Columbus Crew reach MLS Eastern Conference semifinals with 4-2 win in rubber match against Atlanta United

Columbus scored three goals in the first 33 minutes and the Crew advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 4-2 win over Atlanta United on Sunday night in the rubber match of a first-round MLS Cup series.

Columbus (17-9-9) extended its undefeated streak at home in all competitions to 17, but the third-seeded Crew will hit the road for a semifinal match with No. 2 seed Orlando City on Nov. 25. Top-seeded FC Cincinnati will host fourth-seeded Philadelphia Union in the other semifinal, also on November 25.

The Crew went down against Atlanta United and took the lead in the ninth minute on an unassisted goal from Darlington Nagbe. It was Nagbe’s third career postseason goal and his second with the Crew.

Defender Malte Amundsen pushed the lead to 2–0 eight minutes later and used an assist from Aidan Morris to score his first career goal in the play-offs. Alexandru Matan made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute with his first career postseason netter. Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernández provided assists.

Giorgos Giakoumakis used assists from Brooks Lennon and Thiago Almada to score in the 35th minute and Atlanta United (13-10-12) trailed 3-1 at halftime. Giakoumakis scored two goals in his first postseason. He became the first player in club history to contribute three goals in a play-off match in the 4-2 win in Atlanta.

Malte Amundsen doubled the lead as the Crew advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals

Rossi scored on an assist from Matan two minutes into the second half for his first postseason goal with the Crew and a 4-1 lead. Rossi scored one goal in the playoffs in his first season with Columbus during his two seasons with Los Angeles FC.

Xande Silva answered for Atlanta United three minutes later to complete the scoring. Lennon and Ajani Fortune had assists on Silva’s second goal of his first postseason.

Patrick Schulte finished with two saves for the Crew. Schulte had a clean sheet in the Crew’s 2-0 win in the opener. Brad Guzan saved four shots for Atlanta United.

Columbus won just two of its first seven games at home against Atlanta United, but the Crew has three wins there this season and scored multiple goals in its last eight games at home. Columbus improves to 20-1-8 in its last 29 home games in all competitions. The Crew has won seven straight at home in the playoffs.

Atlanta United have won just four of their last 36 away matches in all competitions. Atlanta United was eliminated in all three of its previous postseason games away from home.