Atlanta United x FC Cincinnati

Atlanta United lit up Mercedes-Benz Stadium on May 25, 2025, shaking off an eight-game winless spell with a thrilling 4 to 2 victory over FC Cincinnati in a match full of drama and momentum swings.

The night started on a tense note when Cincinnati’s Nick Hagglund went down with a serious injury in the 14th minute, bringing play to a halt for several minutes. But Atlanta wasted no time taking control. Just a minute after the restart, Derrick Williams powered home a header from an Alexey Miranchuk free kick to get the home fans roaring. Then, five minutes later, Jay Fortune doubled the lead, calmly finishing a slick low cross from Saba Lobjanidze.

Cincinnati fought back hard early in the second half, with former Atlanta defender Miles Robinson pulling one back with a strong header off a corner in the 48th minute. But Atlanta quickly regained their two-goal cushion when Bartosz Slisz netted his first goal of the season in the 66th minute.

The visitors weren’t done yet though. Gerardo Valenzuela made it interesting again with a goal in the 70th minute, setting up a tense finish. But Jamal Thiaré put the game to bed with a stoppage time goal that sent the crowd into celebration.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was a wall all night, making seven key saves to keep Atlanta’s lead intact. This victory not only snapped their frustrating streak but also marked their first win over Cincinnati since 2021.

[Photography by Dave Williamson]