The Columbus Crew looked to finish out the team’s best-of-three series in the MLS Cup playoffs against Atlanta United Tuesday night, hoping to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinal for the first time in three years. After taking Game 1 2-0, the Crew was one step closer to knocking off the Five Stripes. However, with the return of attacking star Thiago Almada, Atlanta won comfortably, 4-2, at Mercedese-Menz Stadium, forcing a Game 3 back at Lower.com Field.

The home side started the game with a high press that pinned Columbus in the team’s defensive half early in the match. The Crew defense was tasked with keeping goal scoring threat Giorgos Giakoumakis tame while still trying to play out of the back.

Columbus had a good opportunity to score when center back Steven Moreira found forward Cucho Hernandez inside the penalty box with a cross. Hernandez headed the ball to strike partner Diego Rossi making a run at the back post, but a quick turn inside by the Uruguayan forward found him flat footed and unable to tap the ball into the goal.

In the 38th minute, Giakoumakis found the net when Brooks Lennon picked out the unmarked Greek forward with a well placed cross. An unmarked Giakoumakis headed the ball home to give Atlanta the 1-0 lead.

Just before halftime, Hernandez pulled the Black & Gold level. Moreira found Rossi with a pass to the forward’s foot. Rossi got the ball to Hernandez to hit a low-driven shot past goalkeeper Brad Guzan and into the back of the net, making the score 1-1.

In first half stoppage time, Atlanta sprung an attack into the final third. Attacker Saba Lobjanidze dribbled into the Crew’s half before finding Giakoumakis inside the penalty box. With a quick turn and pass out wide, Giakoumakis found winger Xande Silva who capitalized on the free space, putting his shot into the roof of the net and giving the Five Stripes a 2-1 halftime lead.

The second half replicated much of the first. The Black & Gold were able to get into the attack but rarely created much danger to Guzan’s goal. Chances came, but no Columbus player could convert to swing momentum.

The Crew appealed for a penalty midway through the second half when wing back Yaw Yeboah went down just outside the six-yard box, but referee Chris Penso waved for play to continue.

Atlanta continued to throw numbers forward and press the Black & Gold backline, finding holes in which to spring numbers. United’s biggest chance came when Giakoumakis found Silva alone with a wide open net in front of him. Giakoumakis made the square pass, but Silva’s shot flew high over the crossbar.

The home side went up 3-1 in the 83rd minute when winger Edwin Mosquera picked out the far post top corner from a Giakoumakis pass. Almada sealed what was already an inevitable in for the Five Stripes, chipping Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte five minutes later to make it 4-1.

In second half stoppage time, the Black & Gold were able to make the loss a bit more respectable when wing back Max Arfsten got on the end of a corner kick. The first-year player put the ball into the net to make the final score 4-2.

Defensive struggles

The struggles for the Columbus’ defense continue. With Steven Moreira pushing forward, the gap created gave Atlanta the opportunity to play in behind the Columbus backline and counter quickly. Even when Moreira was back defensively, he was caught out of position, leading to three of United’s four goals.

The Crew allowed 46 goals this season, tied for second most of any of the league’s top-10 teams. The Black & Gold’s defense was always going to be an issue in the MLS Cup playoffs and that was the case on Tuesday night.

Cucho is gonna Cucho

The Colombian forward continues to score goals for Columbus. Hernandez had scored all three goals for the Crew this postseason until Arfsten’s late strike. This is good news unless his finishing dries up. The Black & Gold will hope this doesn’t happen any time soon.

What’s next

The Crew host Atlanta for the decisive Game 3 of this round on Sunday. Kick off from Lower.com Field is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be streamed on AppleTV+’ MLS SeasonPass.