ATLANTA — Atlanta United played FC Cincinnati to a 0-0 draw Saturday in front of 42,948 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta out-shot Cincinnati 22-9 while holding the visitors without a shot on goal, but couldn’t find the breakthrough goal despite a strong performance.
Atlanta United dictated the pace of the match from the outset and produced its best chance of the first half in the 36th minute when Marcelino Moreno played Brooks Lennon down the right side into the box. Lennon cut the ball back for Thiago Almada where he one-timed a shot aimed at the bottom left corner, but he pulled his attempt just wide of the left post.
Atlanta earned a penalty in the 60th minute after an impressive run by homegrown Caleb Wiley. The 17-year-old dribbled by a pair of defenders and raced a third to the endline before sending a low ball across the goal. Making his first start for Atlanta United, Ronaldo Cisneros poked the ball towards goal, but it struck the outstretched arm of Dominique Badji and was ruled a handball. Moreno took the resulting penalty kick, but Alec Kann guessed correctly and was able to deny the Argentine’s attempt to the bottom right corner.
Atlanta continued to pressure Cincinnati’s goal throughout the second half as it took 17 shots. However, Brad Guzan was forced to leave the match after a non-contact injury in the 73rd minute and was replaced by Bobby Shuttleworth, who made his first appearance for Atlanta United.
A minute later, Luiz Araújo made his return to the field after he suffered a hamstring injury in the season-opening match against Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 27. Emerson Hyndman later entered the match in the 81st minute to mark his return from a torn ACL last season. It was his first appearance since May 29, 2021 against Nashville SC.
Cincinnati was forced to play a man down when Nick Hagglund received his second yellow card in the 76th minute after he took Almada down just outside of the penalty area.
Araújo, Almada and Andrew Gutman each put shots on frame in the final 10 minutes of the match, but Cincinnati managed to keep the ball out of the net and escape with a point.
Atlanta (3-2-1, 10 points) returns to action Wednesday, April 20 when it hosts Chattanooga FC at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup. The team returns to MLS play Sunday, April 24 when it travels to face Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium.
