Atlanta United beats Cincinnati with Barco, Hyndman goals

Ezequiel Barco and Emerson Hyndman each scored in their second straight match to lift host Atlanta United to 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Barco added an assist, Pity Martinez had two assists and Brad Guzan made three saves for Atlanta United (2-0-0, six points), who played their first match without superstar forward Josef Martinez. The former MLS MVP sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during the second half of the club's 2-1 victory over expansion Nashville SC in the season opener last Saturday.

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Martinez was shown in attendance with teammate Franco Escobar in a suite at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He was able to get to his feet to celebrate Barco's goal.

Designated Player Yuya Kubo scored his first career MLS goal in the 64th minute, and Spencer Richey finished with two saves for FC Cincinnati (0-2-0, zero points), who dropped a 3-2 setback to the New York Red Bulls last Sunday.

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The Five Stripes struck first in the 21st minute. Martinez raced up the right wing and gained a step on FC Cincinnati defender Kendall Waston before a sliding Barco converted Martinez's centering feed to open the scoring. Barco celebrated by holding up seven fingers to honor Josef Martinez, who wears No. 7 on his jersey.

Atlanta doubled the advantage in the 55th minute after Barco's pass into the left side of the box was settled by Hyndman, who quickly unleashed a shot that sailed inside the left post.

Kubo halved the deficit just nine minutes later when his shot from well outside of the box caught Guzan flat-footed.

FC Cincinnati's Brandon Vazquez and defender Greg Garza received a warm response from the crowd prior to the start of the match. Vazquez and Garza played three and two seasons with Atlanta, respectively, and both were on the 2018 MLS Cup-winning club.

Cincinnati's Haris Medunjanin played in his 100th MLS match on Saturday.