FC Cincinnati 2 scores four against Atlanta United 2 in the first away win of the season

FC Cincinnati 2 (2-3-1, 7 points) defeated Atlanta United 2 (1-3-0, 3 points) in convincing fashion on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, scoring four goals on the season and claiming their first away victory of the year. Four different FC Cincinnati 2 players were on the scoresheet as the Orange and Blue prepare to return home for their next MLS NEXT Pro match against Philadelphia Union II.

The Orange and Blue scored two goals in the first half as Moises Tablante and Peter Mangione found their first goals for the club in the 16th and 33rd minute respectively. Gerardo Valenzuela, making his first MLS NEXT Pro appearance of the season, had an assist on Tablante’s early goal.

Karim Tmimi got one back for Atlanta near the end of the first 45 minutes of action for his second goal of the year, sending the match into halftime with a 2-1 score in favor of the Orange and Blue. The teams combined for 14 shots in the first half, seven of which were on target.

Nico Benalcazar scored Cincinnati’s third of the game in the 55th minute to restore the Orange and Blue’s two-goal lead. Like Valenzuela, Malik Pinto picked up the assist in his first appearance of the season for FCC 2. Benalcazar’s goal is his second in as many games after scoring his first goal for the club against TFC II last Sunday.

Ben Stitz closed out the scoring for the Orange and Blue in the 67th minute and notched his second of the campaign, making it 4-1 for Cincinnati. “I thought it was a good, complete effort from all the guys who took the field today,” said Head Coach Tyrone Marshall. “Everyone contributed, both on the offensive and defensive sides. The desire that was there this afternoon, I loved it.”

“Hats off to the boys for the best efforts they have put in. Everyone is doing their part for the environment and I love where we are now, I love seeing where we go, and this is just the first step. Hopefully there will be many more victories.”

FC Cincinnati 2 returns to action next Sunday, April 28 when they return to Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium to take on Philadelphia Union II at 4:00 PM ET. Tickets for the match can be redeemed with a SeatGeek account through the FC Cincinnati app.

JUST AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Moises Tablante, GOAL – 16′ (0-1) – Gerardo Valenzuela grabbed possession in Atlanta’s half and moved towards goal looking for an attacking option. Tablante made a quick run down the left wing as Valenzuela played the forward with a perfectly weighted pass, and Tablante held off an Atlanta defender in the box before firing a low shot into the far corner of the net.

CIN: Peter Mangione, GOAL – 33′ (0-2) – Peter Mangione doubled FCC 2’s lead in the 33rd minute, capitalizing on a second chance in the Atlanta box. Moises Tablante forced Jayden Hibbert into a save, but the rebound found the feet of Mangione who made no mistake and finished from close range.

ATL: Karim Tmimi – 42′ (1-2) – Karim Tmimi pulled one back for Atlanta United 2 just before half-time. Erik Centeno botched his attempt at the top of the penalty area, but the ball fell to Tmimi’s feet in a crowded penalty area and the striker quickly turned and fired a shot into the back from the net.

CIN: Nico Benalcazar – 55′ (1-3) – Peter Mangione beat an Atlanta defender on the right wing before delivering a pass into the middle, where Nico Benalcazar stepped in to control the ball before quickly running away from Malik Pinto. Benalcazar followed with a run into the penalty area and Pinto’s quick back pass put Benalcazar through on goal.

CIN: Ben Stitz – 67′ (1-4) – Ben Stitz capped off an impressive afternoon for the FC Cincinnati 2 offense, which scored a season-high four goals on the afternoon. Amir Daley wanted to put his name on the scoresheet, but his offensive move was stopped by the Atlanta defense. Daley stayed on the play and forced a rash and failed clearance that fell at the feet of Stitz, who turned and finished a composed effort.

FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 at Atlanta United 2
Date: April 21, 2024
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro
Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Kick-off: 3:03 PM ET
Weather: 53 degrees, cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
ATL: 1-0-1
CIN: 2-2-4

ATL – Karim Tmimi (Centeno) 42′

CIN – Moises Tablante (Valenzuela) 16′, Peter Mangione 33′, Nico Benalcazar (Pinto) 55′, Ben Stitz (Daley) 67′

LINEUPS
ATL: Jayden Hibbert, Jacob Williams, Kaiden Moore (Ramzi Qawasmy 65′), Efrain Morales, Matthew Edwards, Adyn Torres (Matias Gallardo 46′), Javier Armas, Derrick Etienne Jr., Nick Firmino (Nobel Okello Ayo 60′), Erik Centeno (Luke Brennan 60′), Karim Tmimi

Substitutions not used: John Berner, Alan Carleton, Matthew Dejianne, Stephen Hurlock, Dominik Chong Qui

Head coach: Steve Cooke

CIN: Hunter Morse, Moises Tablante (Stiven Jimenez 68′), Isaiah Foster, Brian Schaefer, London Aghedo (Gaël Gibert 46′), Amir Daley, Nico Benalcazar (C) (Connor Stout 79′), Malik Pinto (Jesus Castellano 79′) , Peter Mangione, Gerardo Valenzuela, Kenji Mboma Dem (Ben Stitz 32′)

Substitutions not used: Luke Laramore, Alejandro Guido, Yeiner Valoyes, Nick McHenry

Head coach: Tyrone Marshall

STATS SUMMARY: ATL/CIN
Recordings: 15/16
Shots on target: 4/6
Saves: 2/3
Corners: 5/5
Violations: 20/10
Offside: 3/3

SUMMARY OF MISCONDUCT
ATL – Kaiden Moore (yellow card) 10′
CIN – Gerardo Valenzuela (Yellow card) 26′
CIN – Nico Benalcazar (Yellow card) 27′
ATL – Jacob Williams (yellow card) 33′
ATL – Efrain Morales (Yellow card) 50′
ATL – Matias Gallardo (Yellow card) 61′
CIN – Malik Pinto (Yellow card) 69′

OFFICIALS
Referee: Katherine McCormick
Asst. Referees: Austin Holt, Andrew Charron
Fourth official: Aleksandar Zhelyazkov