Atlanta United Falls 2-1 to Columbus Crew
May 28, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release
ATLANTA - Atlanta United lost 2-1 to Columbus Crew Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dom Dwyer scored a bicycle kick goal in stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to overcome a two-goal deficit allowed in the first half.
Columbus Crew scored from a corner in the first minute. Pedro Santos swung in a ball to the back post where Jonathan Mensah was able to nod it in for a 1-0 advantage. Ronald Hernandez was injured on the play and was replaced by Mikey Ambrose, who made his season debut.
Alex De John nearly responded with a header of his own in the ninth minute when he rose above a Columbus defender to meet Brooks Lennon's corner, but Eloy Room was able to palm it over the crossbar. Columbus' goal was again threatened in the 19th minute from a play that began deep in Atlanta's defensive half. Alan Franco delivered a precision pass through the midfield which found Marcelino Moreno in stride. The Argentine played the ball wide to Luiz Araújo on the right where he rifled a shot on goal, but again Room was able to deflect it behind for a corner.
In the 30th minute Araújo combined with Lennon on the right side of the box when a clever back heel from the Brazilian allowed the right back an opportunity on goal from a tight angle, but Columbus' goalkeeper was positioned well to deny the shot.
Columbus doubled its lead in the 45th minute. Derrick Etienne played a long ball for Erik Hurtado where he was able to create enough space from De John and place a shot into the right side of the goal.
At halftime, head coach Gonzalo Pineda changed the formation and brought on Josef Martínez, who made his first appearance since April 2, and George Campbell. Ronaldo Cisneros nearly scored in the 67th minute when Lennon sent in a cross from the right side intended for Martínez. The ball bounced to Cisneros of the left side of the penalty area and he one-timed a shot on frame, but Room made a fingertip save to keep Atlanta off the board.
Campbell had a good look in the 88th minute when Thiago Almada played a ball in that met the head of the Homegrown defender inside the six-yard box, but his attempt missed just wide of the left post.
Atlanta finally broke through in the 92nd minute. Moreno lofted a ball into the center of the box where it popped into the air and fell to Franco on the left side. The defender headed the ball back to the center of the box where Dwyer acrobatically turned his back to goal, leapt in the air and wrapped his right boot around the ball while falling to the ground. Room had no chance to react, and Atlanta cut Columbus' lead in half. Pineda, however, was shown a red card after the play.
Moreno narrowly leveled the match just moments later when he had a screamer destined for the top right corner pushed away by Room. Less than a minute later, De John had a header saved off the line. After the final whistle, Almada was also given a red card.
Atlanta (4-5-4, 16 points) returns to action Tuesday, June 14 when it hosts CF Pachuca in the American Family Insurance Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports South, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor). The team returns to MLS play Sunday, June 19 when it hosts Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3 p.m., ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
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