At Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Atlanta United overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Columbus Crew, with Stian Gregersen emerging as the game’s MVP. Against the reigning MLS Cup champions, the center back secured his first professional brace and three points for Atlanta with identical headers in the second half.
Even though Gregersen was excellent on Saturday night, there were other players who caught attention. Joe Patrick of 92.9 The Game and Five Stripe Final questioned interim head coach Rob Valentino regarding a different player at the post-game press conference: He remarked, “Saba just doesn’t seem to stop running, which brings up work rate.”
The inquiry focused on Saba Lobjanidze, an Atlanta United player, and his experiences at the Euros earlier this summer. The winger participated in the German-hosted UEFA European Championship as a representative of his native Georgian national side. Saba had to spend several weeks away from the team due to his international call-up, but in his reply, Valentino said the winger had the opportunity to travel back to his native nation and celebrate Georgia’s success in the tournament.
This marked the nation’s first-ever qualification for the competition. One of the biggest tales of the competition was when Georgia, in their tournament debut, defeated Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo 2-0 after emerging from the group stage.
Saba turned down the opportunity to celebrate by going back home. He was itching to return to a different Georgia. He’s fairly reliable, according to Valentino. “I see no differences between what he was doing before the Euros and what he is doing now.
He is merely happy to be returning. For a winger, Saba is quietly establishing one of the most productive careers in MLS and club history. After a great performance on Saturday, he was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday bench. He was an assist on both of Gregersen’s goals, which were headers off corner kicks from Saba. With the two assists, Saba now leads the squad with seven for the season.
In the first 30 games of his Atlanta United career, he became the sixth player in club history to have 20 goal contributions (goals + assists). Together with Josef Martínez, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Miguel Almirón, Héctor Villalba, and Thiago Almada, Lobjanidze becomes a part of an elite group.
Among MLS players in his position, Lobjanidze also makes a significant impact. His projected goals and goal contributions since joining the league in August 2023 are among the top 15 for wingers. Lobjanidze is moving up and down the field, as Valentino mentioned. “He works for the team, and that position in particular requires a lot of work up and down,” Valentino remarked.
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.