Luciano Acosta recorded one goal and one assist to help FC Cincinnati rally for a 2-1 victory over the host Atlanta United on Saturday night.
Luca Orellano also scored a goal for FC Cincinnati (4-2-3, 15 points), who halted a three-game winless stretch (0-2-1).
Thiago Almada scored a goal for Atlanta United (3-3-2, 11 points), who had a three-match unbeaten streak snapped (1-0-2).
Cincinnati’s Alec Kann made three saves in his second straight start in place of lead goalkeeper Roman Celentano (ankle).
Atlanta’s Brad Guzan made two saves.
Cincinnati had an 18-16 edge in shots and both teams placed four on target.
Edwin Mosquera’s pass set up Almada’s second goal of the season in the 59th minute.
Almada was trailing the play when he received the ball and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box that sailed into the right corner.
Cincinnati answered with two goals in three minutes, the first starting with a run deep in its own end in the 62nd minute. Acosta eventually received the ball and threaded a pinpoint pass to Orellano, who sent a left-footed shot into the net for his first tally of the season to tie the score.
In the 64th minute, DeAndre Yedlin booted the ball toward the net and it sailed over an Atlanta defender to where Acosta was standing. He easily kicked the ball past Guzan for his third goal of the season.
During the seven minutes of second-half stoppage time, Atlanta repeatedly had possession but shots by Brooks Lennon and Caleb Wiley were easily saved by Kann.
In the final minute, an Atlanta United corner kick came up empty as Tyler Wolff’s shot was blocked by Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell.
Earlier, Guzan had no chance to get to Corey Baird’s header in the 55th minute but the ball took a bounce and hit the goalpost and caromed away.
Cincinnati had a 12-6 edge in first-half shots.
Cincinnati’s best first-half chance came in the 28th minute when Orellano’s left-footed shot hit the left goalpost.
–Field Level Media
