Colombus will hope to start their title defense brightly when they host Atlanta United. Last season, these teams faced off in a three-game opening-round playoff series. The Crew emerging victorious in the third and final game, 4–2.
Preview (Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United)
With his strategic approach throwing opponents off guard, Wilfried Nancy’s first season in Columbus was a huge success. Their offensive prowess and width helped them win an MLS Cup for the third time. Nancy took over for a team that had failed to make the playoffs the previous two seasons. In 2023, the Crew tied a club record for points in a single season (57). They scored the most goals in Major League Soccer (67). His ability to create a game model that may assist his team manage matches and nurturing talent simultaneously. It’s a strategy that might work both now and down the road.
The Crew’s decision to allow talented forward Lucas Zelarayan to join the Saudi Pro League may have been the finest one made last season, as 14 different players scored goals and the squad appeared much more balanced and exciting in their absence. Throughout the 2023 campaign, 16 players in Columbus recorded at least one assist, demonstrating a great deal of individual inventiveness. Even though they take a lot of chances up front, this club can concede goals quickly and frequently gives the ball away; in five regular season games last year, they gave up three goals or more.
With a lot of experienced professionals from MLS and Europe joining the front office, there will probably be higher expectations for the Five Stripes in 2024. Gonzalo Pineda led them back into the postseason last year after they missed the 2022 playoffs. They finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and gained 11 points in 2023. Similar to Columbus, they conceded far too many quality scoring opportunities and were easily countered. They allowed 53 goals in the regular season, more than any other team that advanced to the playoffs.
Team News
Will Sands suffered a significant cruciate ligament damage, which prevented him from playing for the Columbus Crew for much of the 2023 season. In the off-season, Columbus signed Marco Hinestroza from Pachuca and added Derrick Jones from Charlotte FC. The Colombian is anticipated to challenge Mohamed Farsi for a spot in the starting lineup. Josh Williams’ contract expired, Kevin Molino and the team mutually ended their relationship, and Julian Gressel signed a free agent contract to join Inter Miami. The Five Stripes’ Machop Chol missed a significant chunk of the 2023 season due to a bad hamstring injury.
Bartosz Slisz, who helped them win the Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup the previous season, joins them from Dijon in Ligue 2, while Josh Cohen, who captained Maccabi Haifa to three consecutive Israeli Premier League titles, may end up as their starting custodian in the future. This season, Miles Robinson signed with FC Cincinnati, the 2023 Supporters’ Shield champions, while Matheus Rossetto is back in Brazil with Athletico Paranaense. Santiago Sosa will be with Racing Club in Argentina on loan.
Columbus Crew 3-2 Atlanta United
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