2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Game 2 : Atlanta defeats Columbus

The saga continued with Atlanta United in Game 2 of its Round One Best-of-3 series of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The team headed home on Tuesday to hosts Columbus Crew at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The match featured the two highest scoring teams during the regular season, as Columbus and Atlanta scored 67 and 66 goals, respectively.

Ahead of the match Columbus won Game 1 at Lower.com Field 2-0 on Nov. 1 behind a brace from Cucho Hernández.

Atlanta holds a 5-7-3 all-time record against Columbus in MLS regular season play: 2-4-2 at home and 3-3-1 on the road in the series. The teams faced each other twice during the regular season with Columbus winning the first meeting at Lower.com Field on March 25. The second meeting ended in a 1-1 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 7.

Game recap: In front of a crowd of 41,850 roaring fans, Atlanta Giorgos Giakoumakis netted the first goal of the night assisted by Brooks Lennon.

It took no time for Columbus to strike back with an equalizer. Cucho Hernandez fired a shot inside the near post to even the match.

Atlanta went into full attack in the fourth minute of stoppage, as Xande Silva launched a shot into the top of the net.

After the half Atlanta maintained the 2-1 lead. It was in the 83rd minute and off the bench that Colombian forward Edwin Mosquera fired for the third goal of the night. In the 88th minute Thiago Alamada scored his first playoff goal to seal the win. Even with a last minute attempt by Columbus’ Max Arftsen who kicked a goal in the 95th minute, the 4-2 win was conqured and Atlanta remained alive in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

“Credit to the team. We came back right away, which is a signature of a good mentality. Defend until the last ball, right? said Atlanta United Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda. “Set pieces, little pieces of the game, being in charge of our area, I think we can do that a little better, but other than that, I would say we were aggressive and very disciplined tactically.”

On his Spiderman mask celebration after scoring the goal, Silva said. “My son loves spiderman so it was for him. He was watching the game at home.”

On Monday Thiago Almada was named MLS Young Player of the Year on Monday and is a finalist for MLS MVP. Almada is available for Game 2 after missing the first game due to a red card suspension. The 22-year-old became the youngest player in league history and the third player in club history to record double-digit goals and assists in a single season.

Up next: Atlanta will travel to Lower.com Field in Columbus for Game 3 on Sunday, Nov. 12with a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the line 7 p.m. ET.