Atlanta United heads into World Cup break on sour note

With a seven-week break ahead of them due to this summer’s FIFA World Cup, Atlanta United was unable to build some momentum heading into the break.

Sekou Bangoura scored his first goal in MLS, Diego Rossi added a goal, and the Columbus Crew beat Atlanta United 2-0 on Sunday to snap a four-game winless streak.

Columbus fired first-year head coach Henrik Rydstrom on Sunday. Laurent Courtois, who had been a Crew assistant coach and the former CF Montreal manager, got a win in his first game since being named interim coach.

Atlanta United (3-9-2) was held scoreless for the fifth time this season, but for the first time in May. The Five Stripes have scored just 14 goals in their 14 matches.

Atlanta’s 14 goals this season are tied with Philadelphia and Kansas City for the fewest in MLS.

Patrick Schulte finished with two saves and had his third shutout this season for the Crew (4-7-4). Mohamed Farsi had two assists.

Bangoura opened the scoring in the 24th minute. On the counter-attack, Diego Rossi tapped a pass to Farsi, who played a first-touch pass around charging goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos to Bangoura for the point-blank finish into a wide-open net.

Rossi — whose chip-shot over Hoyos harmlessly ricocheted off the back post — put away a first-touch shot, off a cross by Farsi on the counter-attack, from just inside the penalty box that made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time.

Hoyos had two saves.

The Crew beat Atlanta 3-1 on the road April 4 behind two goals from Wessam Abou Ali — who suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 1-1 tie with Orlando City on April 12.

Columbus played Philadelphia to a 1-1 tie last Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.

United’s next match will be on July 17 when it visits Nashville.