Denkey, Hagglund strike late as FC Cincinnati blank Atlanta United 2-0 in season opener

CINCINNATI — Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund delivered dramatic late goals Saturday night to lift FC Cincinnati past Atlanta United FC 2-0 in the MLS regular-season opener for both clubs at TQL Stadium.

With the match still hanging in the balance, Denkey broke the deadlock in the 80th minute. Playmaker Ender Echenique threaded a pass to the striker, who sold goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos with a clever feint before slotting a left-footed finish between two retreating defenders.

Hagglund, who sustained two broken ribs and a collapsed lung the last time he faced Atlanta on May 25, sealed the result deep into stoppage time. The defender powered a header past Hoyos from a Bryan Ramírez corner kick in the 90th minute, capping a memorable personal redemption.

Cincinnati was forced to navigate most of the contest without 2025 MVP finalist Evander, who exited in the 13th minute with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Gerardo Valenzuela.

Denkey nearly opened the scoring earlier, only to be denied by the woodwork. After Atlanta center back Juan Berrocal coughed up possession in the 56th minute, the forward raced in alone but pushed his one-on-one attempt against the outside of the right post.

The defeat marked an inauspicious debut for Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tato” Martino, the former Argentina and Barcelona boss who most recently guided Inter Miami from 2023-24 and has coached Lionel Messi at each of his three previous stops.

FC Cincinnati will look to build on the opening victory when league play resumes, while Atlanta United must regroup ahead of its next test.