The MLS Cup Playoffs are well underway, and the Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew series hasn’t failed to bring some thrilling soccer. With Columbus winning at Lower.com Field in game one, the Five Stripes were faced with a now-or-never match at home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday evening. Who better to bring to the party for some motivation than Spider Man himself?
While traffic, the date, and a few other factors “held” attendance down to just shy of 42,000, the Benz was absolutely rocking as Atlanta took the home pitch for what could easily be the last time this season due to the playoff format. Rocking the 404 Kit – in which they’ve had quite a bit of success – they took the fight to Columbus and rocked out to a compelling 4-2 triumph, forcing game three back up in Ohio. Here are some thoughts on the match and series to this point!
- At any point, this team can absolutely break loose with the best attack in the league. Unfortunately, the attack fell quiet in game one where Atlanta United had just one shot, but they reawakened with a purpose on Tuesday evening. Much of that credit should perhaps be given to having Thiago Almada back on the pitch after he missed game one due to red card suspension, but not all of it. The young Argentine created tons of space for guys like Saba Lobjanidze, Xande Silva, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Tristan Muyumba, and Edwin Mosquera to work. The onus was put on them to finish their chances, and finish them they did.
Giakoumakis rightfully won Man of the Match with his goal and two assists, but the whole attack was working in sync and collectively were a part of every goal. Muyumba was an unsung hero in this match, buzzing all over the pitch and simply being a controlled nuisance to Columbus’ midfield. His pressure helped destabilize Columbus and caused multiple turnovers in prime spots for Atlanta’s attack to unleash.
If the Five Stripes can keep the discipline and momentum by frustrating Columbus in game three, it’ll be a huge factor in whether they win or lose. - Spider Man a.k.a. Xande Silva needed to be a difference maker in this one, and his goal in the dying moments of the first half after Columbus leveled the game at 1 apiece was absolutely massive. Going into the half ahead by a goal over one of the best teams in the league is always going to provide a spark in the second half, but even more so when the guy simply brings the fun vibes.
His Spider Man stunt may have earned him an early yellow card as he threw on a Spidey mask and began acting like he was slinging webs everywhere, but the crowd loved it. His team loved it. Columbus did not love it.
The conversation about Silva in this match can’t be had without talking about that miss, but it’s just that – a tough miss. After a beautiful sequence to cut Columbus’ defense wide open, Xande skied a simple tap-in just in front of net. His doubled-over gesture said it all, and every person in the stadium and watching on TV likely had the same response – how did he miss that? But what matters was both his and his team’s response to completely shake it off and move on. Giakoumakis ran over and immediately picked him up and encouraged him to push forward, and the crowd began chanting “Xande Silva” over and over again. It was a wonderful moment that helped the squad overcome what could have been a massive mental hurdle. - The game plan was executed extremely well, and in game three, Atlanta United shouldn’t change much. Game one was always a risk because without Thiago Almada on the pitch, this team has to get more creative to find ways – something they just couldn’t do in Ohio. This time, though, the full squad should be available once again. Wilfried Nancy will likely tweak some of his own tactics, so this final match of the series should be quite the chess match. Ultimately, the lineup Pineda fielded Tuesday is the strongest one this team can offer, and not much should change other than possibly Matheus Rossetto, who left the field early after something in his calf clearly bothered him.
The team has to remember the way this match felt and carry that energy back to Ohio. If they make it through to the next round, they likely won’t see the Benz again, so the vibes and hype from Tuesday night will have to carry them through. They proved they can beat one of the best teams in MLS – pretty handily, too – so the confidence is there. Now it’s time to go finish business.