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MLS Atlanta United FC

Atlanta United Falls 2-0 to Columbus Crew in Game 1

November 1, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release


Atlanta United battles the Columbus Crew
Atlanta United battles the Columbus Crew
(Atlanta United FC)

ATLANTA - Atlanta United fell to Columbus Crew 2-0 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of Round One's Best-of-3 series in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Columbus broke a scoreless tie in first-half stoppage time before adding a second from the penalty spot. Atlanta will host Game 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 7 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, SiriusXM, La Mejor).

Brad Guzan kept Atlanta in the match throughout a tightly contested first half. His first save came against former teammate Darlington Nagbe, who had time and space just outside the box before unleashing a shot that forced Guzan to making a diving save in the 19th minute. Columbus continued to pile on the pressure after that, attempting nine shots total in the half, while Guzan made another stop in the 36th minute from Alexandru Matan.

Cucho Hernández broke the deadlock on a counter-attack to give Columbus a 1-0 lead in the second minute of stoppage time. After a turnover in Atlanta's attacking third, Columbus progressed the ball quickly to Diego Rossi who played Hernández into space where he dribbled the ball into the left side of the box before firing a left-footed shot into the top-left corner of the goal.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Gonzalo Pineda made one substitution, bringing on Saba Lobjanidze into the midfield to replace Tristan Muyumba, who had picked up a yellow card in the first half.

But Columbus added a second goal just minutes into the second half from the penalty spot after Ronald Hernández was ruled to have fouled Matan inside the area. Cucho Hernández placed his penalty kick to Guzan's right and into the back of the net for his second goal of the match.

Pineda made two more attacking substitutions in the 60th minute and switched to a back four after bringing on Jamal Thiaré and Edwin Mosquera for Xande Silva and Ronald Hernández. Needing a goal, the Atlanta attack immediately looked its most dangerous on the night after the substitutions. After a good combination play, Jay Fortune had an opportunity from the edge of the box, but his attempt just sailed wide.

Atlanta will host Game 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 7 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, SiriusXM, La Mejor).

Match Summary

Stats

Shots: 14-1 Columbus

Shots on target: 8-0 Columbus

Corner kicks: 5-2 Columbus

Fouls Committed: 14-7 Atlanta

xG: 1.85 - 0.07 Columbus

Possession: 51-49 Columbus

Passing accuracy: 88-87 Columbus

Scoring

CLB - Cucho Hernández (Rossi) 45+1'

CLB - Cucho Hernández (PK) 51'

Disciplinary

ATL - Tristan Muyumba (yellow) 25'

ATL - Miles Robinson (yellow) 71'

ATL - Jamal Thiaré (yellow) 77'

CLB - Rudy Camacho (yellow) 78'

CLB - Diego Rossi (yellow) 79' Notes:

Brad Guzan finished the match with six saves, tying his Atlanta postseason career-high mark

Homegrowns Caleb Wiley and Jay Fortune made their first career playoff starts tonight

Attendance: 20,176

ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP

GK: Brad Guzan (c)

D: Brooks Lennon

D: Ronald Hernández (Edwin Mosquera - 60')

D: Miles Robinson

D: Luis Abram

D: Caleb Wiley

M: Matheus Rossetto

M: Tristan Muyumba (Saba Lobjanidze - HT)

M: Jay Fortune (Tyler Wolff - 88')

F: Xande Silva (Jamal Thiaré - 60')

F: Giorgos Giakoumakis (Derrick Etienne Jr. - 88')

Substitutes not used:

Quentin Westberg

Juanjo Purata

Ozzie Alonso

Amar Sejdic COLUMBUS CREW STARTING LINEUP

GK: Patrick Schulte

D: Rudy Camacho

D: Julian Gressel

D: Malte Almudsen

D: Steven Moreira

M: Darlington Nagbe (c)

M: Aidan Morris

M: Yaw Yeboah

M: Alexandru Matan (Kevin Molino - 87')

F: Cucho Hernández

F: Diego Rossi (Sean Zawadzki - 88')

Substitutes not used:

Christian Ramirez

Jacen Jackson-Rowe

Yevhen Cheberko

Mohamed Farsi

Evan Bush

Max Arftsen

Jimmy Medranda

OFFICIALS

Lukasz Szpala (referee), Adam Wienckowski(assistant), Jason White (assistant), Filip Dujic (fourth), Sorin Stoica (VAR), TJ Zablocki (AVAR).

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Atlanta United battles the Columbus Crew
Atlanta United battles the Columbus Crew
   



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