My ratings for Atlanta United's players from Wednesday's 2-0 win against Columbus at MAPFRE Stadium:
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, 7: Huge save of Gyasi Zardes in the 51st minute. ... Another close-range save in the 72nd minute. ... Finished with three saves.
Right fullback Franco Escobar, 7: Helped the team post its fourth shutout this season. ... Tied for a team-high four tackles.
Centerback Michael Parkhurst, 7.5: Picked up a yellow card in the 8th minute for a tackle of Cristian Martinez. ... Helped limit Gyasi Zardes to just one shot on goal.
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, 7.5: Sliding block in the 38th minute just in front of Guzan’s goal. ... Part of a group of three that corralled Zardes.
Left fullback Mike Ambrose, 7: Picked up a yellow card in the 27th minute. ...
Defensive midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, 7.5: Key block of a Higuain shot in the 24th minute. ... Tied for a team-high with four tackles
Defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe, 7.5: Quiet but effective game in helping Atlanta United control the ball for most of the game’s first nine minutes.
Attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron, 7.5: Quiet game that included two poor decisions in the second half, one of which wasted a 3-on-1 opportunity that, if they scored, would have put away the game. ... Bounced back to assist on Hector Villalba’s goal. ... Not comfortable playing with an injured shoulder, but emerged unscathed.
Right midfielder Julian Gressel, 7: Oddly, not nearly as big a weapon on the night as a wide midfielder as he has been as a wingback. Weird, huh?
Left midfielder Ezequiel Barco, 7: First assist this season came on Martinez’s goal. ... Good in tight space to keep possession and good at earning fouls to kill momentum.
Striker Josef Martinez, , 7.5: League-leading 14th goal in the 30th minute. ... Subbed off at halftime with a possible broken nose.
SUBS
Romario Williams (in for Martinez, 46), 6: Did the job needed.
Hector Villalba (in for Barc, 76), 7: In his first action in two weeks, Villalba scored his second goal to put away the game.
Miles Robinson (in for Almiron, 86), NR.
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