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FC Cincinnati looks to snap 'weird' losing skid against Atlanta United

Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer
·5 min read

Miles Robinson knew firsthand how difficult Atlanta United made it for opposing teams venturing inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in search of a result.

As an Atlanta player from 2017 through 2023, Robinson did it all with the "Five Stripes." Over 123 appearances, he helped contribute to MLS Cup and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships, as well as a Campeones Cup – a win against Mexico's club America in the annual match between the Mexican and MLS champions.

Success like that didn't come without Robinson and Atlanta taking care of business during home matches. Robinson was present at the club for 65 home victories dating to 2017, which included a period at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium prior to Mercedes-Benz Stadium opening.

"Teams that compete for the full 90 minutes," Robinson said of the few clubs that managed to accomplish their aims at his now-former home stadium. "I think late in games, the 'Benz' gets more loud and hostile and I think that kind of pushes Atlanta United through those final 15-20 minutes. I think teams that compete for the full 90 minutes is important, but also high-pressing teams, I think, hopefully win the ball in the offensive half and counter, things like that are beneficial."

Midfielder Luciano Acosta and FCC will be looking to avoid a third successive loss for the first time since the opening weeks of head coach Pat Noonan's tenure at the club in 2022 when they face Atlanta United on the road Saturday night.
Midfielder Luciano Acosta and FCC will be looking to avoid a third successive loss for the first time since the opening weeks of head coach Pat Noonan's tenure at the club in 2022 when they face Atlanta United on the road Saturday night.

Robinson still takes great pride in helping establish Atlanta as one of the more successful clubs in modern MLS history, but now he's hoping to undue what he helped create as an FC Cincinnati player.

That FC Cincinnati would have to travel to play in Atlanta at this particular moment is uniquely inopportune given the club is looking to snap its first regular-season losing streak since May 2022. FCC will face Atlanta, along with everything that makes playing there difficult, on Saturday (7:30 p.m.).

FC Cincinnati is looking to avoid a third successive loss for the first time since the opening weeks of head coach Pat Noonan's tenure at the club in 2022. FC Cincinnati last week lost at CF Montreal, 2-1. The losing streak started April 6 at TQL Stadium against New York Red Bulls, also in a 2-1 defeat.

Cincinnati's attack continued to struggle at Montreal and has scored just eight times in 2024. That has overshadowed a defensive effort that's been formidable but leaving no margin for error.

"Losses are part of this. You're going to lose, you're going to have points that you drop in heartbreaking fashion," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said during a Thursday news conference. "There's just different ways that the struggle happens. And so it's unique in different ways, but you just try to talk to the guys as honestly and as respectfully as you can to keep the motivation to give them some perspective so that, you know, the performances on the field and the mentality doesn't change.

Pat Noonan admits getting a handle on this year's club is challenging. "I'm trying to figure out if I'm, you know, handling it the right way. I try not to change my approach," he says.
Pat Noonan admits getting a handle on this year's club is challenging. "I'm trying to figure out if I'm, you know, handling it the right way. I try not to change my approach," he says.

"So it's been interesting these last couple of weeks, and I'm trying to figure out if I'm, you know, handling it the right way. I try not to change my approach, we try to stick with routines, sometimes it's nice also  when there's a little bit of struggle to mix things up a little bit, and to try to bring life to the group in different ways. I couldn't be more confident that we'll work our way out of this two-loss stretch, or just, I would say underperforming in some ways. But no, we'll be fine. But you know, it's just a weird feeling for our group."

The latest on Atlanta United

Atlanta has never posted a losing home record, and 2024 is so far no different as the Five Stripes are 3-0-1 on home turf.

United is winless on the road in three tries but is still just a point back of fifth-place FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings.

Forward Giorgos Giakoumakis arrived to the club in 2023 and immediately revealed himself to be one of the best goal-scorers in Major League Soccer. He has 22 regular-season goals in 31 appearances, including five goals and an assist this season.

After missing time recently due to a bone bruise, Giakoumakis was back in full training with his teammates ahead of Saturday's game.

Forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, left, is clearly Atlanta United's primary scoring threat. He has 22 regular-season goals in 31 appearances, including five goals and an assist this season, since his arrival in 2023.
Forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, left, is clearly Atlanta United's primary scoring threat. He has 22 regular-season goals in 31 appearances, including five goals and an assist this season, since his arrival in 2023.

Jamal Thiaré, 31, has proved to be an effective, early-season contributor in the attack as he has three goals to his name, and the looming threat of Thiago Almada, a FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has continued to impact matches as one of the best playmakers in MLS (one goal, three assists).

"Good team, you know, certainly very dominant at home with their performances and the goals scored," Noonan said. "I know that the last one (Saturday versus Philadelphia Union) got away at the end, but very dynamic attack, I think you could see good build ideas, good spacing in how they create space for different players and in different aspects ... or different spaces of the field, specifically Almada. But it'll certainly be a good challenge for us in this tough stretch. But also, I think, some different things defensively their organization then, maybe, last year. So, it'll be a good challenge for us, but certainly one of the top teams for me in this league."

The game

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Broadcast: Apple TV

All-time series: Atlanta leads the all-time series against FC Cincinnati with five wins, three losses and five ties (5-3-5).

Cincinnati.com prediction: Atlanta United 2, FC Cincinnati 0.

FC Cincinnati

Record (MLS): 3-2-3, 12 points; fifth place in Eastern Conference

Goals for: Eight.

Goals against: Seven.

Head coach: Pat Noonan, third season as head coach.

Projected starting XI: Alec Kann, goalkeeper; Luca Orellano, left wing back; Ian Murphy, center back; Matt Miazga, center back; Miles Robinson, center back; DeAndre Yedlin, right wing back; Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder; Yuya Kubo, midfielder; Luciano Acosta, midfielder; Corey Baird, forward; Aaron Boupendza, forward.

Atlanta United

Regular season record: 3-2-2, 11 points; sixth place in east.

Goals for: 12.

Goals against: Seven.

Head coach: Gonzalo Pineda, fourth season as Atlanta head coach.

Projected starting XI: Brad Guzan, goalkeeper; Brooks Lennon, right back; Noah Cobb, center back; Luis Abram, center back; Caleb Wiley, left back; Bartosz Slisz, midfielder, Tristan Muyumba, midfielder; Saba Lobzhanidze, midfielder/winger; Thiago Almada, midfielder; Tyler Wolff, midfielder/winger; Daniel Rios, forward.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati looks to snap 'weird' losing skid against Atlanta United