Atlanta United Vs Columbus Tests Atlanta After 4-1 Open Cup Loss
atlanta united vs columbus arrives Sunday with Atlanta United trying to reset quickly after a 4-1 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal loss to Orlando City SC. The match kicks off at 5 p.m. ET at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, and Atlanta still sits three points out of 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
That margin keeps the league table close enough for the Crew trip to matter beyond one result. Atlanta can also erase some of the sting from a 3-1 home loss to Columbus on 404 Day earlier this season.
Tata Martino Owns The Loss
Martino took the blame after all four Orlando goals came in the first half of the cup quarterfinal. “My responsibility. Absolutely me. It’s not the responsibility of the players,” he said after the loss, and Atlanta now has to turn that response into points before the long league break for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The timing gives Sunday’s match more weight than a routine road date. Atlanta needs a cleaner start after Orlando buried the game early, and Columbus is the next opponent standing in the way.
Miranchuk Points To Columbus
Alexey Miranchuk framed the challenge plainly before the trip. “It’s not going to be an easy game obviously. It’s an away game against another good team. We need to understand everything, and we will do everything to finish this part of the season on a good end.”
He is not speaking in a vacuum. Columbus has conceded 16 of its 23 goals in the second half this season, while Atlanta has scored nine of its 14 goals after halftime, so the late stages could decide whether the visitors leave Columbus with anything.
Jay Fortune And The Injury List
Jay Fortune gives Atlanta one current form point to lean on. He scored a late goal in Atlanta’s last MLS match to secure a 1-1 result against Orlando City SC, then backed it up with a career-high five chances, 22 passes into the final third and 12 final third entries in the cup loss.
Atlanta also has to manage its availability list. Fafa Picault is out with a hamstring injury, Steven Alzate is questionable with an adductor issue, Matías Galarza is out for personal reasons, and Emmanuel Latte Lath is questionable because of illness. Miguel Almirón is aiming for one final opportunity to return before the break, and Atlanta will need that kind of depth if it wants to close the first half of the season on a better note than the 4-1 scoreline in midweek.
