In his third professional match, 19-year-old forward Kevin Kelsy found the back of the net for the second consecutive game, helping FC Cincinnati edge out Atlanta United 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Kelsy, making his first start, received a pass from reigning MVP Luciano Acosta in the 7th minute and headed the ball into the goal, giving Cincinnati (8-2-3) an early lead. This goal follows his recent success last week, where he scored in a 2-1 road win against the defending champions, the Columbus Crew.
Cincinnati’s goalkeeper, Roman Celantano, had to make only one save, securing his league-leading fifth clean sheet in nine starts this season. Cincinnati's victory marks their fifth consecutive win, improving their away record to an impressive 6-1-1.
Brad Guzan, the goalkeeper for Atlanta United (3-6-3), managed to save four shots, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Atlanta United remains winless in their last seven matches, with a road record of 0-3-2 and a league-high three home losses.
Despite Atlanta United's overall lead in the all-time series at 5-4-5, Cincinnati has shown significant improvement under the management of Pat Noonan, holding a 3-0-3 record against Atlanta United with him at the helm. Cincinnati also boasts an 11-2-5 record in midweek matches under Noonan across all competitions.
The defending Supporters' Shield champions, Cincinnati, had previously defeated Atlanta United 2-1 on the road earlier this season. Atlanta United continues their road stint with a match against Nashville SC on Saturday, while Cincinnati is set to host St. Louis City.
