The Columbus Crew beat Atlanta United 1-0 in the 65th minute thanks to Jonathan Mensah's back-post header off a Lucas Zelarayan corner kick, ruining the party for the 67,000-plus fans at Mercedez Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon. To open the second half, Zelarayan was brought in as part of a double replacement with the goal of making the difference. The Argentine playmaker accomplished exactly that, putting up the lone goal right on the Crew's practice field.

Marlon Hairston headed in Anton Walkes' near-post corner, which was turned on by Zelarayan, and Mensah slammed in at the back post for his first goal since the 2018 season. Josef Martinez, with a couple of defenders fast approaching, slid to an open Jake Mulraney on the right inside the first two minutes of an exciting but scoreless first half. The Irish attacker's effort, though, was barely wide of the far post. The clearest chance came in the 16th minute when Bradley Wright-Phillips found Erik Hurtado behind the Atlanta defense after a corner kick by the Five Stripes. The quick Crew forward took a touch into the area, but his shot went wide of the post.

Just before the hour mark, Martinez provided another assist for Atlanta, this time to Marcelino Moreno, who took a settling touch before finding the far post. Room, on the other hand, dove to his left to gain a critical touch.

In the 78th minute, Atlanta center-back Alan Franco missed his mark in the area, but his possibly equalizing header went wide of the goal. It was the greatest chance for the hosts to launch a late-game assault that eventually fell short.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Rachel Pearce]