FC Cincinnati broke a six‑match winless streak on Saturday night when forward Kevin Denkey found the net twice, leading the club to a 3‑1 triumph over Atlanta United at TQL Stadium.
Key moments
The match remained deadlocked after a quiet first half. Denkey opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, converting a pass from Tom Barlow to give Cincinnati a 1‑0 lead. The assist was set up by Barlow, who would later add to the tally.
Atlanta United responded in the 69th minute when Miguel Almirón, fed by Breel Embolo and Tomás Jacob, struck his fifth goal of the season to level the score at 1‑1.
FC Cincinnati reclaimed the advantage in the 84th minute. Kyle Smith delivered a precise pass to Tom Barlow, who slotted the ball past Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos for the go‑ahead goal.
Denkey sealed the victory in stoppage time, finding the net in the seventh minute of added time to make the final score 3‑1.
Player statistics
Denkey now has 16 goals on the season, surpassing his total from the same point last year. Barlow recorded eight goals and four assists, both career highs through 200 career matches.
Goalkeeper Evan Louro turned away five shots in his third start of the season, marking his eighth career appearance in net for Cincinnati. Atlanta’s Lucas Hoyos made one save in his first MLS campaign.
Team implications
The win improves Cincinnati’s road record to 2‑7‑6 and ends an overall 0‑3‑3 slump. The club also completed a season sweep of Atlanta United, having defeated the visitors 2‑0 at home in the season opener.
Atlanta United’s three‑match unbeaten run was halted, leaving the team at 4‑8‑2 at home.
Looking ahead
FC Cincinnati will host the New England Revolution on Wednesday, while Atlanta United travels to CF Montreal for their next match.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
