Stian Gregersen gives Atlanta United victory over Crew

Stian Gregersen scored twice from Saba Lobjanidze’s corner for his first career MLS goal as Atlanta United won 2-1 against the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Atlanta (7-11-7, 28 points) ended a 0-3-1 streak thanks to Gregersen, who scored in the 60th and 77th minutes after Diego Rossi gave Columbus the lead in the 36th.

The Crew team (12-4-7, 43 points) saw its six-match unbeaten streak (5-0-1) come to an end.

Atlanta United took advantage of poor zonal marking on Lobjanidze’s left corners. Gregersen scored his first goal in his 14th game of the season with a powerful header down the middle on Lobjanidze’s first serve.

It’s the second straight game the Crew have scored first but then conceded an equalizer. They tied 1-1 with Charlotte FC on Wednesday after leading 1-0 in the 31st minute.

The decisive goal was almost like the first goal, with another powerful header from Gregersen beating Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.

Columbus used high pressure to quickly transition from defense to attack for the opening goal, as Sean Zawadzki sent a through ball to Alexandru Irinel Matan on the left wing.

Matan dribbled to the end line and forced Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan into a left-handed save, but the rebound went straight in front of the goal and past three Atlanta players for an easy strike by Rossi. It was Rossi’s ninth goal of the year.

Rossi has five goals and five assists in his last seven regular-season games.

Atlanta scored in the first minute of its last game, a 2-2 draw with New York City FC on Wednesday. This time, the game wasn’t as good, but the hosts were dangerous against MLS’s best defense, often running straight at goal.

In the seventh minute, Atlanta forward Jamal Thiare thought he had a penalty when Hagen came off his line and tripped him, but Thiare was ruled offside.

–Field level media