ATLANTA — Atlanta United fell 2-1 to FC Cincinnati Wednesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Edwin Mosquera scored his first professional goal 10 minutes into the match, but Cincinnati scored a pair of late goals to earn the three points.
Atlanta United got off to a fast start and Thiago Almada nearly opened the match with a free kick goal from long distance in the eighth minute. Stationed roughly 30 yards from goal and slightly to the left, Almada unleashed a screaming shot which had FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano beat, but it rattled the crossbar and soared out of play.
However, Mosquera broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. The play began on the right wing when Mosquera played Brooks Lennon a through ball into the box where he lobbed a cross to the left side for Xande Silva. The Portuguese winger turned on his first touch and attempted another cross towards the center of goal. Silva's pass took a heavy deflection in the air and fell to an unmarked Mosquera near the edge of the six-yard box which he blasted into the roof of the net.
Following the goal, Cincinnati grew into the match and began consistently threatening Atlanta's goal in transition. The visitor's equalized in the 75th minute through Luciano Acosta. The Argentine combined with Junior Moreno near the top of the penalty area before firing a shot into the upper-left corner.
Cincinnati took the lead in the 80th minute. Acosta found Alvaro Barreal in space on the left wing where he delivered a low cross into the box for Brandon Vazquez for a one-time finish inside the six-yard box.
Atlanta United (11-8-8, 41 points) returns to action when it travels to face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
