ATLANTA – FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United FC tied 0-0 Saturday night in front of 42,948 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to earn the second point in club history in Atlanta.
The Orange and Blue (2-4-1, 7 points) tied for the first time in 2022. Atlanta United (3-2-2, 11 points) was held scoreless for the second time this season.
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann, in his first game against his former club, became the first FCC goalkeeper to save a conceded penalty since August 2019 when he saved Atlanta’s Marcelino Moreno’s PK in the 63rd minute. Kann earned his first league-game clean sheet since he was with Atlanta on July 1, 2017 at Columbus Crew.
Nick Hagglund was issued a second yellow card in the 76th minute, which forced the Orange and Blue to play down a man for the final 14 minutes of the game, plus eight minutes of stoppage time.
FCC did not record a shot on goal for the fourth time all-time, but earned a result for the first time without a shot on target (0-3-0 entering Saturday). FC Cincinnati’s best chance came in the second half when Luciano Acosta hit the crossbar with a right footed shot from just outside the box.
FC Cincinnati earned a fourth road point of this season and held an opponent scoreless on the road for the first time since a scoreless draw at New York Red Bulls on August 4, 2021.
The Orange and Blue return home Tuesday to take on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from TQL Stadium, with the game to be streamed exclusively and nationally on ESPN+.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Atlanta United FC
Date: April 16, 2022
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Attendance: 42,948
Kickoff: 6:08 p.m. ET
Weather: Closed Dome
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
ATL: 0-0-0
CIN: 0-0-0
ATL: None
CIN: None
GAME NOTES
• Alec Kann’s saved PK was the first FC Cincinnati PK conceded and not converted since August 17, 2019 vs. NYCFC (Przemysław Tytoń save of Maximiliano Moralez).
• Kann set a season-high in saves (6).
• FC Cincinnati finished a game in a scoreless draw for the first time since a 0-0 tie with CF Montréal on August 18, 2021 at TQL Stadium.
• The scoreless halves were the second and third FCC halves this season with a goal from neither side, the first since the first half vs. D.C. United (March 5).
• Nick Hagglund’s red card was the first for FC Cincinnati since October 23, 2021 at Inter Miami CF (Allan Cruz) … it was his third career red card, the two previous came in 2014 with Toronto FC (last: October 11, 2014 at RBNY).
• John Nelson made his debut with FC Cincinnati … The Medina, Ohio native was signed in the offseason from FC Dallas, who he made his last appearance for on July 31, 2021 at Sporting Kansas City.
• All unavailable for selection were Calvin Harris, Alvas Powell, Ronald Matarrita, Kenneth Vermeer, Allan Cruz and Geoff Cameron … Roman Celentano was in uniform for the first time with FC Cincinnati along with Nelson.
LINEUPS
CIN: Alec Kann, Dominique Badji, Tyler Blackett, Ian Murphy, Nick Hagglund, Ray Gaddis (John Nelson 65’), Junior Moreno, Yuya Kubo (Haris Medunjanin 74’), Luciano Acosta (C) (Álvaro Barreal 82’), Brandon Vazquez, Brenner (Nick Markanich 82’)
Substitutes not used: Roman Celentano, Isaac Atanga, Harrison Robledo
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
ATL: Brad Guzan (C) (Bobby Shuttleworth 73’), Brooks Lennon, Miles Robinson, Andrew Gutman, Caleb Wiley (Luiz De Araujo 74’), George Campbell, Santiago Sosa (Jake Mulraney 90+1’), Thiago Almada, Amar Sejdic (Emerson Hyndman 80’), Marcelino Moreno, Ronaldo Cisneros (Dom Dwyer 80’)
Substitutes not used: Ronald Hernandez, Alex De John, Franco Ibarra, Tyler Wolff
Head Coach: Gonzalo Pineda
STATS SUMMARY: ATL/CIN
Shots: 22 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 0
Saves: 0 / 6
Corner Kicks: 9 / 5
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offside: 1 / 4
Possession: 65.4 / 34.6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATL - Thiago Almada (caution) 8'
ATL - Amar Sejdic (caution) 42'
CIN - Nick Hagglund (caution) 44'
CIN - Yuya Kubo (caution) 45'
CIN - Nick Hagglund (second caution, ejection) 76'
ATL - George Campbell (caution) 84'
CIN - Dominique Badji (caution) 90+4'
OFFICIALS
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Ast. Referees: Logan Brown, Gjovalin Bori
Fourth Official: Jeremy Scheer
VAR: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Chantal Boudreau
POSTGAME QUOTES
FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan
Opening statement
"Yeah, that was a gutsy performance, certainly wasn't pretty. But really just proud of the group to find a way to get a point out of the game, that that game could have gone a different direction. And a lot of different moments, but Alec [Kann] makes the big save with the PK, and they're throwing numbers forward, [we're] down a man to end the game, and the way we defended the box and found a way to get a point was a credit to the group on the field, these players for fighting through some tough conditions."
On the importance of a road point
“I don't think it's overstating it. I said to them, you know a lot of the guys individually on the field, it's little moments like this, that have you believing as a group that things are going in the right direction. Again, that could have very easily been a loss. But for various reasons it wasn't. And so that's the sign of the group moving in the right direction.”
On Alec Kann
“He made a big play for us. But I think his composure over the course of the of the game was strong, and he made some good plays, coming off his line, dealing with runners in the box and coming out for crosses on set pieces. He was just really strong, all game long.”
On Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup game
“We'll see how well guys recover over the next couple of days. We're obviously thin on bodies. But we have an idea of what that group is going to look like to start the game and we're confident with the group that we're going to have out there to go and put in a strong performance and get us a result.”
FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann
On the result and return to Atlanta
“For me, it's really special, it was an emotional night. But what I'm taking from it is a big shout out for this defensive group, all 11 players on the field, the five that came on the bench, everyone put in a shift. And the shout out is really special to us. You know, it's something that we've deserved for a little while now and something to build on going into a tough stretch of games.”
On his PK save
“Yeah, we scout the opposition, when they do penalties, we have an idea of the trends that they have. And then after that, it's up to whoever's in goal to make a decision, more or less an educated guess, on what we think the attacker is going to do. And thankfully, I guessed the right way.”
FC Cincinnati defender Dominique Badji
On the result
“To begin with, huge shout out to Alec [Kann] for the save on the PK. And the performance from the guys. On the road, it's tough to get points on the road and to get one here in this environment was incredible. And congrats to Ian [Murphy] for coming in tough game and getting the job done. And overall, the team did what they needed to do to get this result. That's a huge point.”
On shifting into a defensive role
“The first time ever in my career … I think I think that my willingness to work. And the fact that I just want to win, no matter where you put me. Put me anywhere, I want to compete, and [it] might not always be the prettiest, but I'll get the job done. And after this game, I have a newfound respect for all right backs in the league, because it's a tough position.”
FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule can be viewed, HERE. Fans can get the best tickets at the best price to the best matches all season long by purchasing season tickets at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
Fans can also purchase half-season ticket packages and single match tickets to any of FC Cincinnati’s remaining home games are available now.
FC Cincinnati is in their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
