For the first time since 2020, the Columbus Crew will feature in the MLS Cup playoffs as they begin their best-of-three series on Wednesday at Lower.com Field against Atlanta United.
The Crew wound up third in the Eastern Conference by the end of the regular season, winning their last fixture 2-1 versus CF Montreal, while the Five Stripes were sixth after a 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati.
Match preview
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Three years of regular season frustrations ended for Columbus this season as this team improved by 11 points from 2022 to 2023.
The last time they ended the regular season in third, they went on to win the MLS Cup in 2020, winning all four of their post-season affairs that year by a combined score of 9-2.
They are unbeaten in their last seven playoff fixtures in Columbus, though Wednesday will be their first post-season fixture at Lower.com Field, where this team won 12 matches in the regular season while losing only once.
Wilfried Nancy has had a hugely successful opening year as manager, with his side equalling a club record for points in a single regular season (57), while the Crew led the league in 2023 regarding goals scored (67).
Their free-flowing attacking style is perhaps the most appealing to watch in Major League Soccer, though that aggressive approach often leaves them exposed in behind when dispossessed, with the Crew conceding multiple strikes in a dozen domestic outings this year.
Thanks to their attacking quality, the Crew have been able to salvage numerous results throughout the domestic campaign, coming back to earn at least a point four times in 2023 when conceding the opening goal.
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It was a solid bounce-back campaign for Atlanta United in 2023 after missing the playoffs the year before, reaching the 50-point plateau for the second time in three seasons.
Gonzalo Pineda's men collected 11 more points this season when compared to 2022, scoring the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference along the way (66).
They had no problem finding the back of the net in MLS this season, though sometimes you had to wait a while to see them break through, with the Five Stripes scoring seven goals in second-half stoppage time and 16 beyond the 86th minute.
Like Columbus though, Atlanta were often punished for their defensive frailties, conceding more goals than any MLS playoff team this year (53).
Wednesday will be the fourth time they play a post-season fixture on the road, with this team winning on only one of those previous occasions (1-0 at New York City FC in 2018).
Atlanta have conceded 10 goals in three visits to Lower.com Field, six of which came in a lopsided defeat to the Crew in March (6-1), while they have only triumphed in one of those encounters, claiming a 3-2 victory during the 2021 league season.
Team News
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Diego Rossi is questionable for the Crew as he is recovering from a sore thigh, while Will Sands will not return this season due to a knee injury.
Cucho Hernandez has a goal in three of his last four matches, netting the opener in their 1-1 draw against Atlanta in early October, while he and Darlington Nagbe scored on Decision Day as they came back to beat Montreal.
A brace from Cristian Ramirez, plus goals from Max Arfsten, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Philip Quinton and Aidan Morris gave them a comfortable victory against Atlanta United the last time they hosted them.
The Five Stripes will be without the MLS assists leader Thiago Almada because of a red-card suspension, Osvaldo Alonso is questionable because of a sore leg, Tyler Wolff has an issue with his thigh and Machop Chol is unlikely to feature due to an injured hamstring.
Giorgos Giakoumakis was nominated for MLS Newcomer of the Year, scoring 17 goals in the regular season, including a brace in their draw with Cincinnati, Miles Robinson is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year and Almada is in the running for Young Player of the Year.
Robinson had the equalising goal in their match against Columbus weeks ago, while Brooks Lennon picked up their only strike when they lost at Lower.com Field earlier in the campaign.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Zawadzki; Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Ramirez, Matan; C. Hernandez
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; R. Hernandez, Robinson, Purata, Wiley; Mosquera, Rossetto, Etienne; Berry, Giakoumakis, Silva
We say: Columbus Crew 2-0 Atlanta United
A lot of the scoring chances for Atlanta this season filtered through Almada, and without him, it is difficult to see who can step in and fill his big shoes.
Columbus have plenty of dependable attacking pieces and should have their share of the ball and opportunities on Wednesday, and they do not often miss the chances presented to them.
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