- Dominique Badji - 25'
- Luciano Acosta - 45'+2'
- Giorgos Giakoumakis - 12', 32'
- Thiago Almada - 51'
Giorgos Giakoumakis scores twice, Atlanta United ties FC Cincinnati
Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis recorded a brace while Dominique Badji and Luciano Acosta responded for FC Cincinnati as the two sides played to a 2-2 draw on Decision Day Saturday.
For Atlanta (13-9-12, 51 points), the draw secures the Five Stripes the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta will face the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
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Atlanta also stretched its unbeaten streak in Cincinnati to five games (2-0-3) on Saturday and improved to 3-6-8 in away matches this season.
With the draw, Cincinnati (20-5-9, 69 points), the Supporters' Shield winners, finish the MLS regular season with a 13-2-2 home record.
Atlanta's Thiago Almada was sent off in the 51st minute after picking up his second yellow card of the match. The Five Stripes midfielder tripped Cincinnati defender Yerson Mosquera away from the play. Almada picked up his first yellow in the 36th minute after tripping Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez. As a result, the Argentine will miss the first game of the playoffs.
Giakoumakis left the game limping after a tackle from Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, who received a yellow card for the foul in the 73rd minute.
Atlanta controlled possession in the opening 45 minutes, but the two sides were tied 2-2 at the first half whistle.
Giakoumakis opened the scoring in the 12th minute, beating Roman Celentano with a right-footed strike from the middle of the box off a feed from Saba Lobjanidze.
Badji leveled the score, re-directing an Alvas Powell cross past Brad Guzan for his fifth goal of the season.
Giakoumakis gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute, re-directing an Almada pass past Celentano for his team-leading 17th goal.
Acosta tied the game 2-2 in first half stoppage time, heading an Alvaro Barrea cross past Guzan for his 17th goal of the season.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Joseph Dickerson
MLS Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inter Miami CF | 27 | 18 | 5 | 4 | +22 | 59 |
FC Cincinnati | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | +12 | 51 |
Columbus Crew | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | +28 | 49 |
New York Red Bulls | 27 | 10 | 12 | 5 | +9 | 42 |
New York City FC | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | +4 | 39 |
Charlotte FC | 27 | 10 | 8 | 9 | +2 | 38 |
Orlando City SC | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | +1 | 37 |
Toronto FC | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | -14 | 33 |
Atlanta United FC | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | -2 | 31 |
Philadelphia Union | 27 | 7 | 9 | 11 | +4 | 30 |
D.C. United | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | -14 | 29 |
CF Montréal | 27 | 6 | 9 | 12 | -23 | 27 |
New England Revolution | 25 | 8 | 2 | 15 | -21 | 26 |
Chicago Fire FC | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | -15 | 26 |
Nashville SC | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | -18 | 26 |