Atlanta United conceded three goals in the second half to the Columbus Crew, falling 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and losing Tata Martino to a straight red card in the process.
With Matías Galarza out, Will Reilly was given his first start of the season. Jay Fortune was available for selection for the first time since May 31, 2025, and entered as a substitute near the hour mark. Meanwhile, Cooper Sanchez started on the bench for the first time in 2026.
The first half-hour or so was quite lifeless as it resembled Atlanta’s 0-0 draw against D.C. United before the international break. In fact, Atlanta were held without a shot on goal until the 34th minute, as a decent attempt from Steven Alzate outside the box was stopped by Patrick Schulte.
Columbus finally found the breakthrough in the 48th minute. USMNT winger Max Arfsten laced a cross from the left side of the box to Wessam Abou Ali, who met the ball with a perfect header to make it a 1-0 Crew lead.
Abou Ali then made it a brace for himself in the 53rd minute. After Atlanta’s defense failed to close him down, he ripped a shot into the corner of the net as Columbus’s lead grew to 2-0.
Just past the hour mark, Alexey Miranchuk had an easy tap-in on a Patrick Schulte miscue that cut the lead to 2-1.
But the Crew scored right off the ensuing kickoff, making it 3-1 in the 61st minute as Arfsten opened his account for 2026. He blasted an Andres Herrera pass into the back of the net as the Crew restored their two-goal cushion.
Things got chippy in stoppage time after Elias Baez was whistled for a foul. Tata Martino then ventured all the way to the Columbus technical area and needed to be separated from Crew head coach Henrik Rydstrom, getting a red card in the process.
That was probably the most exciting moment of the game involving Atlanta, to be fair. They now travel to face the Chicago Fire on April 11.
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So are these guys just actively doing the opposite of what Tata is asking them to do? That was literally the same football we played all last year. They are so traumatized by how 2025 went but they gonna keep trying the same tactics that put them there in the first place? I don’t understand man.
There’s a small part of me…very small part, that makes me thing it wasn’t Deila even though I was 100% on it being him. This was another game similar to what we saw last season, not good.
It wasn’t Deila, or Gonzalo, or Heinze, or any of the coaches. I’ll firmly stand by the fact that it is and has been our players for years.
I think Heinze lost the locker room, so that one is completely on him
I agree…I do think the players had a part in his removal.
I am surprised , given our history of ex players scoring on us , that Jamal T didn’t find the back of the net.
And the fact Jamal had as much impact on the game playing ten minutes as ELL did for the full game
My Take- this team continue to regress, as we are back to the negative passing and no vertical movement. We need to have better cdm..that can push the ball up, not scared to take on 1 player and create an attack. The coach is stubborn and we see it with the player he choose. Starting with the goalie, he must be a relative, as no one understands why Hibbert is not starting. The coach obviously had a bias personality along with his stubbornness make this situation a losing cause. We will be here until we have lost all games we should win, with a different lineup. Tata is clearly bias, stubborn and just collecting a pay check.
I had hope from the 60th to the 61st minute.
All jokes aside, they pressed us very well and we struggled to control the game the way Tata wants, we missed Gallarza in the midfield, and there has to be something done to get Latte more service. Should probably start with him making preemptive runs.
I hate that Tata will miss Chicago, but good for him to stick up for Baez. Classless by rydstrom.
I’m not sure Hobert changes this scoreline…
I can’t believe I’m about ready to replay this match. I’m a gluten for punishment.
Atl needs an abou ali or LL needs to present more like an abou ali . LL had very little presence and influence this game. Maybe CC to credit atleast partially. It seems to me he is not making runs into spaces I saw no diagonal runs into space from him, in addition it seems there is very limited service to him and when the ball is played to him he is not able to create.
I’ve watched Lathe closely. His movement off the ball is terrible. No dummy runs. No dragging a defender out of space. Not on the same page as the rest of the team on setting up or executing through balls. Often times when a teammate has the ball in the offensive third, he moves TOWARDS the nearest center back(s) and ball watches.
I don’t think he can complain of lack of service when he cannot move into helpful spaces, and seems afraid or unwilling to get on the ball.
Well said, Agree , no movement , no service
Rewatched. Yeah, LL is just not on the same page with the ret of the team. When they want to spring the attack, his instinct is to hold up play, when they are holding up play he is running offside.
I hate to put it all on his shoulders but….
The back line could not advance the ball through the midfield. I guess part of the problem was that their outlets were Reilly and Muyumba, neither of whom have the skills to dictate play. The other part of the problem was the lack of movement by everyone else. I used to think it was due to GP’s or RD’s tactics, but it’s clear now that it’s the players. Sad to say, but this team needs a complete player overhaul.
They should move the games to KSU to preserve the pitch for the world cup. It will also make stands look less empty.
Well, on the bright side, at least I won’t have to read as many comments about all we have to do is turn Almiron loose in CM or if we just had a manager who plays vertically, etc. As expected, am seeing the usual manager is an idiot and fan is a brilliant tactician vibe. Guess you can’t win them all.
Also, hot take, like or dislike the style, had FdB remained in place and the team instead jettisoned a few toxic attitudes, his teams would have beaten every AtlUtd manifestation since. Not because he’s a particularly good manager either. Speaking of, what are the current odds that Tata resigns before the end of the season?
I was probably one of the few fans that did now want Almiron or Tata to come back. Almiron is definitely not the player he once was and I don’t think he has adapted to his physical changes. And Tata couldn’t even win the MLS Cup with Messi on the team and not to mention his struggles as the Mexico national team manager. So many people were stuck in nostalgia and thought bringing in familiar pieces would reset the team.
I was there with you and guarantee there are posts here from me saying that. Can’t look to the past, especially when you caught lightening in a bottle. Both signings were to sell tickets more than winning games
Well, Tata is better than most coaches in MLS. His problem is he has to play players that are not suited to their positions and he can’t bench our DP’s. We don’t have wingers or midfielders. Tough position to be in.
Tell me why he cant bench? The DPs are clearly not playing well. Put the kids in their place and make them earn back their playing time!
I suspect if he plays the kids it’ll be even worse. Reilly looked really lost during the first half.
The frustrating part for me is the utter lack of consistency in “improvement.” We had an excellent showing just a few weeks ago, and I regrettably said out loud that it was “something we could build on.” Then we had DC, which, even though they were basically just preventing soccer from happening, was mediocre. And then last night, I didn’t even finish watching, which is becoming a sad norm for me. Momentum is a hilarious joke for this club. When we do one thing good, we always follow it up with two things bad.
Seems fitting that the AU social media team called Miranchuk’s goal “right place, right time” because I’m pretty sure that’s the only way this team will score in 2026: kinda sorta by accident. Anyone with a good brain know how long the remaining contracts are on all pre-Tata players (except Hoyos – can we Brad Pitt Moneyball him and just sell him so Tata CAN’T start him?), and can we start a countdown clock until they’re all gone?
Tata needs to look in the mirror. Using the same tactics every match obviously is not working. He was supposed to have an aggressive style of play. When can that be expected? Lathe has to go as soon as possible. He does not press, walks around with almost no effort to get in open space. He’s just collecting a paycheck and has zero pride. The defensive lapses are inexcusable. Very soft if any marking at all. Offensively passing in the final third is horrible. It looks like they have never even played together much less practiced together. It is sad to see what has happened to this team. Again Tata needs to shake things up and get tough with those players that lack effort.
Poor defending 2nd half 1st goal by baez , he made very poor second defender decision and interfered w the first defender almiron. Baez ended up taking himself and Almiron out of defensive ability opening up the cross. Almiron should have stayed 1st defender and channeled the attacker out across the endline. That s something I would expect TaTa to correct w the players.These types of mistakes need to be cleaned up before they can significantly improve. Credit to the CC attacker for juking Almiron and Baez. Baez s only redemption for me in this game was his left boot on goal followed up w the miranchuk tap in.
Miserable. Gonna be a long year……again.
Followed by another ticket price increase!
Probably worst ATL performance of the season so far from what I saw at the Benz, Cleveland deservedly won, might’ve easily been 4 or 5-0. I hope someone saw some bright spots because I certainly didn’t
I wonder if it’s embarrassing to lose like that in front of hundreds of people.
Hahahaha. Good one.