COLUMBUS, Ohio — Atlanta United defeated Columbus Crew SC 3-2 Tuesday night at MAPFRE Stadium to advance to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals for the first time in club history.
Behind a brace from Brandon Vazquez, Atlanta won a dramatic back-and-forth affair that included a 50-minute delay in the second half because of severe weather in the area. Also, Miles Robinson scored his first career goal with the First Team, as Atlanta will move on to host a quarterfinal matchup at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Wednesday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of FC Cincinnati/Saint Louis FC.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the fifth minute from Vazquez, his fifth in six all-time appearances in the Open Cup. After a heavy touch from David Guzman, Vazquez corralled a loose ball, dribbled in alone and beat Jon Kempin to the near post with a shot to the lower right corner. It was the fastest goal in club history in U.S. Open Cup play.
Robinson doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later from a set piece. Ezequiel Barco sent a corner to the back post where Robinson, unmarked, powerfully headed the ball into the ground and into back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Columbus pulled one back in the 40th minute from David Accam. After a clearance, Harrison Afful attempted a long-range effort that was deflected toward the corner. Luis Argudo raced over and sent a cross to the center of the box that found Accam; his shot got through a crowd of players and into the far corner to make it 2-1.
But Atlanta re-gained its two-goal lead after halftime with an assist to Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in the 65th minute. After Gonzalez Pirez’s long ball sent Vazquez near the end line, he dribbled right around Alex Crognale and fired low into the far corner that eluded Kempin for a 3-1 lead.
But Columbus answered six minutes later with what was officially ruled an own goal against Brad Guzan. Pedro Santos beat a pair of defenders before playing Waylon Francis in on goal. Francis had time to take two touches before firing toward goal, where it ripped off Guzan and into the back of the net. Just four minutes after that, the match was finally brought to a halt in the 75th minute (officially at 74:24) because of severe weather in the area.
Play resumed 50 minutes later, and Atlanta was able to see out the final 15 minutes of the match to advance to the quarterfinals. Tickets for that matchup will go on sale Thursday. Atlanta will face the winner of FC Cincinnati/Saint Louis FC, which is scheduled to be played tomorrow. Atlanta United (8-5-2, 26 points) returns to league action Wednesday, June 26 against Toronto FC at BMO Field (8:00 p.m. EST, FOX Sports South, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).
