Atlanta United vs. FC Cincinnati | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 22
Atlanta United vs. FC Cincinnati
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
November 1 – 7:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: FOX Sports Southeast, Star64

Two teams desperate to keep their slim playoff hopes alive meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday night when Atlanta United host FC Cincinnati.

Atlanta (5W-12L-4D) are 13th in the East and just two points below the playoff line following a 4-1 loss to rival Orlando City SC Wednesday, their third straight loss that stretched a winless streak to six. FC Cincinnati (4W-13L-4D) are three points below the Five Stripes in last in the East after a 1-0 loss to Sporting KC in their final match at Nippert Stadium. They, too, have lost three consecutive and seven out of their last eight games.

This is the third meeting this season, with Atlanta winning 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium back in March, while FC Cincinnati defeated ATLUTD 1-0 at the MLS is Back Tournament in July, Jaap Stam's first win as head coach.

Atlanta United

Orlando City SC's season-long dominance of Atlanta United continued Wednesday with a 4-1 victory that sent reeling ATLUTD near the brink of elimination from playoff contention.

"Our backs are against the wall, everyone knows that," said defender Laurence Wyke, forced into his first start since March 7 with Miles Robinson out of the lineup. "We're not winning games. We're playing well in spells, and then we're not. Conceding goals tonight — probably on me. But 'never say never'. If we get these 6 points in the next 2 games and (other teams) start losing games, there's always an opportunity."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Josef Martinez (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: Miles Robinson (D) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Franco Escobar (D)
International duty: None

FC Cincinnati

In their final match at Nippert Stadium, FC Cincinnati fell to Sporting Kansas City 1-0. it's a result that secures SKC's spot atop the Western Conference table and all but ends FC Cincy's hopes of postseason soccer for a second straight year.

“I can only say that it’s unbelievable that we’ve played many games and it’s unfortunate that you don’t get the results that you deserve," Stam said after the match. "Do we deserve them? Because we missed the opportunities ourselves. You give away a game. They come out once and they score a goal. We get several, several opportunities and we can’t finish them off, so that’s a pity."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Greg Garza (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Przemyslaw Tyton (GK) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Caleb Stanko (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Alvaro Barreal (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Kendall Waston (D)
International duty: None