Atlanta United 4-2 FC Cincinnati: Deila's team snap eight-game winless run

Atlanta United ended their eight-game winless streak with a stunning 4-2 victory over Eastern Conference high-flyers FC Cincinnati on Sunday. 

Ronny Deila's side had picked up their lowest points tally after 14 matches of a season coming into this game, but turned on the style at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

The Five Stripes set the tone in the 15th minute when Aleksey Miranchuk's teasing free-kick was powered beyond Roman Celentano by the head of Derrick Williams. 

Atlanta doubled their lead five minutes later through Ajani Fortune, who tucked home from close range after good work from Saba Lobjanidze on the right-hand side. 

But Cincinnati halved the deficit three minutes after the restart, with Miles Robinson on hand to nod Evander's corner past Brad Guzan. However, Atlanta responded swiftly. 

Bartosz Slisz restored the Five Stripes' two-goal cushion just after the hour with a scrappy finish, but Cincinnati got within one again through Gerardo Valenzuela four minutes later. 

Having survived a wave of Cincinnati pressure, Jamal Thiare sealed the win for Atlanta in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, racing in behind the visitors' defence before slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner.

The result moved Atlanta up to 12th in the Eastern Conference, while Cincinnati stayed second after they were replaced at the summit by the Philadelphia Union following their 3-3 draw with Inter Miami earlier that weekend. 

SHOWSTOPPING.

THREE POINTS STAY HOME pic.twitter.com/FDMMlf1hAY

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 26, 2025

Data Debrief: Miranchuk leads Atlanta back to winning ways

Atlanta had failed to beat Cincinnati in seven straight matches coming into this game, with their last win over Pat Noonan's side coming at the start of the 2022 season, but they put on a fine display to halt their recent poor run of form. 

And key to their victory was Miranchuk, who grabbed two assists in the contest. The Atlanta midfielder also posted team-high totals for chances created (three) and final third entries (seven), while only Slisz (eight) won possession back more times than the Russian (four). 

Deila's team were deserving of their win, too. They ended the match with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.63 from their 12 shots to Cincinnati's 1.43 xG, who were wasteful with their attacks. Only 10 of their 30 shots were on target.