Soccer <\/p>\n
It took nearly two months, but Atlanta United<\/a> are back in the win column.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Five Stripes snapped their eight-game winless streak on Matchday 15, cruising to an emphatic 4-2 victory<\/a> over FC Cincinnati<\/a> at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.<\/p>\n The hosts got four different goal scorers \u2013 Derrick Williams<\/a> and Ajani Fortune<\/a> tallied in the first half before Bartosz Slisz<\/a> netted the game-winner and Jamal Thiar\u00e9<\/a> iced the match \u2013 to produce some much-needed good vibes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went far too long without a win, especially in our home place,\u201d Williams told MLS Season Pass post-game.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think tonight we showed a lot of character. We showed how good we can be. We just need to do it for longer periods.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Recently, Atlanta head coach Ronny Deila called his team \u201csoft\u201d<\/a> as points slipped away and they slid down the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n Consider that message heard loud and clear, overcoming a Cincy side that entered the weekend tied for the Supporters\u2019 Shield lead. Brad Guzan<\/a>\u2019s seven saves proved pivotal along the way, keeping star attackers Evander<\/a> and K\u00e9vin Denkey<\/a> off the board.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you see that determination on set plays, when you see that people want to score, then you see a different team,\u201d Deila said after Atlanta’s first win since beating New York City FC<\/a> on March 29<\/a>. \u201cYou see that we want to clear the ball and we are first to the ball in the box. These kinds of things are key.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just need to understand that we can beat anybody, but we can also lose against anybody. This has to be the minimum when we talk about the discipline, when we talk about the killer instinct inside the boxes. Then we can prove our style and our play going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Atlanta aren\u2019t getting too far ahead of themselves, especially with a six-game road swing on the horizon after they host southern rival Orlando City SC<\/a> on Wednesday for a midweek contest (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass<\/a>).<\/p>\n But with their third win of the season in tow, there\u2019s some positive momentum after falling short of expectations throughout much of the spring.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very happy for my teammates, for the effort they put in,\u201d said Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a>, who returned this winter from English Premier League side Newcastle United as a Designated Player.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the team was deserving it for the hard work that we\u2019ve put in. We still haven\u2019t won anything, it\u2019s one game, an important step forward against a good team. We have to keep going. Wednesday we have a final that will be very important also.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nForward progress<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Busy slate<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n