- Jake Mulraney (26')
- Jerome Williams (90'+10')
- Frankie Amaya (76')
Amaya's first goal lifts FC Cincinnati over nine-man Atlanta United
Frankie Amaya scored his first career goal in the 76th minute, and FC Cincinnati took advantage of nine-man Atlanta United to pull off a stunning 1-0 victory Thursday in the MLS is Back Tournament near Orlando.
The win was the first of the season for Cincinnati (1-0-3, 3 points), and an even bigger upset within Group E at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Cincinnati lost its opener 4-0 to rival Columbus, but prevailed thanks to an undisciplined Atlanta side that finished the match with nine men.
- Stream MLS Is Back LIVE on ESPN networks, ESPN app (U.S. only)
- Group schedule set for MLS is Back Tournament
The American-born, 19-year-old Amaya showed his strength and accuracy with a bending strike from just outside the center of the box, beating an outstretched Brad Guzan into the far-left corner for the game's lone goal.
For Atlanta (2-0-2, four points), the loss could be a crushing blow to its hopes of reaching the knockout round. Playing without injured star Josef Martinez (torn ACL), Atlanta opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
This marked the first time in club history that Atlanta has failed to score in back-to-back regular-season MLS contests. It obviously did not help that they played most of the match a man down.
Atlanta went down to 10 men when midfielder Jake Mulraney was sent off in the 26th minute for a pressing foul that also happened to be his second yellow card of the match. However, Atlanta's Pity Martinez had a point-blank chance late in the first half, but Cincinnati keeper Przemyslaw Tyton was up to the task.
It appeared Martinez was set for a penalty shot in the final seconds of the first half after being fouled deep in the box. However, a VAR check ruled he was offside before the infraction.
Cincinnati eventually stepped up the pressure. When Adrien Regattin found Amaya amid some traffic, the talented youngster drilled his left-footed attempt into the goal, and enough for FCC to record its first league victory since Sept. 14.
Atlanta dropped to nine men when JJ Williams was slapped with a red card late in stoppage time.
Game Information
MLS Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inter Miami CF | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | +10 | 21 |
FC Cincinnati | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | +3 | 18 |
New York Red Bulls | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 17 |
Toronto FC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 16 |
Columbus Crew | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | +3 | 15 |
New York City FC | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | +1 | 14 |
Philadelphia Union | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | +3 | 13 |
D.C. United | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | -1 | 13 |
Atlanta United FC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | +4 | 12 |
CF Montréal | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | -4 | 12 |
Charlotte FC | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 11 |
Chicago Fire FC | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | -7 | 10 |
Orlando City SC | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -6 | 9 |
Nashville SC | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | -7 | 8 |
New England Revolution | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -12 | 4 |