Eastern Conference foes FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United came into the match with both wanting points to turn around recent form. After 90 minutes, the two sides walked away with a point apiece from the 2-2 result.
PREMATCH STORYLINES
The story coming into the match was all about the the lineups. For FC Cincinnati starting striker Kévin Denkey and center back Teenage Hadabe were out on international duty. Captain Miles Robinson was out due to sickness and Gilberto Flores served a one-match suspension due to two yellow cards received against Charlotte FC. For Atlanta United, several key players in their defense were out either on international duty or due to injury. Most notably Designated Player Migual Almirón.
FAST START
Perhaps the two best opportunities of the first half came in the first seven minutes. Alexy Miranchuk collected the ball from Lukas Engel as he struggled with the ball between his legs. Miranchuk ripped a screaming blast from outside of the box. Roman Celentano was fortunate to have the ball strike the crossbar as it sailed over him.
In the seventh minute Evander struck a free kick attempt from just on the corner of the 18-yard box. Nick Hagglund got free under the cross and was able to put a head on the ball. But Brad Guzan was able to get a left paw on it—enough to redirect it from harm’s way.
ATLANTA STRIKE FIRST
The five stripes would be the ones to come out of the halftime break with answers to the stalemate. In the 50th minute a quick resumption of play from a throw-in saw Saba Lobjanidze running free to the touchline. Saba slightly paused his run and found Emmanuel Latte Lath in the middle of the box. Latte Lath shot on the first touch and slot it in the net past an outstretched Celentano.
FCC FLURRY
An earned freekick from the top of the box in the 70th minute saw FCC’s top man Evander standing over the ball. Evander struck the ball with pace, and it took a deflection off an Atlanta defender in the box. The deflection was enough to freeze Guzan, and the ball landed comfortably into the net.
Moments later in the 75th minute Obinna Nwobodo jumped an Atlanta throw-in to start the break. Pavel Bucha picked up the ball and drove it straight into the box. Bucha laid it off to Evander and the Brazilian showed his skilled right foot for a great goal.
The two goals for Evander were his first in front of the TQL Stadium faithful and his first brace in an orange and blue uniform.
POWELL’S BLUNDER
The match felt like it was destined to end in a 2-1 win for FCC but poor fate in the 88th minute would spoil the three points. Saba drove the ball up FCC’s left flank and delivered a low cross across the face of goal. Alvas Powell raced back to make the play but unfortunately for him his outstretched leg only directed the ball squarely into the goal.
Goals
CIN – Evander 70’, Evander (Bucha) 75’
ATL – Emmanuel Latte Lath (Lobjanidze) 50’, Alvas Powell (OG) 88’
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Lukas Engel, Nick Hagglund (Corey Baird 46’), Alvas Powell, Yuya Kubo (Tah Brian Anunga 81’), Obinna Nwobodo (Gerardo Valenzuela 90’), Pavel Bucha, DeAndre Yedlin (C), Evander, Luca Orellano, Sergio Santos (Brad Smith 61’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Noah Adnan, Kenji Mboma Dem, Stiven Jimenez
ATL: Brad Guzan (C), Pedro Amador, Derrick Williams, Matthew Edwards (Mateusz Klich 80’), Brooks Lennon, Tristan Muyumba (Cayman Togashi 41’), Will Reilly, Alexey Miranchuk, Xande Silva (Ronald Hernandez 71’), Emmanuel Latte Lath, Saba Lobjanidze
Substitutes not used: Jayden Hibbert, Josh Cohen, Ashton Gordon, Cooper Sanchez, Nyk Sessock, Rodrigo Neri
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Lukas Engel (Yellow Card) 9’
CIN – Yuya Kubo (Yellow Card) 28’
ATL – Will Reilly (Yellow Card) 28’
CIN – DeAndre Yedlin (Yellow Card) 59’
ATL – Matthew Edwards (Yellow Card) 69’
ATL – Emmanuel Latte Lath (Yellow Card) 90’+1
Next Match:
MLS Regular Season: vs. Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m. EDT March 29th, Geodis Park Nashville TN; AppleTV+
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