MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Defeats FC Cincinnati 2-0

Published on September 19, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


CINCINNATI, OH - Atlanta United defeated FC Cincinnati 2-0 Wednesday night at Nippert Stadium behind a second-half brace from Josef Martinez while Brad Guzan and Atlanta kept a league-high 14th clean sheet on the season.

Atlanta controlled 77 percent of possession in the first half and recorded nine shots but couldn't find a breakthrough as the match remained scoreless at halftime. Julian Gressel had a pair of chances, firing a shot over the crossbar in the 29th minute and later skipping a shot just past the far post in the 41st minute. In the 31st minute, Guzan made a diving save to stop a Maikel van der Werff header off a Frankie Amaya corner kick for his lone save of the night. Eric Remedi headed the resulting loose ball off the line to stop Cincinnati's best chance of the half. Guzan recorded his league-high 14th clean sheet of the season and is two away from tying the MLS single-season record.

Josef Martinez scored the opening goal in the 59th minute. Martinez sprung a counter attack and found Pity Martinez near midfield, where the Argentine took two touches and split a pair of defenders with a return pass to find Martinez streaking in on goal. The Venezuelan calmly fired a shot to the far post past Przemslaw Tyton to extend his scoring streak to 15 MLS matches.

Josef Martinez doubled Atlanta's lead in the 65th minute as he received a pass from Gressel at the top of the box, back-heeled a first touch towards goal and then faked one shot and side-stepped another Cincinnati defender before curling a left-footed shot into the side net. The Venezuelan has scored 26 goals and is now tied for second in the MLS Golden Boot race, two behind Carlos Vela.

Atlanta United (16-11-3, 51 points) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 21 against San Jose Earthquakes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3:30 p.m. EST, Univision, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).

MATCH INFO

FC Cincinnati 0, Atlanta United 2

Nippert Stadium

Cincinnati, Ohio

STATS

Shots: 15-14 Atlanta

Shots on Target: 5-2 Atlanta

Corner kicks: 7-4 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 12-9 Atlanta

Clearances: 23-12 Cincinnati

Offside: 2-1 Atlanta

Possession: 66-34 Atlanta

Passing Accuracy: 83-73 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL- Josef Martinez (Pity Martinez) 59' HIGHLIGHT

ATL- Josef Martinez (Julian Gressel) 65' HIGHLIGHT

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

ATL - Justin Meram (yellow) 14'

ATL - Franco Escobar (yellow) 49'

ATL - Leandro González Pirez (yellow) 66'

CIN - Caleb Stanko (yellow) 90+4

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Brad Guzan ©; Leandro González Pirez, Miles Robinson, Franco Escobar; Justin Meram (Dion Pereira 86'), Julian Gressel, Eric Remedi, Darlington Nagbe, Emerson Hyndman; Gonzalo Martinez (Tito Villalba 60'), Josef Martinez

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Florentin Pogba, Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowciz, Brandon Vazquez

FC CINCINNATI STARTING LINEUP

Przemyslaw Tyton; Maikel van der Werff, Nick Hagglund ©, Andrew Gutman, Mathieu Deplagne; Leonardo Bertone, Frankie Amaya (Rashawn Dally 68'), Fatai Alashe (Caleb Stanko 79'); Emmanuel Ledesma, Joseph-Claude Gyau (Roland Lamah 74'), Kekutah Manneh

Substitutes not used: Victor Ulloa, Jimmy Hague, Thomas McCabe, Justin Hoyte

ATTENDANCE

24,774

OFFICIALS

Marcos de Oliveira (referee), Jeffrey Greeson (assistant), Benjamin Hall-Wolpenhein (assistant), Chris Penso (fourth), Hilario Grajeda (VAR).

TEAM NOTES

Josef Martinez extended his MLS-record scoring streak to 15 games and now has 26 goals in MLS play this season, tied for second in the Golden Boot race.

Pity Martinez recorded his ninth assist of the season

Julian Gressel recorded his team-high 10th assist of the season.

Brad Guzan recorded his 14th clean sheet this season, the most in MLS. He is two short of tying the single season MLS record.

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 19, 2019


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