ATLANTA — Atlanta United defeated FC Cincinnati 2-0 Sunday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the team’s regular season home finale.
Adam Jahn scored his third goal of the season while Marcelino Moreno netted his first for the club. Brad Guzan recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season. With the win, Atlanta’s playoff fate will come down to Decision Day on Nov. 8 at Columbus Crew SC.
Atlanta United took the lead in the eighth minute through Jahn. Jürgen Damm received a pass from Moreno on the right wing and backed down Andrew Gutman, slowly dribbling into the box. Damm deked his defender, took a touch toward the byline and sent in a low cross for Jahn where the forward smashed the ball home at the edge of the six-yard box.
Atlanta doubled its lead when Jon Gallagher drew a penalty in 25th minute. George Bello found the Irishman in the box where he dribbled by Kendall Waston, who tripped Gallagher after he was beat. Moreno stepped to the spot and drilled his shot down the center of the goal as goalkeeper Spencer Richey guessed to the left.
Guzan made a big save to keep Cincinnati goalless just before the break. Haris Medunjanin delivered a set piece from the left side into the box where Brandon Vazquez was able to get a head to it. Vazquez placed it in the top-right corner, but Guzan was able to make a diving save, pushing the ball away from danger with both hands. Guzan finished with four saves.
Ezequiel Barco checked into the match in the second half and nearly added to Atlanta’s lead in the 68th minute. Bello played a bouncing ball from the left wing across the 18-yard box to the right side where the Argentine one-timed a blistering right-footed shot, but it was hit directly at Richey who parried it away.
