Atlanta United open MLS playoffs Thursday

Atlanta United will host Columbus Crew SC on Thursday at 7 p.m. in their MLS playoff game, the league announced Sunday night.

The Eastern Conference knockout round game playoff will be televised by ESPN2.

Atlanta United finished as the No. 4 seed in the East and will host the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Columbus Crew finished as the No. 5 seed.

The other Eastern Conference knockout round game will feature No. 3 Chicago Fire hosting No. 6 New York Red Bulls Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. No. 1 Toronto FC and No. 2 New York City FC received byes.

In the Western Conference, the knockout round games will be No. 3 Vancouver Whitecaps vs. No. 6 San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. and No. 4 Houston Dynamo vs. No. 5. Sporting Kansas City Thursday at 9:30 p.m. No. 1 Portland Timbers and No. 2 Seattle Sounders received byes.

Atlanta United would play Oct. 30 or 31 if it advances.

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