COLUMBUS, OH – Columbus Crew hosted Atlanta United on Sunday evening. It was a six-pointer. The Five Stripes running out of time to climb out of the cellar of the MLS Eastern Conference. This match was delayed by 80 minutes due to lightning in the area. It still rained during the match once it got started.
Cucho Hernández brace highlights Columbus Atlanta draw
Atlanta had the better start, playing with intensity in the first 20 minutes. They had several good looks at goal. Santiago Sosa opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a rocket of a shot from outside the box.
Columbus took until the second half to get into the game. Cucho Hernández scored two goals, seven minutes apart. First in the 66th minute, Kevin Molino and Luis Díaz combined to play through the Atlanta defensive lines. Eventually Díaz found Cucho in front of goal to beat the goalkeeper 1-v-1.
Then Williams Sands did great work in the 72nd minute to beat a man and get into the final third. He found Cucho in the box and took two touches to set up a shot and finish.
Atlanta made it 2-2 on a corner in the 77th minute when Juan José Purata converted a header to the far bottom corner. The match ended 2-2 with both teams creating chances to try to find a winner.
Will Sands making it happen. Cucho making them pay 🤑#Crew96 | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/kysjvQfmCK
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 22, 2022
Three Thoughts:
Cucho keeps scoring: Hernández has been on a roll since coming into MLS. He now has eight goals in nine appearances. He’s exactly what Columbus has needed at the No. 9 position. If they’re making the playoffs, it will be with him shouldering the goal scoring load.
Atlanta’s playoff hopes are dwindling: Atlanta now have one win in their last seven games. They haven’t been able to see games out. It’s frustrating. It seems like Josef Martinez could be on the way out, ending whatever connection this iteration of the team have to the 2018 team. They need wins despite the inconsistencies, mistakes, and injuries.
Another weather delay: This has been one of several games in the last month throughout the league that were affected by lightning delays. It possibly affected how the Crew started. This trend has been disruptive to league play.
