Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United Lower.com Field, Columbus Saturday, 7:30 PM Bally Sports South MLSsoccer.com preview here. AJC.com United page here. ATLUTD.com preview here. Crew preview here. Player Availability Atlanta OUT: Emerson Hyndman (torn ACL) OUT: Franco Ibarra (lower body) OUT: Mo Adams (left quad) QUESTIONABLE: Jake Mulraney (lower body) QUESTIONABLE: Brooks Lennon (lower body) Columbus OUT: Aidan Morris (left knee) OUT: Artur (right hip) OUT: Milton Valenzuela (right thigh) OUT: Perry Kitchen (left knee) QUESTIONABLE: Vito Wormgoor (right thigh) QUESTIONABLE: Josh Williams (left ankle)
Since nipping Atlanta 0-1 two weeks ago the Crew have lost to CFG:NY and DC United 4-1 and 4-2. Injuries and international matches have hampered the defending champs season, who've already recorded more ties and almost as many losses as they did last year. Nagbe continues to be the engine of the side, while Zelarayan pilots the offense. They've simply struggled to keep clean sheets and their attack has been inconsistent. They're still a potential contender, but only if they can stop giving up goals. Atlanta will take the field hoping they can still ride the Valentino bounce, only now without Josef at the point. The good news is that Moreno and Barco had arguably their best paired display Wednesday, with Moreno reading the other's moves well and Barco making some wise decisions in driving through Orlando defenders. Can they be as potent with, say, Conway as the striker? Regardless, Atlanta's issue at the moment is the defense, which hasn't leaked as many goals in their last two as Columbus but the ones they've surrendered have been incredibly poor. Whether man-marking or zonal marking, Atlanta has contrived to let runners break through lines with ease and receive passes unpressured. Columbus will look to control the match and look for these gaps, knowing they have players who can make threatening runs and get Atlanta's defense to chase the play. Hopefully Gold Cup winner Robinson will be fit and hungry to play and help anchor a stronger defense. Atlanta will need to find a way to retain their more aggressive stance that seems to feed the offense while also being patient in noting Columbus will try to hold possession just as Orlando did. Can the Stripes hold their ground and wait for what's presented to them?
Conway gets the nod up front, and both Robinson and Bello are in the lineups. Rossetto gets the nod over Sejdic.
Barco with a darting run at the Crew back line, he lays it off to Bello, then keeps running and Bello who one-times a back heel to Barco who is clean on the keeper.
25' sees Conway cracks a volley that catches Johnathan Mensah square in the face. A Scott Sterling moment that leaves the Crew captain wobbly. Atlanta getting some chances. Barco looking good.
HT: 1-2 Things got shaky there for a spell. For about 15 minutes Atlanta couldn't retain possession. Need to stop with the weak passes, and players can't simply wait for passes to get to them.
57' and Atlanta has a better spell. Their movement off the ball has picked up and the game is now more even.