Atlanta United 1-2 FC Cincinnati: Staff, community player ratings

Well, that wasn’t fun. Atlanta United blew a second-half lead after giving away two quick goals to FC Cincinnati, losing a winnable back-and-forth match by a 2-1 scoreline. The away side ran out with all 3 points and handed Atlanta their first loss at home this season. With only 11 points in Atlanta’s first 8 matches, fans are rightfully mad, so let’s see how that anger affected our staff and community player ratings.

GK: Brad Guzan – 5

It was an okay outing for Guzan, as he made a few saves and the goals against him weren’t really his fault. However, his attempt at a split on Cincinnati’s first goal could have been better, and he was bailed out by the post many times. As well as this, you could notice that his positioning was always slightly off, showing too much of the back post. On the positive side of things, his passes forward were fantastic and pinpoint, especially those to Brooks Lennon.

LB: Caleb Wiley – 7

Wiley was a quality defender, which is a significant improvement from earlier in the year. He timed his tackles well and shut down the Cincy attack inside the box. He was also very influential on the left side of the attack and moved the ball around very well with pinpoint passes to wingers on the touch line. Caleb did all that was asked from him with a good performance.

CB: Luis Abram – 5

Abram has been holding his own filling in for Derrick Williams, but this game wasn’t his best. While he made some crucial, superbly-timed tackles to stop Cincinnati’s attack in the first half, his positioning was awful and he allowed way too much space inside the box for Cincy’s forwards, which should have led to goals. His transitional defending also wasn’t great and he kept the back line so spread out. Let’s hope for improvement under Atlanta’s starting line returns.

CB: Noah Cobb – 8

Noah Cobb is the next Miles Robinson (young CB turned star). I was not convinced that he would develop into a strong player after his performances last season, but tonight’s performance was a reflection of the rest this year in that it was great. An 8 might seem high, but in the half he played, he was Atlanta’s best defender. He tucked in when Abram wouldn’t, defended very well inside the box, timed his tackles perfectly, and moved the ball around very well. It’s a shame he got a migraine at halftime that affected his vision. Let’s pray that the Atlanta medical team does not rush him back onto the field and lets him heal.

CB (SUB): Ronald Hernandez – 3

Yes, I know that Hernandez is not a center back and he was forced there because everyone else is hurt. But man, not checking your shoulder and letting two players run free behind you while managing to keep them onside because you’re holding the back line way too far deep is…bad. He has tucked in too far as a fullback and somehow managed to do this here, too. Don’t know what else there is to say, and I don’t want to say it and be angry anymore.

RB : Brooks Lennon – 5

Lennon did well offensively, worked well under intense Red Bull-style pressure out of the back, and whipped in some fabulous crosses that somehow were not met. But, I had to take points away for the goals. On the first, he got ran around while trying to defend the counter. And on the second, yes, Hernandez was mainly at fault, but Lennon saw two players run by him and instead of getting back to track them, he let them by and watched the cross into the box. He should have done better on defense, but it wasn’t an awful night for him like others.

CDM: Bartosz Slisz – 8 (Man of the Match)

Slisz was very impressive in the match, perfectly embodying the player he was scouted out to be. He took the ball on the dribble into space well and often. He timed tackles perfectly and played good transitional through balls into the attack. He was a physical disruptor and a great workhorse next to Muyumba. It was noticeable how high up the field he was today than other games, which didn’t help Atlanta’s defense. However, I blame that more on Pineda’s poor tactics than Slisz’s positioning. This was Bartosz’s most complete performance in an Atlanta uniform.

CM: Tristan Muyumba – 8

Everything Slisz did, Muyumba did as well, showing off incredible quickness on defense specifically and adding to his league-leading count of tackles won. It was an unjustifiable decision to take him out of the match for Fortune after 60 minutes.

CM (SUB): Ajani Fortune – 6

It was a surprise that Fortune saw the field in this match, but he’s a good depth piece, so I expected him to play well and he did alright. But, while he dropped back and played the ball forward well, he would be so far deep that it would complete isolate Atlanta’s front 3 from the midfield, forcing the team to play long. I don’t blame that on Fortune, rather Pineda using his midfielder wrong. Fortune is a defensive disruptor who stays near the middle of the park at all times to move the ball around quickly, not one who needs to drop so far deep. Almada should have been the midfielder dropping back, then feeding Fortune the ball so that he could move it wide.

CAM: Thiago Almada – 6

Almada’s goal was a moment of pure class, finally giving Atlanta the breakthrough they deserved with a wonderfully-hit shot into the bottom right corner. But then, he severely under-hit a short corner which led to Cincy’s first goal. After that, he lost his spark, which he’s done way too often this year, and couldn’t help the team push for a second goal. Another negative was that he flew into tackles and always seemed to miss the ball. I haven’t been as worried as others when it comes to Almada’s start to the year, but he has to do better in these big moments and not give up when something goes wrong.

LW: Edwin Mosquera – 3

It might seem harsh to rate Muyumba as low as Hernandez, but I’m not sure he successfully completed a pass. He always ran into pressure and lost the ball in 1v1 situations. He ruined multiple huge opportunities, whether on the break or from patient buildup. He also hesitated and missed multiple scoring opportunities (on one, he was wide-open and could’ve gone for a 1v1 vs. the keeper, but he took a bad touch then waited until the defender arrived to sky an attempt into the stands). I do want Mosquera to improve, but right now, he’s at best a bench piece that can give you 30 minutes of high-intensity play.

LW (SUB): Xande Silva – 5

Silva gets a 5 mainly because he wasn’t noticeable and didn’t make the impact Pineda brought him on to make. When he got the ball, his passing was solid, but his dribbling efforts were undone by Cincinnati. He’s been very disappointing this year after an incredible first season, so let’s pray he finds his form soon.

RW: Saba Lobjanidze – 6

Saba should have scored in this match. When you have an xG over one, you have to score, especially with the chances he had. He was extremely disappointing in that regard, but he is still Atlanta’s best player in the attack when it comes to both the energy he brings, his on-ball skill, and the opportunities he creates. He still was a great creator and facilitator, so even with the missed chances, he doesn’t deserve a 5 or worse.

RW (SUB): Tyler Wolff – 5

This was the worst sub of the night by far by Gonzalo Pineda. Yes, Saba hadn’t scored, but Wolff is not known as a creator who brings energy to a team. He is a finisher who can score when the ball gets to him, but only passes around when not in the 18. As of late, he hasn’t brought much at all, and he didn’t in this match. He lost the ball on the dribble, never got into good spaces in the final third, and slowed down the Atlanta attack single-handedly. He didn’t play long enough to receive a 4, but he was disappointing.

CF: Daniel Rios – 6

I really like Rios. He didn’t get the ball enough in his 60 minutes to really make an effective difference, but his hold-up play was superb and his first touch is great. He’s been a solid signing for Atlanta in his first few matches.

CF (SUB): Giorgos Giakoumakis – 6

Just like Rios, Giakoumakis was too isolated to make a huge effect on the match. In his first 10 minutes, it was extremely unlucky that he didn’t get on the end of some of Lennon’s crosses. He wasn’t great but wasn’t bad, and it’s good to see him back on the pitch.

Coach: Gonzalo Pineda – 4

Pineda seemed to change his tactics in this match from Atlanta’s norm, and it really confuses me. Atlanta’s high press was much more aggressive than usual, and instead of having one of Slisz or Muyumba drop slightly behind the other in the midfield, he had them level and high. Both of these decisions hurt Atlanta as their back line struggled without a #6 to defend the counter attack and they gave up loads of space in the midfield. As for his substitutions, why would you put in Fortune and Wolff for some of the game’s most impactful players? The team wasn’t as prepared as they should’ve been to handle Cincinnati’s Red Bull-style press, just like they’re not prepared to play through any press. This was a tough night for Pineda that has many fans calling for his job and puts him on the hot seat as we head into midseason.

Community Player Ratings

Brad Guzan: 5.93

Brooks Lennon: 5.73

Noah Cobb: 6.67 (Man of the Match)

Luis Abram: 5.93

Caleb Wiley: 5.93

Bartosz Slisz: 6.52

Tristan Muyumba: 6.5

Thiago Almada: 5.8

Saba Lobjanidze: 6.33

Edwin Mosquera: 3.7

Daniel Rios: 4.97

Giorgos Giakoumakis (Sub): 4.86

Xande Silva (Sub): 4.48

Jay Fortune (Sub): 4.21

Tyler Wolff (Sub): 3.72

Ronald Hernandez (Sub): 5.33

Gonzalo Pineda: 2.07