Kevin Denkey, who raced toward goal. The striker took a few touches, went 1 v 1 with Hoyos, but ended up striking the right post.
Almirón forced another reaction save from Celentano in the 61st minute. After an Atlanta attack down the right side, a cross reached Almirón in the center of the box. The Paraguayan took a touch and struck a hard left-footed shot through a group of players towards the corner of the goal. Unfortunately, Celentano was able to dive and make the save.
Juan Berrocal made a goal-line clearance in the 66th minute to keep the match level, yet Cincinnati took the lead through Denkey in the 80th minute. After an Atlanta turnover, Cincinnati capitalized on a transition moment as Samuel Gidi played the ball forward to Ender Echinique on the right wing. The wing back took two touches forward before squaring the ball to Denkey in front of goal. He rounded Hoyos and placed a shot between a pair of Atlanta defenders and into the net.
Nick Hagglund made it 2-0 to the home side in the 90th minute, heading in a corner from Bryan Ramirez.
Atlanta United (0-1-0, 0 points) returns to action Saturday, Feb. 28, when it travels to face San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park (10:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available on Apple TV.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Courtesy of ATLUTD
[…] two straight goalless matches and just one shot on target tonight, Atlanta United will hope to turn things around and try […]