In Tata Martino's first competitive match back in charge of Atlanta United, the 5-Stripes played with direction and purpose yet were unfinished in the final areas of the pitch. Chances went awry, and they gave up two late goals to fall to FC Cincinnati 2-0 in their season opener.
What happened: Both teams spent some time timidly feeling out the match, but Saba Lobjanidze registered the first chance. A smooth cutback found him some space at the left edge of the box, and his curling strike forced a save from Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano in the 5th minute.
The biggest development of the early going was an unfortunate early substitution for FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander. He picked up an injury and was promptly taken off in the 13th minute.
Nick Hagglund had a headed chance in the 19th minute fly over the bar for Cincinnati's first clear-cut look at goal.
The 5-Stripes were controlling the tempo in the first 20 minutes. Their breaks were quick, their passing composed, but they weren't creating enough to show for their work.
The rest of the first half came and went without much to show for either side. At the break, both teams had 4 shots yet barely any expected goals to match. Cincinnati mustered 0.4 to Atlanta's 0.1. Momentum was broken up as tackles flew and things got chippier.
An unlucky deflection off a back pass led Cincinnati's lead striker Kévin Denkey through on goal with just the keeper to beat in the 56th minute. It was no doubt the best chance of the afternoon to that point, but his strike bounced off the outside of the right post and away for a goal kick.
Four minutes later, some chaos ensued in the Atlanta attacking third. Cincinnati's Teenage Hadebe went down without contact trying to keep the ball in bounds, and the 5-Stripes quickly won the ball back in a moment of hesitation from both sides. A few deflected touches later, Miguel Almirón had a shot on goal placed well to the bottom left of the frame, but Celentano stood strong with a save.
Things continued to speed up, as Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson somehow got through with a cheeky touch past Lucas Hoyos in goal. Juan Berrocal was positioned well to clear the ball off the line and away.
At the 73rd minute, Martino went to Alexey Miranchuk and Tristan Muyumba off the bench to look for a difference-making moment. But seven minutes later, it was Denkey who defined the match. He took a cross from Ender Echenique, faked a shot to get past Hoyos, waited for the right moment and slotted it home.
Luke Brennan was another late addition in the 84th minute as the 5-Stripes looked to equalize. It was Latte Lath who got on the end of a long ball, tapping the ball past Celentano, who took the Ivorian out. Latte Lath was ruled offsides, though, nullifying what would've been a penalty.
Hagglund got his headed goal in the end, putting one away for 2-0 in the 90th minute to finish off the match.
Standouts:
- Tomás Jacob, in his club debut, was everywhere. He moved his tall frame at great speeds to make tackles, cover spaces and overall establish a tone that Atlanta United would not be pushed around.
Milestones:
- Cooper Sanchez became the youngest ever Atlanta United player to start a season opener. At 17 year, 332 days old, he is the first ever 17-year-old to earn that distinction for the 5-Stripes. He played a confident match, getting stuck into tackles and playing daring balls forward any chance he got.
Up next: Atlanta United heads out west to face San Jose Earthquakes Saturday, Feb. 28. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET as the 5-Stripes face one of six Western Conference opponents this season.
