It’s an international break matchday, and we all know what that means: peak MLS wackiness is in the cards for this afternoon’s meeting between Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati.
With enough players listed as injured or called up to field an entire lineup, Atlanta United will be forced to think outside the box tactically as they make the trip up to Ohio. With only one true center back left, the Five Stripes have brought in three reinforcements from Atlanta United 2. These include Rodrigo Neri, a forward, Cooper Sanchez, a midfielder, and Nyk Sessock, a defender.
FC Cincinnati has only lost three players to international duty, including DP striker Kevin Denkey. Matt Miazga is also missing due to injury, but both Miles Robinson and Nick Hagglund will be available for the hosts.
It’s anyone’s guess as to how the afternoon pans out, with Atlanta’s attacking mostly spared save Miguel Almiron, but potentially playing typical fullbacks like Ronald Hernandez in the middle could create problems at the back. Cincinnati are a quality MLS side, finishing second in the East last year and adding Portland Timbers’ star Evander in the offseason, but have shown to be vulnerable this year with losses to Philadelphia and Charlotte by scores of 4-1 and 2-0, respectively.
An afternoon kickoff from TQL Stadium begins the MLS weekend at 2:30 PM, with streaming found on Apple TV with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
As you settle in, make sure to check out our match preview, then join the match thread using the comments below as we watch the international break madness unfold.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
FC Cincinnati’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kickoff Time: Saturday, March 22nd, 2:30 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass Subscription)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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It has been -0- days since Matt Edwards cost the team points.
All our defenders need more discipline to stay on their feet. It was glaring today. Williams is young but I think he can develop into a real solid defender.
Sure, Edwards made a mistake. But he was not the reason we dropped points in my opinion. We lost points due to two main things:
I completely agree. That play was busted way before Matt walloped Evander. I’ve seen Derrick, Abram, Gregersen, and a lot of other more experienced defenders get into trouble in that same situation. Other than that critical mistake and getting pulled out of position on the second goal, he had a pretty good game in his first time playing CB since 2023.
Is that a favourable result for us? I think I feel good about getting a point on the road.
Not what I was hoping for. But better than I expected! I’ll take it.
Wow. We needed that!
What is this? Luck? Our way?
So when can we start talking about how many of our issues still seem to be mental and formation, substitution based. (In other words, coaching)
Just can’t hold a lead. We fall apart.
Defenders sliding WAY too much.
We just need to have the score score and never stop mentality.
Our goal is to win 5-3. Not 1-0
Great defending their Brooks…on the second goal…
Right when I thought we were catching a break
That’s super unlucky
damn
Saba is cooking
LET’S GO!!!
Woohoo!
Beautiful GOAL!!!!!
This game feels like the same story we’ve had many times this year. Good first half while we should be up. Now, it is up to the players to make sure that same story doesn’t finish today.
Definitely not a coincidence anymore
Halftime thoughts:
1. Impressed with Will Reilly so far. Doesn’t look to be a 2’s player.
2. Increasingly likely that, unfortunately, Almiron and Alexey don’t work together. Alexey has had a great game, and I don’t think it’s coincidence that Almiron is gone. I would love to see Almiron at the #10 with Saba and Silva out wide.
3. Losing Muyumba sucks. He was looking really solid today.
4. Overall the boys are playing really well, and I feel way more positive than I expected to at this point!
I can agree with most of those points.
Muyumba was having a great game, so watching him get stretchered off was especially painful.
I’m proud of Reilly so far. He has made a few fantastic passes over the top to Latte Lath while keeping everything else simple. Based on his positioning and work so far, he has largely shut down Evander by playing good fundamentals on defense.
I hope we can make it to 1/2 time without allowing a goal and without Reilly getting a second yellow.
Evander must be champing at the bit to face Reilly (on a yellow) and Togachi.
This is the best Miranchuk has looked all year.
I just wish he had any speed at all
I wish these guys would talk about the game instead of the players so much. When there’s a foul it’s okay to stop the story and comment on the foul lol
What was that yellow for?
dissent. The defender screamed at the AR.
Was that Miranchuk that hit the bar?
I think it was Saba
No, it was Mira
LFG!
Looking forward to seeing how Reilly handles things in his first MLS start
So what’s his status? I know he’s still pretty young but is he a potential future starter for us or more of a depth piece?
He’s a 22-year-old homegrown player with a ton of experience since he was playing as a starter for the 2s when he was 16 and a starter at Stanford for 3.5 years. Right now he is getting up to speed from the college game to the MLS level but he could be anywhere from Sejdic to Dax to Klich in his range as a box-to-box 8. He and Fortune paired well 5 years ago with the 2s and could do the same in MLS.
I’m dreading the potential 3-0 scoreline (not in our favor.) Missing 4 of our top 5 CBs and 3 of our top 5 central midfielders if you count Klich not starting.
On the more optimistic side, maybe this will free up Alexi and Saba to not have to defer to Miggy and be on the hook by themselves to create.
It’s MLS, so who knows?
MLS teams should not be ‘charged’ for bringing up players from the 2s during international windows, when they lose so many 1st team players to their national teams. There should be exceptions written into the rules for this, don’t you think?
Nah they just shouldn’t play during international breaks and scrap the leagues cup, because who cares about the leagues cup.
I hate that we can’t even see some of our top prospects like Cobb because he’s also on international duty. Of our players today, which ones are legit potential future starters?
Cooper Sanchez is supposed to be another one of our future CM. I think he has made some appearances with the U16 US national team
We’re gonna have an under 16 player playing today? Wow
I would have liked to see Cobb playing for us today, too. Hope he gets some valuable experience with the national team and comes back healthy. Same for the others. We’ve already been missing too many players due to injuries!
Tough to pick this game to occupy time or attention today…