Stian Gregersen Brace Lifts Atlanta United in 2-1 Win Against Columbus Crew

July 20, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release

ATLANTA – Atlanta United defeated Columbus Crew 2-1 Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Stian Gregersen scored a pair of goals in the second half to lift Atlanta United over the Eastern Conference’s third place team and into a playoff position ahead of the Leagues Cup break. It was Gregersen’s first goals with the club and the fourth brace by an Atlanta United player this season.

Atlanta opened the match on the front foot and caused danger early. In the seventh minute, Brooks Lennon sent a long ball to Jamal Thiare who pulled three defenders with him toward the left side of the penalty area and laid it off for a charging Xande Silva. The attacker ripped a knuckling shot from distance which was spilled by Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen. Thiare was then taken down by Hagen while attacking the rebound and initially earned a penalty, but the assistant referee ruled him offside on Silva’s shot.

A flurry of chances followed as Bartosz Slisz found himself one-on-one with the keeper on a counterattack two minutes later, but had his shot cleared off the line. In the 13th minute, Gregersen lobbed a ball over the top of the defense for Lobjanidze down the right wing where he squared the ball for Thiare on the edge of the six, but his close range shot was denied by Hagen.

Columbus endured the wave of Atlanta attacks and took the lead in the 36th minute. Alexandru Matan was played into the box down the left wing and sent a low cross inside the six-yard box. Brad Guzan pushed the ball away from goal, but it fell directly to Diego Rossi who tapped it in from close range.

Atlanta emerged from halftime again the aggressor and leveled the match in the 60th minute. Lobjanidze made a run into the box and earned a corner kick on the left side. The Georgian took the set piece and delivered it to the edge of the six-yard box where Gregersen rose above his defender and sent a powerful header into the back of the net for his first goal with the club.

Atlanta continued to threaten Columbus’ goal as Lennon had a volley attempt destined for the bottom left corner cleared away for a corner in the 65th minute. On the ensuing corner, Slisz picked Lobjanidze’s delivery out of the air with a clean hit, but his volley was also deflected by a Columbus defender.

Gregersen eventually gave Atlanta the lead in the 76th minute. Silva received the ball on the left wing just outside of the penalty area and attempted to…