Atlanta United defeated FC Cincinnati 2-0 Sunday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the team’s regular season home finale. Adam Jahn scored his third goal of the season while Marcelino Moreno netted his first for the club. Brad Guzan recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season. With the win, Atlanta’s playoff fate will come down to Decision Day presented by AT&T, on Nov. 8 at Columbus Crew SC.
Atlanta United took the lead in the eighth minute through Jahn. Jürgen Damm received a pass from Moreno on the right wing and backed down Andrew Gutman, slowly dribbling into the box. Damm deked his defender, took a touch toward the byline and sent in a low cross for Jahn where the forward smashed the ball home at the edge of the six-yard box.
Atlanta doubled its lead when Jon Gallagher drew a penalty in 25th minute. George Bello found the Irishman in the box where he dribbled by Kendall Waston, who tripped Gallagher after he was beat. Moreno stepped to the spot and drilled his shot down the center of the goal as goalkeeper Spencer Richey guessed to the left.
Guzan made a big save to keep Cincinnati goalless just before the break. Haris Medunjanin delivered a set piece from the left side into the box where Brandon Vazquez was able to get a head to it. Vazquez placed it in the top-right corner, but Guzan was able to make a diving save, pushing the ball away from danger with both hands. Guzan finished with four saves.
Ezequiel Barco checked into the match in the second half and nearly added to Atlanta’s lead in the 68th minute. Bello played a bouncing ball from the left wing across the 18-yard box to the right side where the Argentine one-timed a blistering right-footed shot, but it was hit directly at Richey who parried it away.
Atlanta United (6-12-4, 22 points) returns to action on Decision Day on Sunday, Nov. 8 against Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium (3:30 p.m., FOX Sports Southeast, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta United 2, FC Cincinnati 0
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
STATS
Shots: 14-8 Cincinnati
Shots on Target: 4-4
Corner kicks: 7-2 Cincinnati
Fouls committed: 16-14 Cincinnati
Clearances: 7-7
Offside: 1-0 Cincinnati
Possession: 56-44 Cincinnati
Passing Accuracy: 91-86 Cincinnati
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Adam Jahn 8’ (Jürgen Damm) [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Marcelino Moreno 26’ (penalty) [HIGHLIGHT]
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Adam Jahn 22’ (yellow)
FCC – Frankie Amaya 45+3’ (yellow)
FCC – Andrew Gutman 90+3’ (yellow)
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan ©; Brooks Lennon, George Bello, Fernando Meza, Franco Escobar; Matheus Rossetto (Emerson Hyndman – 45’), Mo Adams (Jeff Larentowicz – 32’); Jon Gallagher, Jürgen Damm (Ezequiel Barco – 63’), Marcelino Moreno (Eric Remedi – 89’); Adam Jahn (Cubo Torres – 64’).
Substitutes not used: Edgar Castillo, Jake Mulraney, Alec Kann, Laurence Wyke.
FC CINCINNATI STARTING LINEUP
Spencer Richey; Andrew Gutman, Saad Abdul-Salaam (Nick Hagglund – 82’), Kendall Waston ©, Tom Pettersson; Kamohelo Mokotjo (Rashawn Dally – 82’), Haris Medunjanin; Joseph-Claude Gyau, Jürgen Locadia, Frankie Amaya; Brandon Vázquez (Siem de Jong – 63’).
Substitutes not used: Beckham Sunderland, James McLaughlin, Mathieu Deplagne, Thomas McCabe, Maikel van der Werff.
OFFICIALS
Alan Kelly, (referee), Claudiu Badea (assistant), Matthew Nelson (assistant), Tori Penso (fourth), Chris Penso (VAR).
ATTENDANCE
6,149
TEAM NOTES
- Adam Jahn scored his third goal of the season.
- Marcelino Moreno scored his first goal with the club.
- Jürgen Damm recorded his team-leading fourth assist.
- Brad Guzan recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season.
- Jeff Larentowicz made his 436th MLS Regular Season appearance, second all-time by a field player in MLS history behind Kyle Beckerman (498).
