After his team defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Wednesday, Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda told a local TV station that he wanted warriors, not heroes.
Ronaldo Cisneros was one of many who played who gave PIneda what he wanted.
Cisneros scored his fifth and sixth goals this season -- it was his second multi-goal game of the season -- to help the Five Stripes move within three points of the seven-team playoff line. They can move even closer with a victory against Orlando on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“The team always goes out with the mentality to get three points, to win, but with a very painful loss on Saturday we were very motivated to get a win at home, with our fans and return what they give us,” Cisneros said.
Cisneros, on loan for the remainder of the season from Chivas in LIGA MX, celebrated by putting a soccer ball underneath his shirt because his wife is expecting their first child. She and two of his sisters attended the game Wednesday night.
Cisneros is tied with Dom Dwyer and Luiz Araujo for the team lead in goals across all competitions. All six of Cisneros’ goals have come when he has played as a single striker. He also has been used as one of two strikers and as a winger. He said he is more productive as a single striker because that his natural position.
“I think the team plays a lot to get balls to the center forward,” he said. “We see every game that whoever’s playing center forward gets chances, and that’s due to the work of the team, and there are very talented players who can play a pass in on goal at any moment. Josef (Martinez), Dom, and I, we’ve all scored goals from that position, and it’s because of the work of the team.”
Cisneros’ first goal was an example of that. Thiago Almada, from midfield, played a ball down the right channel and into space behind Real Salt Lake’s centerbacks. Cisneros reached the ball first, turned back to his left to elude one defender, and a shot with his weaker left foot into the lower left corner in the seventh minute to give the team a 1-0 lead. That’s when he celebrated by stuffing the ball under his shirt and then kissing it. He said he’s been waiting a few games to get to do that celebration.
Pineda praised Cisneros’ movement against Real Salt Lake, which attempted to play a high line with its centerbacks.
“I felt that we could have used him a bit more on those through balls,” Pineda said. “But I think he’s also very clinical. When he has a chance, normally he scores, and he doesn’t miss many opportunities in front of goal.”
His second goal, in the 33rd minute, was a lightning strike that started with a turnover by Matheus Rossetto. He made up for his mistake by intercepting Real Salt Lake’s next pass. The deflected ball perfectly split two defenders. Cisneros pounced to again take a left-footed shot, putting it into the lower right corner. It was the type of lucky bounce that frequently has gone against Atlanta United this season.
“I think given my characteristics, I like to go after balls played into space,” he said. “It’s a little bit of both, if I feel them very close, then that means I have more space in behind, and if they give me space, then with my speed, I think I can cause them damage.”
Being able to help Atlanta United is something that Cisneros said he appreciates. He had fallen out of favor with Chivas, which is why he loaned.
“Sometimes in life, we’re very happy because every player always wants to play, but sometimes life tells you not here, but here,” he said. “So I’m very happy for the chance that I have with Atlanta United. Very grateful to the club, all my teammates, the fans, the city, the sporting directors, just everyone at the club who’s been very welcoming to me. Feel very happy to be here and, my family always supporting me.”
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0
April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0
April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1
April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1
May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2
May 21 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
May 28 Columbus 2, Atlanta United 1
June 19 Atlanta United 2, Miami 0
June 25 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 1
June 30 New York Red Bulls 2, Atlanta United 1
July 3 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 9 Austin 3, Atlanta United 0
July 13 Atlanta United 2, Real Salt Lake 1
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
August 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
August 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 21 at Columbus, 5:30 p.m., FS1
August 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
August 31 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
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