In a game marked by streaks, FC Cincinnati was more interested in breaking the streak than continuing it.
Going into the game, Atlanta United were unbeaten at home in 2024 and unbeaten in their last nine games on grass.
All of that was destroyed with FCC's 2-1 victory in Atlanta.
We had many chances in the first half, but no one could convert. Both teams felt they could use their offensive options to create quick direct-action opportunities, and Atlanta proved that things were right. In the 59th minute, Thiago Almada received the ball in space at the top of the box and was able to curl the ball past Alec Can's outstretched arm and into the inside of the far post.
It looked like the finishing struggles that plagued FC this season would continue, with two shots hitting the post, but Luca Orellano, who doesn't look like a goal scorer, scored his first goal of the season.
Immediately after scoring, Atlanta regained the ball and looked for a second goal, but was awarded a corner kick for their effort. Almada's short corner missed the target and was intercepted by Lucho Acosta. He immediately ran up the field to lead the break, slipping a pass to Orellano who beat the defender and was able to get past Brad Guzan.
Two minutes later, FCC took the lead. This time, FCC quickly won the ball back and placed a perfect cross to Acosta before circulating the ball to DeAndre Yedlin's feet. He snuck into the gap between centre-back and right-back, softened Yedlin's cross and skimmed just over the goalkeeper.
It was Orellano's first goal at FCC in MLS, but it was nothing new for Acosta. He scored nine goals in 15 games against Atlanta, tying him with Brandon Vazquez as FCC's all-time leading scorer.
With this win, FCC moves into third place in the Eastern Conference with a 4-3-2 record and will play Colorado on April 27th.