Columbus Crew SC vs. Atlanta United | 2019 US Open Cup Preview

USOC - 2019 - CLB vs ATL

2019 U.S. Open Cup — Round of 16
Columbus Crew SC vs. Atlanta United
MAPFRE Stadium — Columbus
June 18 — 7:00 PM ET


STREAMING: ESPN+


Eastern Conference foes who wriggled out of the Fourth Round against lower-level competition square off at MAPFRE Stadium with a berth in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on the line when Columbus Crew SC host Atlanta United Tuesday night. 


This marks the first meeting between the teams in the USOC, and the winner faces either Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship or FC Cincinnati in the next round on July 10.


Columbus Crew SC


After back-to-back fourth-round defeats, Crew SC advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2016 by defeating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Championship, 1-0, at MAPFRE Stadium last Tuesday.


Following a scoreless first half, David Accam bagged the game's lone goal in the 55th minute, receiving a ball over the top by Pedro Santos and scoring with his first touch. Santos had a chance to add an insurance goal after Patrick Mullins was taken down in the box, but his effort from the penalty spot caromed off the crossbar. 


Back on March 30, Santos and Gyasi Zardes scored first-half goals to lift Crew SC to a 2-0 win over Atlanta in MLS action at a rain-soaked MAPFRE Stadium.


Atlanta United FC


It took longer than they hoped, but Atlanta United finally defeated the Charleston Battery, 3-1 in extra-time, Thursday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The match was originally scheduled for Tuesday evening at MUSC Health Stadium in South Carolina, though was moved after field conditions were deemed unplayable. Atlanta ended up hosting the match, but did so in an empty stadium as part of US Soccer's decision. 


For roughly the first 80 minutes, it appeared the USL Championship side would pull off the upset, jumping in front in the 20th minute through Ian Svantesson. But Romario Williams leveled in the 79th minute and Brandon Vazquez struck twice in extra-time to secure Atlanta's save passage to the Round of 16 for a third consecutive year. 


Series Matchup


  • This is the first matchup between Columbus Crew SC and Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup


Officials


  • To be announced