Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United Match Analysis & Prediction
13/11/2023 3:00 am
On Monday morning, the final team that will participate in the semi-final round of the MLS Cup playoff will be discovered, when the Columbus Crew host Atlanta United in game three of the series from Lower.com Field.
Earlier this week, the Five Stripes evened the series at one with a 4-2 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, setting the stage for this decisive match.
It is back to square one for Wilfred Nancy’s side, who have not lost successive MLS matches since May, when they were beaten by FC Cincinnati (3-2) and Nashville SC (3-1).
The Crew will be relieved to know that this decisive game takes place at Lower.com Field, where they are unbeaten in their last 13 league matches, including a 2-0 victory over Atlanta in the opening game of this series.
That victory at the beginning of November was the first-ever playoff game at Lower.com Field, where Columbus have been a lot tidier defensively, posting seven clean sheets at home in the 2023 regular campaign.
The Crew were the highest-scoring team in the league during the MLS season (67 goals), scoring in each of their home games, netting multiple times on 14 occasions in the regular campaign and playoffs.
Nancy’s side have never lost a domestic game all season when leading at the half, coming away with a victory in 10 of those 11 contests.
Once again, the Atlanta attack was their saving grace at home on Wednesday, as this team have scored three or more goals eight times at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the 2023 domestic campaign.
However, Atlanta will enter this contest on a five-game winless run on the road against MLS opponents, while they have not succeeded away from home in the playoffs since 2018 (1-0 over New York City FC).
The Five Stripes have conceded at least one goal domestically in 14 away matches in the regular season and playoffs this year, allowing multiple strikes 11 times.
Gonzalo Pineda’s side have lost each of their playoff games in which they have conceded the opening goal, while only suffering one defeat in the post-season when drawing first blood (2-1 against Toronto in 2019).
Should they emerge victorious on Sunday, it would be the first time they progress beyond the opening round of the playoffs since making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 before losing to Toronto (2-1).
Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United Head to head
In the 20 previous meetings between these two teams, Columbus Crew have claimed 11 victories while Atlanta United have wo seven, and they have drawn in two. Atlanta have scored 29 goals and conceded 35 in the process.
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22/08/2022Columbus Crew2Atlanta United2MLS
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26/03/2023Columbus Crew6Atlanta United1MLS
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08/10/2023Atlanta United1Columbus Crew1MLS
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02/11/2023Columbus Crew2Atlanta United0MLS
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08/11/2023Atlanta United4Columbus Crew2MLS
Columbus Crew Team News
Columbus will be without Will Sands on Monday as he continues to recover from a knee injury, while Yaw Yeboah replaced Sean Zawadzki in game two after the home-grown midfielder sustained a knock, putting his status in doubt here.
Cucho Hernandez has 13 goals in his last 10 matches across all competitions, while Max Arfsten notched his first strike of the post-season deep into stoppage time.
Columbus Crew's Last 5 Matches
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05/10/2023New England1Columbus Crew2MLS
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08/11/2023Atlanta United1Columbus Crew1MLS
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22/10/2023Columbus Crew2Montreal1MLS
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02/11/2023Columbus Crew2Atlanta United0MLS
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08/11/2023Atlanta United4Columbus Crew2MLS
Atlanta United Team News
Machop Chol will not be available for Atlanta due to a hamstring strain, while Ajani Fortune came on for Matheus Rossetto in the second half after the Brazilian suffered a calf injury on Wednesday.
Giorgos Giakoumakis scored his first career playoff goal in their game two win, while Xande Silva notched the winner near the end of the opening half.
Atlanta United's Last 5 Matches
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05/10/2023Philadelphia Union3Atlanta United2MLS
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08/10/2023Atlanta United1Columbus Crew1MLS
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22/10/2023Cincinnati2Atlanta United2MLS
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02/11/2023Columbus Crew2Atlanta United0MLS
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08/11/2023Atlanta United4Columbus Crew2MLS
Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United: Odds and Predictions
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