Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United FC

Columbus dominated from the off at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, racing into a 2-0 lead by half-time that ultimately proved decisive. Mohamed Farsi was immense down the left flank, and his tireless work earned him the man-of-the-match award. The Crew controlled possession through much of the first half and looked clinical when chances fell their way, recording four shots on target to keep Atlanta at arm's length. Atlanta came out fighting after the break with 16 shots attempted, though they managed just two on target. The visitors couldn't find a way through despite their pressure and the three corners they earned. It was a comfortable win for Columbus in the end, one that showed the difference between clinical finishing and volume without precision.

Columbus Crew beat Atlanta United FC 2-0 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. Columbus Crew also had the better share of the ball, holding 58% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 10 attempts from Columbus Crew against 16 from Atlanta United FC over the course of the game. Atlanta United FC had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.