Gregersen’s double gives Atlanta United a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew

Center back Stian Gregersen scored twice in the second half to lead Atlanta United to a stunning 2-1 victory over defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The win caps a successful two-game home run for Atlanta United, who have four points heading into the Leagues Cup break. The team had already drawn with New York City FC earlier in the week.

Interim head coach Rob Valentino praised the team’s resilience, saying: “We knew going into a game like this against Columbus that they were going to be really good with the ball, and so we thought there was going to be space in transition as well. The key thing was discipline.”

Atlanta United started the game aggressively, with early chances from Brooks Lennon and Jamal Thiare, but it was Columbus who scored first. Diego Rossi tapped in a rebound in the 36th minute to give the Crew a 1-0 lead.

Gregersen equalized in the 60th minute with a powerful header off a Saba Lobjanidze corner, scoring his first MLS goal. He then secured the win with another header off a Lobjanidze corner in the 76th minute, completing his first two-goal professional game.

Gregersen’s performance was crucial, especially after his return from a red card suspension. His brace marked the fourth goal by an Atlanta United player this season, giving the team a vital victory and energising the home crowd.