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Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Earns Late Draw Against FC Cincinnati in Thrilling Match

August 13, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - Andrew Gutman scored a dramatic late equalizer and Atlanta United kept pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race by earning a 2-2 draw on the road against FC Cincinnati on Saturday night. In a thrilling back-and-forth match, Gutman brought Atlanta level in the 83rd minute, and in doing so, scored the 20,000th goal in MLS history. Thiago Almada added a goal and an assist while Rocco Rios Novo made six saves.

Atlanta struck first, but not before end-to-end action that started from the opening whistle. Almada rang a shot off the post in the 8th minute after strong build-up play from Gutman. A follow-up effort from Ronald Hernandez was saved by Roman Celentano. Cincinnati then forced Rocco Rios Novo into action, making a pair of saves over the next 10 minutes.

Almada then put Atlanta on the board in the 17th minute, one-touching a pass from Luiz Araújo perfectly into the upper right corner. From a throw-in, Marcelino Moreno created space down the right flank before playing for Araújo near the edge of the box. Araújo dribbled around a defender before laying off for Almada, who deftly hit the upper corner for a 1-0 lead.

Moreno nearly doubled Atlanta's lead just seven minutes later with a blistering shot from about 25 yards out. Although his attempt rendered Celentano helpless, the shot hit the crossbar - the second time of the night for Atlanta - and kept the lead at one. Cincinnati equalized just five minutes later as Brandon Vazquez snuck behind the Atlanta defense and beat Rios Novo.

Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead from Brenner in the 41st minute. Off a corner kick, Atlanta's clearance attempt landed near the Brazilian forward, who's looping effort just got past Juanjo Purata, who was covering the near post. Atlanta quickly countered, piling on pressure in the final minutes of half, including three shot attempts that was highlighted by Araújo getting robbed by Celentano from close range in the 43rd minute. The first half ended with the two teams combining for eight shots on target, not including two more that hit the post.

Although Cincinnati immediately added to the match's crossbar tally in the 47th minute, each team settled in defensively soon thereafter. Brooks Lennon and Josef Martinez entered in the 59th minute, while Edwin Mosquera and Dom Dwyer entered 10 minutes later as Atlanta pushed the equalizer.

The action again turned frantic in the final 10 minutes with Atlanta breaking through for in the 83rd minute. The play started in Atlanta's final third near the edge of the box. Santiago Sosa laid off for Almada, who threaded a pass into the box for Martinez. The forward then laid off for an on-rushing Gutman, who calmly beat Celentano to make it 2-2.

Both teams fought for a winner with Luciano Acosta forcing another Rios Novo save and Araújo forcing one from Celentano. Atlanta (7-9-8, 29 points) returns home to play New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Aug. 17 (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Southeast, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).

MATCH RESOURCES

Post-match interview with Gonzalo Pineda, Andrew Gutman, Brooks Lennon

Match photos

Full time stats

Quote sheet

MATCH INFO

FC Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 2

TQL Stadium

Cincinnati, Ohio

STATS

Shots: 19-16 Atlanta

Shots on target: 8-6 Cincinnati

Corner kicks: 9-6 Atlanta

Fouls committed: 16-12 Cincinnati

Offside: 2-1 Atlanta

Possession: 61-39 Atlanta

Passing accuracy: 89-78 Atlanta

SCORING SUMMARY

ATL - Thiago Almada (Luiz Araújo) 17' [HIGHLIGHT]

CIN - Brandon Vazquez (Obinna Nwobodo) 29'

CIN - Brenner (Geoff Cameron) 41'

ATL - Andrew Gutman (Josef Martinez, Thiago Almada) 83' [HIGHLIGHT]

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CIN - Alvaro Barreal (yellow) 14'

ATL - Caleb Wiley (yellow) 27'

CIN - Matt Miazga (yellow) 58'

CIN - Tyler Blackett (yellow) 78'

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

Rocco Ríos Novo; Caleb Wiley (Dom Dwyer - 69'), Andrew Gutman (Aiden McFadden - 87'), Alan Franco, Juanjo Purata, Ronald Hernandez (Brooks Lennon - 59'); Santiago Sosa, Marcelino Moreno © (Edwin Mosquera - 69'), Thiago Almada; Luiz Araújo, Ronaldo Cisneros (Josef Martinez - 59')

Substitutes not used: Raul Gudiño, Alex De John, Franco Ibarra, Amar Sejdic.

FC CINCINNATI STARTING LINEUP

Roman Celentano; Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron (Dominique Badji - 89'), Matt Miazga (Tyler Blackett - 66'); Obinna Nwobodo, Junior Moreno, Luciano Acosta ©; Brenner, Brandon Vazquez, Alvaro Barreal (John Nelson 74').

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Raymon Gaddis, Ian Murphy, Yuya Kubo, Allan Cruz, Quimi Ordonez.

OFFICIALS

Fotis Bazakos (referee), Andrew Bigelow (assistant), Walt Heatherly (assistant), Luis Arroyo (fourth), Ramy Touchan (VAR), Kevin Lock (AVAR).

NOTES

Marcelino Moreno wore the captain's armband for the first time with Atlanta United.

Andrew Gutman scored the 20,000th goal in MLS history. It came at 9:17:23 p.m. ET.

Eric Wynalda scored the first goal in MLS history on April 6, 1996. You can view and download the goal for media use here.

Atlanta has just one loss in its last 6 games - going 2-1-3 since July 13.

Brooks Lennon appeared in his first match since June 19 against Inter Miami. Lennon was injured pre-game against Toronto on June 26.

Check out the Atlanta United FC Statistics

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