ATLANTA, GA—A hat trick from striker Ronaldo Cisneros lifted Atlanta United to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A hat trick from striker Ronaldo Cisneros lifted Atlanta United to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United has struggled to find goals during a tough stretch of poor form in league play, where they scored only twice over four matches and were shut out at home. The stretch started without Josef Martínez or Luiz Araújo compounding the troubles. Luiz Araújo has returned to the starting line-up and Ronaldo Cisneros has found the back of the net.
“The stats say this was a very similar game to the last few,” Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda said. “It was just today we had the fortune to score the goals and to be clinical. But I don’t think there was anything particularly different to what we try every weekend.”
Here are three thoughts from the match this weekend.
More Achilles pain
For the second consecutive home match, the captain has gone down with an Achilles injury. Miles Robinson left the pitch on a stretcher in the 18th minute with what was determined to be a ruptured Achilles tendon. Brad Guzan suffered the same injury in the last home match against FC Cincinnati on April 16th. Both injuries were non-contact injuries and have a huge impact on the depth of the defense.
Miles Robinson was instrumental in solidifying the backline for the club as well as for the men’s national team this past year. It is a devastating loss to both club and country.
Miles Robinson left the pitch on a stretcher in the 18th minute Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with what was determined to be a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Poachers Paradise
Ronaldo Cisneros, the Mexican striker on loan from Liga MX Guadalajara, had a day. Cisneros is the third player in club history to score a hat trick in MLS, the first since 2018.
Gonzalo Pineda after the match praised his striker, stating “… because he’s always running behind, chasing, pressing and that is always the reward for the team.”
The movement and creativity were on full display in the first goal, it was a master class in ball movement and killer instinct. It was the second goal that was the type of goal that the club has seen very little of in the past four matches. The shot is parried away by Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina only to fall perfectly to Cisneros. He pounced on it and drove it into the back of the net and the five stripes were off to the races.
“I feel very happy more than anything for the team’s win. Obviously, the three goals make me happy, but we were able to get a win after three games without one, so the victory of the team is most important.” Ronald Cisneros post-match comments.
Set-Piece peril
The Chicago Fire answered the first goal with a goal of their own. The goal came from a familiar situation: a set piece. Atlanta United continues to struggle with set-piece defense.
The last two weeks before this match they gave away set-piece goals and the trend continues with this goal coming from a recycled corner kick. The squad lacks overall height, but they need to make up for that in craft and focus. The goals conceded are not due to the obvious shortcomings but more from individual failures or lapses.
While the lack of scoring has been much discussed, the real weakness this squad has shown is the inability to secure their own goal against set-pieces.
Bobby Shuttleworth and Alex De John defend against the Chicago Fire as Atlanta United cruises to a 4-1 win Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
What’s next
Atlanta United travel to Nashville SC to meet their local rivals in their new stadium for U.S. Open Cup with a Round of 32 matchups on Wednesday, May 11. This is a tough match when at full strength, it will be a tall order against a very good team.
Atlanta United celebrates the first of three goals from striker Ronaldo Cisneros as they cruise to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Prost Amerika photographer Jim Stapp captured all the action from the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Check out the gallery here.
Atlanta United’s Andrew Gutman looks to get on the end of a cross in the box during the first-half match. Atlanta United went on to win 4-1 over Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
