Atlanta United Drops First Game of Season vs. Columbus Crew
March 25, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release
Atlanta United's Amar Sejdić in action
(Atlanta United FC)
ATLANTA - Atlanta United lost its first match of the 2023 MLS season Saturday night, losing 6-1 to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. Noah Cobb made his MLS debut and became the youngest player in club history to start, or appear, in a match. Cobb was one of three changes to the starting lineup that Gonzalo Pineda was forced to make in lieu of being down seven players who were called up for international duty this week.
Columbus opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Alexandru Matan dribbled near the Atlanta goal and sent a low cross that ricocheted off Santiago Sosa and over the head of a pair of defenders before Aidan Morris headed home from six yards out.
Tyler Wolff made his season debut, coming on for an injured Andrew Gutman just before halftime, where Atlanta went into the locker room down 1-0. However, Columbus quickly added to the lead after the break, scoring four times in the opening 25 minutes. Christian Ramirez started the scoring in the 47th minute, followed by Philip Quinton (51'), Ramirez again (64') and Jacen Russell-Rowe (68').
Brooks Lennon got Atlanta on the board in the 71st minute. Caleb Wiley started the play by dribbling deep into the final third before playing a ball back into the box. Morris tried to corral it, but it slipped out to Atlanta's right back, who stepped right into it and sent a low, hard shot to the far post.
Columbus added a sixth in second-half stoppage time from Max Arfsten.
Atlanta United returns to action when it hosts New York Red Bulls on Saturday, April 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.
Match Summary
Stats
Shots: 15-2 Columbus
Shots on target: 6-1 Columbus
Corner kicks: 8-2 Columbus
Fouls Committed: 15-11 Columbus
xG: 2.01-0.07 Columbus
Possession: 54-46 Columbus
Passing accuracy: 85-83 Columbus
Scoring
CLB - Aidan Morris 14'
CLB - Christian Ramirez (Russell-Rowe) 47'
CLB - Philip Quinton (Matan) 51'
CLB - Christian Ramirez (Moreira) 64'
CLB - Jacen Russell-Rowe (Farsi) 68'
ATL - Brooks Lennon 71'
CLB - Max Arfsten (Sands) 90+1'
Disciplinary
ATL - Tyler Wolff 45+2 🟨
ATL - Franco Ibarra 58' 🟨
CLB - Alexandru Matan 81' 🟨 Notes
Noah Cobb made his MLS debut.
At 17 years, 258 days, Cobb became the youngest player in club history to appear (and start) an MLS game.
Caleb Wiley previously held the club record at 18 years, 65 days.
Franco Ibarra won 6 tackles, which is tied for second-most in a single-match in club history.
Tyler Wolff made his season debut.
Erik Lopez made his season debut.
Andrew Gutman left the match in the 42nd minute with an injury.
Gonzalo Pineda was issued a yellow card, his first of the season.
Attendance: 19,249
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
GK: Brad Guzan (c)
D: Brooks Lennon
D: Noah Cobb
D: Juanjo Purata
D: Andrew Gutman (Tyler Wolff - 45')
M: Franco Ibarra
M: Amar Sejdic (Erik Lopez - 65')
M: Santiago Sosa (Ajani Fortune - 73')
M: Luiz Araujo
M: Caleb Wiley
F: Miguel Berry (Matheus Rossetto - 73')
Substitutes not used:
Quentin Westberg
Aiden McFadden
Luke Brennan
Nick Firmino
Alan Carleton COLUMBUS CREW STARTING LINEUP
GK: Patrick Schulte
D: Philip Quinton
D: Gustavo Vallecilla
D: Will Sands
D: Steven Moreira
M: Darlington Nagbe (c) (Sean Zawadzki - 73')
M: Aidan Morris (Isaiah Parente - 89')
M: Alexandru Matan
M: Mohamed Farsi
F: Christian Ramirez (Yaw Yeboah - 73')
F: Jacen Russell-Rowe (Max Arftsen - 82')
Substitutes not used:
Evan Bush
Keegan Hughes
Jake Morris
Jimmy Medranda
OFFICIALS
Ramy Touchan (referee), Adam Garner (assistant), Nicholas Balcer (assistant), Joshua Encarnacion (fourth), Carol Anne Chenard (VAR), Tyler Wyrostek (AVAR).
Images from this story
 Atlanta United's Amar Sejdić in action |
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from March 25, 2023
- FC Cincinnati Remain Last Eastern Conference Unbeaten Following 1-0 Win Over Nashville SC - FC Cincinnati
- Dynamo Defeat New York City FC to Close Homestand - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sporting Falls 4-1 to Seattle - Sporting Kansas City
- Nashville Soccer ClubÃâàFalls 1-0 to FC Cincinnati - Nashville SC
- Nick Cushing: âÃâ¬ÃÅWe'll Improve Our Decision-Making.âÃâ¬Ã - New York City FC
- MNUFC Remain Undefeated with 1-1 Draw Against Vancouver - Minnesota United FC
- Inter Miami CF Narrowly Falls to Chicago Fire FC - Inter Miami CF
- Nashville Soccer Club Falls 1-0 to FC Cincinnati - Nashville SC
- Inter Miami CF Narrowly Falls to Chicago Fire FC - Inter Miami CF
- Becher Goal Sees 'caps Claim Road Point In Dramatic Finish - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Austin FC Draws 1-1 with Colorado Rapids - Austin FC
- Chicago Fire FC Earns 3-2 Road Win Against Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium - Chicago Fire FC
- Philadelphia Union Edged by Orlando City SC - Philadelphia Union
- LA Galaxy Extend Unbeaten Run to Three Matches with 0-0 Shutout against the Portland Timbers - LA Galaxy
- Martín Ojeda, Iván Angulo Score as Lions Down Philadelphia in 2-1 Victory - Orlando City SC
- Match Recap: Houston Dynamo 1-0 NYCFC - New York City FC
- Full Time: Charlotte FC Earn Hard-Fought Point in Comeback Against a Stingy New York Red Bulls - Charlotte FC
- New England Revolution Win at D.C. United, 2-1 - New England Revolution
- Atlanta United Drops First Game of Season vs. Columbus Crew - Atlanta United FC
- Timbers, LA Galaxy Play to Scoreless Draw at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Earthquakes Host Toronto FC Tonight - San Jose Earthquakes
- Minnesota United Signs Midfielders Emmanuel Iwe and Zaydan Bello to Short Term Loans - Minnesota United FC
- Timbers Face LA Galaxy at Providence Park Today - Portland Timbers
- New York City Football Club Sign Defender Stephen Turnbull to Short-Term Loan - New York City FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
