Two goals from Hector Villalba led Atlanta United to a 2-0 victory over Columbus on Saturday at MAPFRE Stadium.
It was Atlanta United’s second consecutive shutout with Tuesday’s game against San Jose at Bobby Dodd Stadium upcoming.
The win moved Atlanta United (8-7-3) past Columbus and into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
The two goals by Villalba, one in either half, moved him into a tie for the team lead (8) with Miguel Almiron, who hit the post with a shot in the first half.
The win also broke a string of horrible road results in which the Five Stripes had earned just one out of a possible 18 points across all competitions.
Villalba opened the scoring with a goal in the 27th minute. Alec Kann's long goal kick was misplayed by Jonathan Mensah, allowing Villalba to run onto the ball and poke it past Zack Steffen. Kann was given the assist, the first of his MLS career. It was Villalba's seventh goal this season. Interestingly, Atlanta United typically likes to play out of the back with short passes, and doesn't often play long balls down the middle of the field.
Villalba's second goal came in the 64th minute. A deflection fell to him around 8 yards away, and he hammered a right-footed shot past Steffen.
