COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Lucas Zelarayán and Gyasi Zardes scored to help the Columbus Crew beat Atlanta United 2-1 on Sunday on the final day of the regular season.
The Crew secured a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference and will host a first-round playoff game. Atlanta was eliminated from playoff contention.
Zelarayán took a pass from Milton Valenzuela at the top of the area, split two defenders, and then chipped in a shot from point-blank range in the 28th minute. Zardes rolled in a left-footer to make it 2-0 in the 55th.
Columbus (12-6-5) won for just the second time in the last five games.
Marcelino Moreno converted from the penalty spot for Atlanta in the 59th minute.
Atlanta (6-13-4) has recorded just one win in its last eight games.
Atlanta’s Franco Escobar was shown a yellow card in the 11th minute and then a red in first minute of stoppage time.
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