In what might be the final blow to their already slim playoff hopes, Atlanta United dropped a 3-1 decision to FC Cincinnati on Saturday evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta looked at least a little competent in the first half, but as has been the case throughout the season, it was fairly disjointed as well. Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Louro was forced into just one save in the opening 45 minutes as Atlanta failed to breach one of the leakiest defenses in the league.
In the 52nd minute, though, Cincinnati broke the deadlock through Kévin Denkey. Tom Barlow’s header to Denkey wasn’t dealt with by Enea Mihaj, and by the time he could get in position, he and Lucas Hoyos could only watch as Denkey scored on an open net to make it 1-0.
It looked as if Atlanta would find the equalizer just past the hour mark as Lucas Hoyos played a perfect long ball ahead to Miguel Almirón, who raced into open space and towards goal. Instead of taking the shot, he tried to lay it off to Breel Embolo, but the pass went awry and the chance went begging.
Almirón, though, redeemed himself in the 69th minute. After Elías Baez sent a ball into the box, it deflected off a Cincinnati defender and, after a scramble in front of goal, was put home by Almirón to make it 1-1.
Cincinnati, though, pulled back ahead in the 84th minute, as Barlow’s goal off a Kyle Smith pass ended up standing after a video review, but barely so.
Denkey completed his brace in second-half stoppage time, sending fans to the exits with his 15th goal of the season.
Atlanta have six matches left, but it’s essentially playing out the string at this point. It returns to action Wednesday against CF Montréal.