April 20, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
ATLANTA – Looking to snap out of a two-game losing streak, FC Cincinnati pushed their way to a positive result and earned an all-important three points on the road against Atlanta United FC despite going down 1-0 in the second half.
Luciano Acosta would again be the catalyst, earning a goal and an assist in the effort. Luca Orellano would add his first goal with Miles Robinson and DeAndre Yedlin adding assists.
Georgia native and former Atlanta United keeper Alec Kann made his second start of the season and kept The Five Stripes off the scoreboard, slapping away the lone chance on target in the first half with a brilliant diving save on a clear look from in close by Atlanta.
With halftime approaching, FCC faced a difficult situation emotionally and tactically. In working to stop Atlanta’s counterattack, Nick Hagglund and Miles Robinson found themselves on the wrong end of physical challenges. Down and needing attention from the medical staff. Hagglund would need to be replaced due to injury, making way for Ian Murphy, but Robinson would go on. However, due to the new MLS competition rules instituted for the first time league-wide tonight, Robinson would be forced to sit out for two minutes before he rejoined the match. Leaving Atlanta United on a powerplay of sorts, more commonly seen in Hockey rather than soccer.
FCC would weather the storm but it would also essentially end offensive opportunities in the half, playing with a man down.
Kann would again save a clear opportunity early to start the second half by rushing out of his net to collect a heavy touch forward from an ATL attacker, sliding sideways to kick the ball out of bounds and diffuse the immediate threat. Moments later, he would stand his ground again and stop a shot on target to halt the opportunity.
It was Atlanta United though who earned the opening goal despite FC Cincinnati having multiple opportunities, ringing two off the post before Thieago Almada curled a pacey shot around Kann to make it 1-0.
It wasn’t long though before FC Cincinnait raced back to provide the equalizer. 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta pushed a perfectly timed pass forward to fellow Argentine Luca Orellano, who threaded a shot past ATL keeper Brad Guzan for his first goal with The Orange and Blue.
But the FCC onslaught wasn’t over. Two minutes later Miles Robinson connected a pass to DeAndre Yedlin, who sent in a inch perfect cross to a serging Acosta right…
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