Atlanta United eliminated from playoff contention after 5-4 loss to Columbus Crew

The Five Stripes needed a win to have any chance at making the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, but they didn’t get the job done despite scoring three goals.

Atlanta United couldn’t recover from an abysmal first half in its 5-4 loss at home to the Columbus Crew on Saturday. The loss sealed the team’s elimination from the postseason.

Head coach Ronny Deila made a few changes to the lineup that managed an encouraging 1-0 road win at Nashville SC. Tristan Muyumba slotted into midfield in place of a suspended Bartosz Slisz, while Saba Lobjanidze replaced Alexey Miranchuk. This resulted in Miguel Almiron sliding into the No. 10 role to put Saba on the right and Luke Brennan on the left.

So let’s start with the bad, which was pretty much the entire first half.

It began with a giveaway…

And it just…

Kept…

Getting…

Worse.

By this point, we were all ready to just wrap it up and go home, but Miguel Almiron converted a penalty to give Atlanta a consolation goal before halftime.

Then came the first 15 minutes of the second half, where Atlanta has historically been awful this season, but Atlanta pulled another back…

And another…

HOLY CRAP MAYBE???!!!!

Nah. Ultimately, Atlanta came up short despite an inspired effort at the end.

It’s an anticlimactic ending to the match, but really Atlanta should never have been in that position to begin with. A team that scores four goals usually wins the game, but not with defending as horrid as Atlanta’s on this occasion.

The Five Stripes are back in action next Saturday, September 20 when it hosts expansion side San Diego FC at 4:30 pm ET.

What did you think of the match? Let us know in the comments below.