- 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 | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | +24 | 62 |
FC Cincinnati | 28 | 16 | 4 | 8 | +12 | 52 |
Columbus Crew | 27 | 14 | 8 | 5 | +24 | 50 |
New York Red Bulls | 29 | 10 | 13 | 6 | +8 | 43 |
Orlando City SC | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | +4 | 40 |
New York City FC | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | +4 | 40 |
Charlotte FC | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 | +1 | 38 |
Toronto FC | 29 | 11 | 3 | 15 | -13 | 36 |
D.C. United | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | -13 | 33 |
Atlanta United FC | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | -4 | 31 |
Philadelphia Union | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | +2 | 30 |
CF Montréal | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | -22 | 30 |
Chicago Fire FC | 29 | 7 | 8 | 14 | -15 | 29 |
Nashville SC | 28 | 7 | 8 | 13 | -16 | 29 |
New England Revolution | 27 | 8 | 3 | 16 | -24 | 27 |