Atlanta United center back Stian Gregersen chose Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night to achieve a professional milestone, scoring his first-ever brace and first goals for the club. His second-half goals were instrumental in Atlanta United’s stunning 2-1 comeback victory against the reigning MLS Cup champions, Columbus Crew.
This win concludes a two-game home stand for Atlanta United on a high note. After securing a draw against New York City FC earlier in the week, Saturday’s victory brings the club to a total of four points as they head into the Leagues Cup break. The previous match against New York City FC ended in a 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Interim head coach Rob Valentino praised the team’s resilience in his post-match press conference. “I think they could feel the moment,” Valentino commented. “They dug in and they did the work to get a result. It’s the first time we’ve come back down a goal and won the game, so that’s a real positive.”
Atlanta United aimed to replicate their midweek performance, where they scored the fastest goal in club history just 21 seconds into the match. They started Saturday’s game with high energy, with Brooks Lennon delivering a cross into the box. Bartosz Slisz connected with a header, but Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen managed to handle the initial threat.
Columbus responded quickly, with Cucho testing Guzan with a long-range shot in the third minute, although it sailed over the bar.
Atlanta United maintained pressure early in the first half, creating opportunities through well-executed long passes. In the seventh minute, Lennon found Jamal Thiaré, who was in the starting lineup for this match. Thiaré laid the ball off to Xande Silva, whose powerful shot was on target. Hagen made the save, but a scramble ensued as Thiaré attempted to collect the rebound. A whistle blew following a collision between Thiaré and the goalkeeper inside the box, initially suggesting a potential foul, but the flag was ultimately raised for offside against Atlanta.
Atlanta continued to press, with Xande Silva this time sending a long ball to Slisz. The pass reached Slisz in stride, but the Polish midfielder couldn’t quite control the ball to get a clean shot off.
Another long pass from Atlanta, this time initiated by Gregersen from the backline, unlocked space in the 13th minute. Saba Lobjanidze latched onto Gregersen’s pass and delivered a low cross into the penalty area. Thiaré received the cross and shot from close range, but Hagen was again equal to the task, making his second save within the first quarter of an hour.
Despite Atlanta’s promising attacking moments in the first half, the Crew also posed a threat and broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Alexandru Matan dribbled to the byline and shot towards the near post. Brad Guzan, the Atlanta United goalkeeper, made the initial save, diving to cover the near post, but the rebound fell directly into the path of Diego Rossi in the center of the box, who slotted it home to give Columbus a 1-0 advantage.
“We knew coming into a game like this against Columbus that they would be really good on the ball, and so we thought also there would be space in transition. The big point of emphasis was being disciplined,” Valentino explained about the team’s strategy.
Atlanta United found their response in the second half from a corner kick. Gregersen, utilizing his height advantage at 6-foot-3, perfectly timed his run to meet Lobjanidze’s corner delivery. His powerful header left no doubt, finding the back of the net and leveling the score at 1-1 in the 60th minute.
This goal marked Atlanta United’s first goal from a corner kick this season and Gregersen’s first ever in MLS since joining Atlanta United in the offseason.
Gregersen wasn’t finished there. In the 74th minute, another corner kick opportunity arose for Atlanta United. This time, after an initial header by Miles Robinson, the ball bounced favorably for Gregersen in a crowded box. He reacted quickly, firing a right-footed shot through traffic and past Hagen, giving Atlanta United a 2-1 lead and completing his remarkable brace.
The atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium intensified as Atlanta United held onto their narrow lead. The team demonstrated solid defensive organization in the final minutes, denying Columbus clear chances to equalize.
Atlanta United secured a significant victory, fueled by an outstanding performance from Stian Gregersen. His two goals not only earned his team three crucial points but also marked a personal career highlight at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This win provides momentum for Atlanta United as they enter the Leagues Cup break.
