The Columbus Crew Sc and Atlanta United FC have met twice before in knockout rounds, with each side advancing once. The lone previous playoff meeting between the sides came in the first round in 2017, with Columbus Crew SC advancing on penalties after a scoreless draw in Atlanta. The Atlanta United FC Five Stripes knocked the Columbus Crew SC out of the US Open Cup with a 3-2 away win in the fifth round in 2019.
The Columbus Crew SC has lost only one of its last nine matches against the Atlanta United FC (W6 D2), though the defeat came in Columbus, a 3-2 loss in August 2021. The last meeting between the sides at Lower.com Field saw Atlanta United FC concede a club-record six goals in a 6-1 defeat on Marh 25 of this year.
The Columbus Crew SC are unbeaten in 15 straight home matches in all competitions (W11 D4) and has lost just one of its last 27 games at Lower.com Field dating back to early August 2022 (W18 D8). The Columbus Crew SC have won six of their last seven home playoff matches (D1) dating back to 2017, including the last five in a row.
Atlanta United FC has won only four of its last 24 away matches in all competitions (D13 L17) dating back to April 2022. Atlanta United FC has avoided defeat in four of its last five away from home (W1 D3) and lost only three of its final regular-season road games this year (W2 D6).
The Columbus Crew SC tied a club record set in 1998 with 67 goals this year, one ahead of Atlanta United FC, finishing as the top scorers in MLS for the first time in club history. Columbus Crew Sc scored multiple goals in a match a league-high 21 times this season and scored 36 first-half goals, six more than any other team in 2023. Atlanta United FC will be without Thiago Almada, who led MLS with 19 assists this season, after he was sent off on Decision Day. Almada’s 30 goal contributions were the second-most in MLS in 2023 (Luciano Acosta – 31)as he scored or assisted on six of Atlanta United FC’s last eight regular-season goals (2 goals, 4 assists).
