Under the bright lights of TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati kicked off their 2026 Major League Soccer campaign with a rousing 2-0 victory over Atlanta United FC on Saturday, February 21. The win marks a strong start for the Orange and Blue, who finished second in the Eastern Conference last season and are looking to build on that momentum in their 11th year as a club—and their eighth in MLS. For Atlanta, the loss signals a tough opening to their season after a disappointing 14th-place finish in 2025. But, as always in MLS, the storylines are just beginning to unfold.
This season opener didn’t just signal the return of league play; it also marked the earliest calendar start in FC Cincinnati’s history. With a packed February schedule that includes four games—more than any previous February for the club—head coach Pat Noonan and his squad knew they needed to hit the ground running. "We utilize yesterday morning to look at some video before we left the Dominican, start that process of helping these guys understand their first regular season opponent," Noonan said after the team’s 4-0 win over O&M FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier in the week. "Now it’s about giving them as much information about the opponent but understanding we’re at home in the first game and how can we be focused on our play and set a good tone in front of our home fans."
The match kicked off at 4:45 p.m. ET to a lively crowd, despite street closures and traffic detours around the stadium. Cincinnati police were on hand to help direct fans and maintain access for residents, as excitement buzzed through the West End neighborhood. The Bailey March, a signature supporters’ parade, briefly closed Central Parkway and Ezzard Charles Drive, adding to the pregame spectacle.
Both teams rolled out strong starting lineups. FC Cincinnati stuck with their familiar 3-5-2, featuring Roman Celentano in goal, a back line of Miles Robinson, Nick Hagglund, and Teenage Hadebe, and a midfield anchored by Pavel Bucha and Sami Gidi. Star forward Kevin Denkey, fresh off a goal in the Champions Cup, started up top alongside Ayoub Jabbari. Atlanta United countered with a 4-4-2, led by forwards Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron, and new goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos between the posts. Notably, Atlanta signed 19-year-old defender Toto Majub to a Short-Term Agreement ahead of the match, adding depth to their back line. Majub, who joined ATL UTD 2 last season after a stint in Uganda, had previously represented the Ugandan U-20 national team and logged nearly 1,000 minutes in MLS NEXT Pro in 2025.
The game began on a tense note for Cincinnati. Just 12 minutes in, star playmaker Evander exited with hamstring tightness, forcing an early substitution. Gerardo "Dado" Valenzuela came on and quickly made his presence felt, taking over set-piece duties and helping to steady the midfield. "Evander left the game with hamstring tightness. We'll learn more after the game," reported the broadcast team, echoing the concern in the stands.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides probing for weaknesses but neither able to break through. Atlanta threatened early, forcing Celentano into a diving save off a shot from Saba Lobjanidze. Cincinnati’s best look came in the 20th minute, when Nick Hagglund headed just over the bar from a Valenzuela corner. Possession was nearly even—52% for Cincinnati, 48% for Atlanta—and shots were level at four apiece by halftime. The most unusual moment came in the 39th minute, when a rare back-pass violation gave Atlanta an indirect free kick inside the Cincinnati penalty area, though the Orange and Blue’s wall held firm.
As the second half wore on, the tension ratcheted up. Cincinnati began to find more space in the attacking third, with Denkey and Jabbari combining well up front. In the 60th minute, Denkey nearly broke the deadlock after a deflection put him one-on-one with Hoyos, only for his chip to hit the far post and bounce away. Atlanta responded with a quick transition, but Lobjanidze’s shot rolled just wide of the mark.
Substitutions injected fresh legs and new energy. Tom Barlow replaced Jabbari in the 70th minute, making his first league appearance for Cincinnati, while Gilberto Flores came in for Hadebe at the back. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute. Sami Gidi sparked a transition, feeding Ender Echenique on the wing. Echenique delivered a pinpoint cross to Denkey, who calmly slotted the ball past Hoyos and a scrambling defender on the line. The crowd erupted as Denkey celebrated his second goal in as many games, continuing his hot streak from the Champions Cup.
Atlanta pushed forward in search of an equalizer, with Latte Lath nearly finding the net after latching onto a long ball in the 89th minute. He collided with Celentano, and the ball trickled toward the goal line, but Miles Robinson made a desperate sliding clearance to preserve the lead. Latte Lath, who had been loudly booed by Cincinnati fans all night—no doubt remembering his collision with Hagglund last season that sidelined the defender for 10 weeks—remained in the game after a brief scare.
The insurance goal came moments later. In the 90th minute, Bryan Ramirez, making his first MLS start, whipped in a left-footed corner from the right side. Hagglund rose highest and powered a header into the back of the net, sealing the 2-0 win and notching Ramirez’s first league assist. The stadium roared as Cincinnati secured their second consecutive shutout of the week, having blanked O&M FC just days earlier.
Statistically, the match was evenly balanced in terms of shots (9-9) and shots on goal (3-3), but Cincinnati’s 2.6 expected goals dwarfed Atlanta’s 0.7, highlighting the hosts’ superior chance creation in the second half. The Orange and Blue’s defense, marshaled by Celentano and Robinson, stood tall when it mattered most, shutting out Atlanta for the fourth time in franchise history—a welcome change after conceding six goals in two meetings last season.
For Atlanta, the defeat stings but offers some positives, including a strong first half and promising moments from new signings. The debut of Toto Majub, even on a short-term deal, hints at a youth movement that could pay dividends as the season unfolds.
Looking ahead, FC Cincinnati faces a quick turnaround, hosting O&M FC on February 25 for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie, where they hold a commanding 4-0 aggregate lead. Their next MLS fixture comes on February 28 at Minnesota. With a busy schedule and early momentum, Cincinnati’s fans have plenty to cheer about—and plenty of reasons to believe this could be a special season.
As the final whistle blew at TQL Stadium, the Orange and Blue faithful could savor a well-earned victory, a promising debut for new faces, and the satisfaction of starting 2026 with a statement win. The journey, of course, is just beginning.