Denkey, Hagglund score late to lead Cincinnati 2-0 past Atlanta United in season opener
#FC Cincinnati#Atlanta United#MLS#Kévin Denkey#Nick Hagglund#Gerardo Martino#Evander injury#soccer match
📌 Key Takeaways
FC Cincinnati defeated Atlanta United 2-0 in MLS season opener
Denkey and Hagglund scored late goals in the 80th and 90th minutes
Evander suffered a hamstring injury early in the match
Atlanta United played under new manager Gerardo 'Tato' Martino
Denkey missed a key scoring opportunity in the 56th minute
📖 Full Retelling
FC Cincinnati defeated Atlanta United FC 2-0 in their MLS regular season opener on Saturday, February 21, 2026, thanks to late goals from Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund. The victory marked a successful start for Cincinnati as they capitalized on scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the match. In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, skillfully faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders. Hagglund sealed the victory with a header from a Bryan Ramírez corner in the 90th minute, completing the scoring in a game that saw both teams struggling to find their rhythm early on. The match also featured notable injury concerns as Cincinnati lost 2025 MVP finalist Evander due to a hamstring injury just 13 minutes into the game, forcing his replacement by Gerardo Valenzuela. Denkey had a golden opportunity to score earlier in the match in the 56th minute, but after receiving the ball from a turnover by Atlanta's center back Juan Berrocal, he hit the outside of the right post instead of finding the net. For Atlanta United, this was the first game under new manager Gerardo 'Tato' Martino, the former Argentina and Barcelona manager who most recently led Inter Miami from 2023-24 and coached Lionel Messi throughout his managerial career.
Gerardo Daniel "Tata" Martino (born 20 November 1962) is an Argentine professional football coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Atlanta United.
Martino played mostly for Newell's Old Boys in his native Rosario. He holds the record of appearances with the team, p...
Atlanta United Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Domestically, the club has won one MLS Cup, one U.S. Open Cup, and one Eastern Conference championship.
Professional soccer league in the United States and Canada
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. MLS is one of the major professio...
American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati
Football Club Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was first announced on August 12, 2015, as a United Soccer League (USL) franchise which played from 2016 to 2018.
Nicholas Stuart Hagglund (born September 14, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
FC Cincinnati starts the MLS season with a strong 2-0 victory over Atlanta United, signaling a positive start under new manager Gerardo 'Tato' Martino. The win is significant as Cincinnati overcame the early loss of MVP finalist Evander to injury. Late goals from Denkey and Hagglund highlight the team's resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Context & Background
This was the MLS regular season opener for both teams
Cincinnati lost key player Evander to a hamstring injury early in the match
Nick Hagglund suffered a serious injury against Atlanta United in a previous match last year
Atlanta United has a new manager, Gerardo 'Tato' Martino
What Happens Next
FC Cincinnati will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming MLS fixtures. Atlanta United will aim to regroup and improve under their new manager. Both teams will monitor the fitness of injured players like Evander.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored for FC Cincinnati?
Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored the goals for Cincinnati.
When did the goals occur?
Denkey scored in the 80th minute and Hagglund scored in the 90th minute.
What injury affected Cincinnati early in the match?
Evander, a 2025 MVP finalist, left the game with a hamstring injury after 13 minutes.
Original Source
Denkey, Hagglund score late to lead Cincinnati 2-0 past Atlanta United in season opener Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored late goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC in an MLS regular season opener for both teams on Saturday By The Associated Press February 21, 2026, 7:13 PM Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored late goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC in an MLS regular season opener for both teams on Saturday. In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders. Hagglund doubled their tally with a header from a Bryan Ramírez corner in the 90th minute. Hagglund suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung against Atlanta in on May 25 last year, missing more than two months. Cincinnati lost 2025 MVP finalist Evander due to a hamstring injury 13 minutes into the game. He was replaced by Gerardo Valenzuela. Denkey missed a golden chance in the 56th minute. After a turnover from center back Juan Berrocal fell to Denkey, he had a one-on-one chance with Hoyos, but hit the outside of the right post. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says 2 hours ago Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM It was the first game for Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tato” Martino , the former Argentina and Barcelona manager who most recently managed Inter Miami from 2023-24 and coached Lionel Messi at all three stops. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer Sponsored Content by Taboola Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says 2 hours ago Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor rele...
