FC Cincinnati defeated Atlanta United FC, 3-1, Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to earn a crucial three points to keep the Orange and Blue above the playoff line in the tight, late-season Eastern Conference standings.
The Orange and Blue (9-9-9, 36 points) swept the season series over Atlanta (7-15-6, 27 points). Saturday night began a seven-match stretch over a 22-day span for FC Cincinnati, as the club will conclude Matchday 29 in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand.
After a scoreless opening half, Kévin Denkey netted the night’s opening goal in the 52nd minute, as David Douděra sent a long ball ahead for Tom Barlow to head down for Denkey, who found his way into the box to finish home his 15th goal of the MLS season.
Miguel Almirón would equalize for Atlanta in the 69th minute, but the Orange and Blue would fight back and go ahead in the 84th minute with Tom Barlow controlling a sharp, direct pass from Kyle Smith and firing home a right-footed shot past Lucas Hoyos.
Kévin Denkey’s 90’+7 stoppage-time goal would secure the three points for FC Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium on Wednesday, October 14 against the New England Revolution, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET as the match airs on Apple TV, with radio to be carried locally on iHeart Media ESPN 1530 and over the radio on La Mega 101.5 FM.
The New England match is the first of three-consecutive home matches including Sunday Night Soccer on October 18 against the Columbus Crew and a midweek match on October 21 against D.C. United. Tickets for all remaining home matches are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati swept the season series over Atlanta United for the second time (2024) and improve to 6-6-6 all-time against Atlanta.
- FC Cincinnati have now scored 81 goals in all competitions this season, matching the all-time club record for total goals scored in a season (2018).
- Kévin Denkey netted his 15th and 16th MLS goals of the season, surpassing his total from his debut 2025 season (15). His 20 goals in all competitions are a new career-high and approach the single-season club record for goals scored across all competitions (22 – Evander, 2025). He also approaches the single-season club record for goals scored in MLS play (18 – Brenner, 2022; Brandon Vazquez, 2022; Evander, 2025).
- Denkey scored in his third consecutive match for FC Cincinnati.
- Denkey’s brace was his sixth-career two-goal performance for FC Cincinnati, his fifth in all competitions this season.
- Tom Barlow’s three goal contributions matched a career-high (6/7/25 w/CHI at DC).
- David Douděra recorded his first-career MLS assist in his first start.
- Tyrell Malacia and Julián Malatini each made their FC Cincinnati debuts.
- Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith each made their 200th MLS appearance of their careers.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Kévin Denkey, GOAL – 52’ (0-1) – Pavel Bucha controlled possession for the Orange and Blue just inside the Cincinnati half and played a short ball out to David Douděra near the right touchline. Douděra played a first-time ball up and over the Atlanta midfield line and in toward Tom Barlow. Barlow flicked on an off-balance header which found the feet of Kévin Denkey who proceeded to drop an Atlanta defender and the goalkeeper before finishing into an open net.
ATL: Miguel Almirón, GOAL – 69’ (1-1) – A failed clearance and moment of chaos inside the Cincinnati box led to Miguel Almirón’s equalizer. Almirón was first to attack the second chance ball in the midst of a cluster of players and finished from six yards out.
CIN: Tom Barlow, GOAL – 84’ (1-2) – Kyle Smith kept Atlanta from breaking out following a Cincinnati attack, jumping up high and winning possession near the top of the box before playing a hard pass into Barlow inside the box. Barlow did well to control and quickly finished in the top left corner of goal.
CIN: Kévin Denkey, GOAL – 90’+7 (1-3) – Denkey erased any chance of a second Atlanta equalizer in the final moments of second-half stoppage time. The final attack started from a throw-in and quickly advanced through midfield and up to Ender Echenique in a one-on-one situation with an Atlanta defender. Echenique patiently waited for Denkey to make his run in from the left wing and played a ball in for the forward who struck first time to avoid a sliding tackle from a recovering Atlanta defense.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Atlanta United FC
Date: October 10, 2026
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 36,286
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: Roof Closed
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
ATL: 0-1-1
CIN: 0-3-3
ATL – Miguel Almirón (Embolo, Jacob) 69’
CIN – Kévin Denkey (Barlow, Douděra) 52’, Tom Barlow (Smith) 84’, Kévin Denkey (Echenique, Barlow) 90’+7
LINEUPS
CIN: Evan Louro, Tyrell Malacia (Bryan Ramirez 71’), Teenage Hadebe, Miles Robinson (C) (Julián Malatini 71’), Kyle Smith, David Douděra (Ender Echenique 60’), Obinna Nwobodo (Tah Brian Anunga 78’), Samuel Gidi (Gerardo Valenzuela 78’), Pavel Bucha, Tom Barlow, Kévin Denkey
Substitutes not used: Roman Celentano, Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Kenji Mboma Dem
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
ATL: Lucas Hoyos, Elías Báez (Sergio Santos 90’+2), Enea Mihaj, Júnior Alonso, Tomás Jacob, Tristan Muyumba (Cooper Sanchez 86’), Mauricio Amaro, Giuliano Galoppo (Fafa Picault 86’), Jay Fortune (Alexey Miranchuk 56’), Miguel Almirón (C), Breel Embolo
Substitutes not used: Jayden Hibbert, Adrian Gill, Luke Brennan, Paulo Díaz, Matthew Edwards
Head Coach: Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino
STATS SUMMARY: ATL/CIN
Shots: 16 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 14
Offside: 6 / 1
Possession: 56.1 / 43.9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Teenage Hadebe (Yellow Card) 3’
ATL – Tomás Jacob (Yellow Card) 43’
CIN – Julián Malatini (Yellow Card) 88’
CIN – Tom Barlow (Yellow Card) 90’+4
ATL – Mauricio Amaro (Yellow Card) 90’+4
OFFICIALS
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Ast. Referees: Corey Rockwell, Matthew Nelson
Fourth Official: Sergii Demianchuk
VAR: David Barrie
AVAR: Kathryn Nesbitt
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