Almiron gets Five Stripes’ sole goal in loss

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Atlanta United’s fifirst gamein the Carolina Challenge Cup wasn’t peachy as the Five Stripes, in new secondary kits, were beaten by Columbus 3-1 Saturday at MUSC Health Stadium.

The Crew grabbed their lead on goals in the fifirst half by Pedro Santos andan unbelievable chip by Cristian Martinez, and an own goal by Josef Martinez in the second half.

Unlike in their meeting in the playoff ff ff ff ff ff sin which Atlanta United forced Columbus goalkeeper Zack Ste ff ff ff ff ff ff en into making eight saves, the Five Stripes rarely threatened his goal Saturday on a warm, stuffffffffffffy night.

The Five Stripes were without Hector Villalba, Franco Escobar and Michael Parkhurst, withheld for precautionary reasons. The starters did include Josef Martinez, Darlington Nagbe, Miguel Almiron and Ezequiel Barco.

Almiron scored Atlanta United’s goal in the 90th minute on an assist by Martinez.

Columbus grabbed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Santos in the 13th minute. Federico Higuain’s pass sp rang Santos into space. Jeff ff La rent owicz had followed a Crew player running into the penalty box, which left the space for Santos to move into. He took a touch and hit a right-footed shot into Brad Guzan’s goal.

The Crew increased their leadto 2-0when Cristian Martinez chipped Guzan from40 yards away in the 34 th minute. Guzan may have been up the fifield because in the preceding sequence of plays Atlanta Unitedhada free kick 19 yards from Columbus’ goal. The free kick was rewarded because Columbus central defender Lalas Abubakar kicked Josef Martinez in the face when both went for a high ball. Abubakar received a yellow card.

Julian Gressel just missed getting a goal back in the 48th minute when he and Josef Martinez executed a nice 1-2 pass with Martinez chipping it to Gressel in the penalty box. He reached the ball with his right foot, but it rolled wide of the goal. Almiron followed in the 54th minute with a shot that sailed over the crossbar. Atlanta’s press forced a Columbus turnover just outside the penalty box. Almiron pounced on the loose ball, dribbled and then hit the shot too hard.

Columbus took a 3-0 lead on an own-goal by Josef Martinez in the 71st minute. Martinez jumped to try to head away a corner kick. The ball appeared to bounce off his head and into the goal.