FC Cincinnati aim to ignite offense vs. Atlanta United

FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United will both look to reverse underwhelming starts to the new season when they meet on Saturday afternoon in Southwest Ohio.

FC Cincinnati (2-2-0, 6 points) have won both their home matches and lost both of their away games so far. But no matter the venue, the attack has been slightly less productive than might have been expected, given the addition of striker Kevin Denkey early in the offseason and then attacking midfielder Evander -- to replace the departing Luciano Acosta -- just before the season began.

And last weekend, FC Cincinnati were shut out for the first time in a 2-0 loss at Charlotte FC.

"We need better runs in the box to open up different spaces, we need better crosses, more dangerous crosses," FC Cincinnati manager Pat Noonan said. "I think we did a good job in finding some shot creation from around the top of the box, where it's about hitting corners. And a lot of those moments were right in the hands of (goalkeeper Kristijan) Kahlina."

Denkey, who leads Cincy with three goals, will be away on international duty. Noonan will have most of his squad, however, including Evander, who has a goal and an assist so far in his first season for his second MLS team.

That can't be said for Atlanta manager Ronny Deila, who is dealing with eight callups, including attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron and defensive midfielder Bartosz Slisz. Almiron has provided assists on half of Atlanta's four goals.

"The good thing and exciting thing is that we have to use other players, and then they get the opportunity to show themselves," Deila said. "(It's) an opportunity now to get more players into the roster that can do a job."

Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his third goal of his first MLS season in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, a header that gave Atlanta (1-2-1, 4 points) an early lead.

But Deila's side has struggled in the second half of matches this season, in which they've been outscored 5-2. Atlanta hasn't scored a second-half goal since its 3-2 win over Montreal on opening weekend and conceded in the 89th minute against Miami.

--Field Level Media