Atlanta United breaks winless streak by defeating Cincinnati

It was a video game-like match with the two teams combining for 40 shots, 28 by Cincinnati, including 15 on goal, nine by Cincinnati. Atlanta United high more quality, finishing with a season-high 4.3 expected goals. Cincinnati finished with 2.2.

“I think it’s a long time I’ve seen so much expected goals that we have today, but we created chances in everything today,” Deila said. “Everything that we’ve been not so good about this season, we have been more better today.”

Deila went with a 5-3-2 formation for the second time this season. Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron started at strikers with Miranchuk, who made his 400th appearance, Fortune and Slisz in the midfield. Saba Lobjanidze and Pedro Amador were wingbacks with Williams, Luis Abram and Matthew Edwards the centerbacks, and Brad Guzan in goal.

After saying last week that he rarely feels that his team will have success scoring from free kicks, Atlanta United took a 1-0 lead from a free kick when Miranchuk connected with Williams for a header in the 15th minute. The kick was won when former Atlanta United centerback Miles Robinson tackled Latte Lath about 25 yards from goal, just outside the upper right corner of the 18-yard box. Miranchuk put in a curling left-footer that Williams touched about 4 yards from goal. It was Miranchuk’s first assist and Williams’ first goal this season.

The play was one that Williams said the team worked on during the week. One of the assistant coaches spotted that Cincinnati had gaps in certain areas.

“When you see that determination, will on the set play, and you see that the people want to score, then you see a different team,” Deila said.

Atlanta United got into Cincinnati’s 18-yard box again and increased its lead to 2-0 five minutes later when Lobjanidze, after several fake crossover dribbles, poked a pass through the legs of two Cincinnati defenders and past another to Fortune, who one-timed it for his first goal from a few yards away. It was Lobjanidze’s fifth assist. It marked the first time this season that Atlanta United had a two-goal lead.

Fortune said he was “absolutely” surprised the pass reached him.

“I don’t care,” he said. “I’m just glad it went in. Manu got out the way. I was just praying I didn’t see the linesman flag going up or anything like that.”

Latte Lath missed a chance to make it 3-0 in the 42nd minute when he dribbled around goalkeeper Roman Celentano before putting his shot into goal’s side netting from a tight angle. Latte Lath created another opportunity in the third minute of stoppage time, again by chasing down a ball over the top of Cincinnati’s defense but dragged his left-footed shot wide.

Atlanta United finished the half with seven shots, four on goal, for an expected goals total of 1.7 from four key passes. Cincinnati finished with 14 shots, four on goal, for an expected goals total of 1.3 from 11 key passes.

That porous defending by Atlanta United would be tough to sustain and earn a win. It didn’t improve to start the second half and reinforced Delia saying that his team needed to be stronger in the boxes because Cincinnati needed only three minutes to cut its lead to 2-1 when Robinson headed in a corner kick from Evander.

“Still today, in second half, I don’t know what’s happening,” Deila said. “We are not keeping the ball the same as we do in the first half, we are scared to play, or we are tired. Looks like we are tired, but we kept together, and that’s what we need to do when we get points this season.”

Cincinnati’s shot total hit 20 through 57 minutes, breaking the previous match-high of 16 taken by Orlando. Deila subbed on Ronald Hernandez for Amador in the 60th minute.

Atlanta United increased its lead to 3-1 with another piece of good play in the 18-yard box. Lobjanidze put in a corner kick to the back post. Williams headed it back across goal for Slisz to tap in in the 66th minute. It was Williams’ first assist, Miranchuk’s second and Slisz’s first goal.

“We worked on that, to overload the back post because we noticed most of the big guys are at the front in the zone,” Williams said. “So great ball by Saba, and I just tried to my best to get it back across.”

But … Deila was right again when Atlanta United gave up a soft goal four minutes later to see its lead cut to 3-2 in the 70th minute. Gerardo Valenzuela ran into the box unmarked to one-time a pass from 12 yards away.

Thiare, a late sub, received a pass from Mateusz Klich and hit a right-footed shot into the lower right corner for the final goal in the 94th minute. It was Thiare’s second goal and Klich’s first assist. Edwards was also credited with an assist, his first.

Atlanta United improved to 12th in the East. It trails the Red Bulls for the ninth and final playoff spot by seven points. Atlanta United will go for its first win streak this season when it hosts Orlando on Wednesday.

“It’s a good win,” Guzan said. “We’ve got to continue to get better. When you’re in a difficult moment, sometimes you need a little something to go your way tonight. We had a little bit of that. We’ve got another massive game on Wednesday, so it’s good, but we’ve got to stay focused. Look at where we can be better and look to improve for Wednesday.”