Atlanta United FC vs FC Cincinnati 1-3

FC Cincinnati won 3-1 at Atlanta United FC after Kevin Denkey struck twice, the second in the 90+7th minute to seal it. Atlanta levelled after the break, and Cincinnati answered twice in the closing stages.

The first half finished goalless after a cautious opening. Teenage Hadebe was booked for Cincinnati in the 2nd minute and Tomás Jacob went into the book for Atlanta in the 43rd, but neither side found a breakthrough before the interval.

Denkey opened the scoring on 52 minutes from Tom Barlow’s assist for 1-0, before Miguel Almirón equalised on 69 minutes from Breel Embolo to make it 1-1. Cincinnati then made two changes on 72 minutes and two more on 78, and the visitors went back in front in the 84th minute when Barlow scored from Kyle Smith’s pass. Denkey got his second of the match in the 90+7th minute, finishing Ender Jesús Echenique Peña’s assist. Peña had come on in the 60th minute. Atlanta made two changes on 86 minutes and another in the 90+2nd, but could not recover after going 2-1 down.

Atlanta had 56% of the possession and 512 passes to Cincinnati’s 399, and also had more shots, 15-13, and shots on target, 6-4. Cincinnati still finished with the better xG, 1.91 to 1.14, and both sides had four corners. Atlanta were flagged offside seven times to Cincinnati’s one, while FC Cincinnati made five saves and Atlanta none.

FC Cincinnati were booked three times, with Teenage Hadebe in the 2nd minute, Julian Malatini in the 88th and Tom Barlow in the 90+4th. Atlanta had two yellow cards, shown to Tomás Jacob in the 43rd minute and Mauricio Amaro in the 90+4th.