Atlanta United lost to Columbus Crew SC 2-1 in its 2020 MLS Regular Season finale. Marcelino Moreno scored his second goal of the season, but Atlanta’s second-half comeback fell short despite out-shooting Columbus 13-9.
Atlanta appeared to have won a penalty in the 24th minute when Jon Gallagher was taken down in the box by Eloy Room. Ismail Elfath immediately pointed to the spot; however, video review overturned the call on the field. The swing in momentum was drastic, as less than five minutes later, Lucas Zalarayan put Columbus ahead.
Columbus doubled the lead in the 55th minute from Gyasi Zardes, who finished off a long counterattack. Artur played Zardes through along the left wing, allowing the veteran American forward to dribble into the box where his left-footed shot redirected off a diving Miles Robinson and into the back of the net.
But Atlanta quickly responded from Moreno less than five minutes later. Jürgen Damm was taken down inside the box by Milton Valenzuela, with Elfath again immediately pointing to the spot. This time the penalty stood, and Moreno calmly slotted to the right post to give Atlanta life over the final half hour.
Needing a goal to keep its season alive, Atlanta poured on pressure late and attempted multiple crosses into the box. Although they ultimately forced 24 clearances from Columbus, Atlanta was unable to find an equalizer.
Atlanta finishes the 2020 MLS Regular Season with a record of 6-13-4 (22 points). It will have at least one more match this year against Club America in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League, scheduled to resume play Dec. 15-22.
MATCH INFO
Columbus Crew SC 2, Atlanta United 1
Mapfre Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
STATS
Shots: 13-9 Atlanta
Shots on Target: 4-3 Columbus
Corner kicks: 10-3 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 18-11 Columbus
Clearances: 24-5 Columbus
Offside: 2-2
Possession: 55-45 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 85-84 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
CLB – Lucas Zelarayan (Milton Valenuela) 28’ [HIGHLIGHT]
CLB – Gyasi Zardes (Artur) 55’ [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Marcelino Moreno (penalty) 60’ [HIGHLIGHT]
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Franco Escobar (yellow) 11’
CLB – Lucas Zelarayan (yellow) 17’
CLB – Milton Valenzuela (yellow) 59’
ATL – Franco Escobar (second yellow) 90+1’
CLB – Darlington Nagbe (yellow) 90+5’
ATL – Brad Guzan (yellow) 90+6’
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan ©; George Bello (Jake Mulraney – 86’), Miles Robinson, Fernando Meza, Franco Escobar; Jeff Larentowicz © (Mattheus Rossetto – 86’), Emerson Hyndman (Cubo Torres – 77’); Ezequiel Barco, Marcelino Moreno, Jürgen Damm (Brooks Lennon – 77’); Jon Gallagher (Adam Jahn – 68’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Laurence Wyke, Edgar Castillo, Eric Remedi
COLUMBUS CREW SC STARTING LINEUP
Eloy Room; Milton Valenzuela (Waylon Francis – 71’), Jonathan Mensah ©, Josh Williams, Harrison Afful; Artur (Aidan Morris – 86’), Darlington Nagbe, Pedro Santos, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Luis Diaz – 69’), Lucas Zelarayan; Gyasi Zardes.
Substitutes not used: Andrew Tarbell, Chris Cadden, Aboubacar Keita, Emmanuel Boateng, Fanendo Adi, Krisztian Nemeth.
OFFICIALS
Ismail Elfath, (referee), Corey Parker, (assistant), Cory Richardson, (assistant), Sergii Demianchuk, (fourth), Hilario Grajeda (VAR).
TEAM NOTES
- Marcelino Moreno has now scored in back-to-back MLS matches.
- Moreno has also now registered a point in three consecutive matches.
- Jeff Larentowicz made his 437th MLS Regular Season appearance, second all-time by a field player in MLS history behind Kyle Beckerman (498).
- Larentowicz also started his 397th MLS Regular Season match, third all-time by a field player behind Kyle Beckerman (461) and Chad Marshall (404).
- Atlanta’s 10 corner kicks was a season high.
- Moreno had a game-high 37 passes in the opponents’ half of the field.
- Emerson Hyndman had a game-high 8 recoveries.
