Atkanta United didn’t score its first goal until the 59th minute of the match. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice The Five Stripes celebrated 404 Day with a 3-1 loss. 3+1 is 4 after all. The last time they were in front of home fans, Atlanta United played to a less-than-inspiring 0-0 d raw against D.C. United on Saturday, March 21. On Saturday night, against the Columbus Crew, in Atlanta’s fourth consecutive home match. Early in the match, the Columbus Crew were testing Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. The first 20 minutes of the game were dominated by Hoyos’ saves and Columbus’s near misses. The veteran goalkeeper has had his moments this season, particularly during the first two weeks, when the Five Stripes were not only losing but also conceding multiple goals to Concinnato and San Jose, and during a 3-2 home opener loss to Real Salt Lake on March 7. Atlanta United has won only one of its seven matches this season. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice Despite the score being 0-0 at halftime, Atlanta United played better in the final 25 minutes, winning the possession battle 55.4% to 45.6%. The second half began with a goal from Columbus forward Wessam Abou Ali on a header that found the bottom of the goal just past Hoyos’ hands. That goal took place at the 48-minute mark, and it took Abou Ali just five more minutes to score his second goal of the game on a strike from just outside the goal box. It was on a beautiful piece of individual soccer that elicited oohs and ahhs from the half-full stands inside The Benz. Neither team scored a goal during the first half, and then Columbus went off. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice Atlanta United would pull within a goal when Alexey Miranchuk scored on a rebound of a shot by Miguel Almiron that was saved right into his path in the 58th minute. Columbus followed that rebound with one of their own, scoring a third goal in the 59th minute. The boos began as soon as that goal was scored and the scoreboard flashed 3-1. Midfielder Ajani Fortune made his first appearance of the season on Saturday night. Fortune entered the game in the 59th minute to loud applause. He has missed more than 10 months due to an injury he suffered during international play for his native Trinidad Tobago last June. After the game, Atlanta United defender Matt Edwards told The Atlanta Voice that it was great to see his childhood friend Fortune back out there tonight. “It was nice. I missed him being out there. I missed playing with him,” said Edwards. Martino said of Fortune’s return: “It’s good to have him back on the field with us. I think he’s a player who can contribute a lot to our team, so it’s good to see him back, getting over his injury and back on the field getting the minutes that he did.” Despite 11 minutes of stoppage time being added to the clock, Atlanta United failed to score again. Next up: at Chicago on Saturday, April 11, and in Chattanooga for a U.S. Open Cup round of 32 match with Chattanooga FC on Tuesday, April 14. There were capacity crowds full of soccer fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a pair of international friendlies involving the United States Men’s National Team. Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice Are we ready for what’s coming? Atlanta United’s training grounds were busy during the international break as the United States National Team used the facility to prepare for a pair of friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. Those friendlies, both losses, were played in front of capacity crowds last month. The match with Belgium Drew 66,867 fans, and the Portugal match, as was expected, Drew even more people through the gates, 72,297. Both countries will be participating in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The question many should be asking is whether we are ready for what’s to come. The post Atlanta United waves the white flag during 3-1 loss to Columbus on 404 Day appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less