Atlanta United Drops First Game of Season vs. Columbus Crew

March 25, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Atlanta United FC News Release

ATLANTA – Atlanta United lost its first match of the 2023 MLS season Saturday night, losing 6-1 to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. Noah Cobb made his MLS debut and became the youngest player in club history to start, or appear, in a match. Cobb was one of three changes to the starting lineup that Gonzalo Pineda was forced to make in lieu of being down seven players who were called up for international duty this week.

Columbus opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Alexandru Matan dribbled near the Atlanta goal and sent a low cross that ricocheted off Santiago Sosa and over the head of a pair of defenders before Aidan Morris headed home from six yards out.

Tyler Wolff made his season debut, coming on for an injured Andrew Gutman just before halftime, where Atlanta went into the locker room down 1-0. However, Columbus quickly added to the lead after the break, scoring four times in the opening 25 minutes. Christian Ramirez started the scoring in the 47th minute, followed by Philip Quinton (51′), Ramirez again (64′) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (68′).

Brooks Lennon got Atlanta on the board in the 71st minute. Caleb Wiley started the play by dribbling deep into the final third before playing a ball back into the box. Morris tried to corral it, but it slipped out to Atlanta’s right back, who stepped right into it and sent a low, hard shot to the far post.

Columbus added a sixth in second-half stoppage time from Max Arfsten.

Atlanta United returns to action when it hosts New York Red Bulls on Saturday, April 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.

Match Summary

Stats

Shots: 15-2 Columbus

Shots on target: 6-1 Columbus

Corner kicks: 8-2 Columbus

Fouls Committed: 15-11 Columbus

xG: 2.01-0.07 Columbus

Possession: 54-46 Columbus

Passing accuracy: 85-83 Columbus

Scoring

CLB – Aidan Morris 14′

CLB – Christian Ramirez (Russell-Rowe) 47′

CLB – Philip Quinton (Matan) 51′

CLB – Christian Ramirez (Moreira) 64′

CLB – Jacen Russell-Rowe (Farsi) 68′

ATL – Brooks Lennon 71′

CLB – Max Arfsten (Sands) 90+1′

Disciplinary

ATL – Tyler Wolff 45+2 🟨

ATL – Franco Ibarra 58′ 🟨

CLB – Alexandru Matan 81′ 🟨
Notes

Noah Cobb made his MLS debut.

At 17 years, 258 days, Cobb became the youngest player in club history to appear (and start) an MLS game.

Caleb Wiley previously…