The final score was 4-2, but it felt like Atlanta United won the match 10-0. When Jamal Thiare scored Atlanta’s final goal of the match in the 94th minute, the noise was deafening. It had not been that loud in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in months.
The last time Atlanta United scored this many goals against FC Cincinnati, an own goal was a part of the equation. On Sunday night, in a televised “Sunday Night Soccer” match on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, the home team had Mercedes-Benz Stadium rocking without the assistance of their opponent.
Atlanta United brought all the dishes to the table Sunday night. Striker Emmanuel Latte Lath and the crown prince of the club, Miguel Almiron, were starting up top with Pedro Amador, Fortune, Bartosz Slisz, Alexey Miranchuk, and Lobjanidze in the midfield. Fortune and Amador had strong games in the 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union a week earlier.
With a backline of usual suspects, Williams, Matt Edwards, and Luis Abram, this was the best starting lineup manager Ronny Deila had to offer. There was no more room or reasons for excuses.
The last time these two teams played on March 22, Atlanta needed an own-goal to tie the match at two. This time around, Atlanta scored first on a set-piece header from defender Derrick Williams in the 16th minute. And then they scored again. Midfielder Ajani Fortune scored his first goal of the season, and second career goal, in the 20th minute off an assist from Saba Lobjanidze, whose pass found its way through the FC Cincinnati defense and onto Fortune’s outstretched right foot. Atlanta was ahead 2-0 within the first 20 minutes of a match for the first time this season.
The attack continued with Atlanta putting pressure on Cincinnati throughout the first half. Latte Lath nearly scored the third goal of the match when his shots missed wide left and right in the 42nd and in extra time.
Former Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson scored Cincinnati’s first goal of the match in the 48th minute. His header off an assist from Evander seemed to take some energy out of the room, so to speak.
FC Cincinnati seemed to play faster after the Robinson goal. It took Atlanta over 20 minutes to score again when Slisz found his way into the scoring column with a kick-quick of a missed header that gave Atlanta a 3-1 advantage in the 66th minute. The corner kick by Lobjanidze that began the play was perfectly placed for Williams’ header attempts. In fact, the corner kick was so perfect and the header so spot on that Williams was credited with a secondary assist and Miranchuk with the assist.
FC Cincinnati pulled back to within a goal at 3-2 in the 69th minute following a goal from midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela.
What Next:
The Five Stripes will host rival Orlando FC on Wednesday before ending May with a road game at New York Red Bulls. Atlanta United has already played both teams this season. On March 8, the Red Bulls and Five Stripes played to a 0-0 draw, and Atlanta was blown out 3-0 in Orlando on April 26.
