COLUMBUS, Ohio — Atlanta United defeated Columbus Crew 3-2 Saturday night at Lower.com Field.
Ezequiel Barco scored a pair of goals while Marcelino Moreno netted a goal in his third consecutive match to lead Atlanta to a crucial road win. Interim head coach Rob Valentino picked up his first win as a head coach in Major League Soccer.
Barco scored the game’s opening goal in the fifth minute. After receiving the ball at midfield, the Argentine midfielder drove the ball at the Columbus backline and played the ball wide to George Bello on the left, who back-heeled a return pass into the box as Barco continued his run and smashed a low left-footed finish past Eloy Room.
Atlanta doubled its lead in the 35th minute. Moreno received the ball on the left side of the box and took on two Columbus players off the dribble before being taken down and winning a penalty. Barco stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted his penalty kick to the right as Room dove the other way.
Columbus responded in the 37th minute off a corner kick. Lucas Zelarayán swung in a corner from the right side and Jonathan Mensah was able to get across his defender and head the ball past Brad Guzan.
Atlanta had two chances to extend its lead in the 52nd minute, starting with a long-range shot from Barco headed to the top-right corner that Room stopped with a fingertip save. Atlanta crossed the rebound directly back into the box, but Matheus Rossetto’s header went over the crossbar.
Moreno won a second penalty in the 64th minute as he weaved between two Columbus defenders and was taken down near the penalty spot. Atlanta’s No. 10 placed his penalty to the lower-left corner of the goal for his sixth goal of the season.
Columbus pulled within one goal in the first minute of stoppage time from a penalty kick. Alan Franco fouled Mensah in the box, and Pedro Santos scored the penalty with a shot to the left side, sending Guzan the other way. Despite six minutes of added time, Atlanta was able to hang on and preserve the win.
Atlanta (3-6-9, 18 points) returns to action Sunday when it hosts Los Angeles Football Club at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
