May 15, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati took the lead early and never looked back, toppling Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium 1-0 in a full-fledged defensive effort that saw Roman Celentano earn his league-leading fifth Clean Sheet of the season and extend FC Cincinnati’s win streak to five games – one shy of the club record.
With injuries leaving the depth of the team at a disadvantage, Head Coach Pat Noonan went with youth and deployed two strikers in the starting IX who have not yet seen their 20th birthdays. Heroes from the Hell is Real victory five days earlier, Kevin Kelsy and Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela (both 19) took over striker duties with Aaron Boupendza and Corey Baird out injured. Yuya Kubo, a man of many skills and positions, started at wingback after making five starts at striker leading into this match.
But it didn’t take long for the scoring tandem that got the party started in Columbus over the weekend to provide their encore, opening the match with a near identical recreation of their goal from four days prior. Kevin Kelsy headed home his second goal of the season (and in as many games) on an assist from Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta, who flicked the pass along the goal line and over all defenders where only his new, 6’3″ teammate could reach.
The goal also represented another milestone for the 2023 MLS MVP with the assist marking Acosta’s 50th with FCC; making him the only player in club history to hit that mark.
The FC Cincinnati defense had some wobbly moments in the first half, but otherwise dominated as a group; allowing just one shot on target through the first 45 and conceded a measly 0.2 xG on that shot from Giorgos Giakoumakis that Celentano stopped easily thanks to an assist from Matt Miazga, who ran the Greek striker down to the touch line so the shot came from an impossibly difficult shot. Celentano also had important moments in the defense, on one occasion coming way out of the box to head away a dangerous ball and on another picking a cross out of the air to stop what would have been a clear header opportunity for Atlanta.
The second half started much like the first, with the FC Cincinnati defensive midfield pairing of Pavel Bucha and Obinna Nwobodo picking the pockets of Atlanta United FC to win possession and push the offense forward. Atlanta goalkeeper and 12 year MLS veteran Brad Guzan had to work overtime to keep up as FCC peppered the opposition for five shots on…
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