ATLANTA – Atlanta United lost Saturday afternoon 2-0 to Nashville SC. Saturday’s home match marked head coach Gonzalo Pineda’s first match with the club. The loss snapped Atlanta’s four match win streak.
Atlanta opened the match with an early shot for a penalty. George Bello was taken down on the edge of the 18-yard-box in the sixth minute and referee Rosendo Mendoza called for a spot kick, however video review overturned the call and deemed it a free kick.
Nashville took the lead during first half stoppage time. Daniel Lovitz slipped Daniel Rios into the box where he slotted a low shot past Brad Guzan seconds before the break.
Luiz Araújo put a shot on frame in the 54th minute. After a long run down the right side, Araújo cut the ball on to his favored left foot and attempted to bend it around Joe Willis, but Nashville’s goalkeeper made a diving save to preserve the visitor’s lead.
Atlanta nearly leveled the match in the 93rd minute. Marcelino Moreno sent in a cross from the left side to the center of the box where Josef MartÃnez rose high for a header, but he placed it just wide of the right post.
Nashville extended its lead in the 95th minute. Randall Leal scored on an open net after Guzan joined the team in the box for a corner kick in the final moments of the match.
Atlanta (6-7-9, 27 points) returns to action Friday, Sept. 10 when it hosts Orlando City SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:00 p.m., FS1, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta United 0, Nashville 2
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta |
Nashville |
|
|---|---|---|
Shots |
10 |
16 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
5 |
Corner kicks |
6 |
1 |
Fouls committed |
11 |
11 |
Offside |
2 |
1 |
Possession |
61% |
39% |
Passing Accuracy |
88% |
84% |
SCORING SUMMARY
NSH – Daniel Rios (Daniel Lovitz, Hany Mukhtar) 45+2’ [HIGHLIGHT]
NSH – Randall Leal (Joe Willis) 90+5’ [HIGHLIGHT]
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
NSH – Daniel Lovitz (yellow) 26’
ATL – Ezequiel Barco (yellow) 37’
ATL – Amar Sejdić (yellow) 61’
NSH – Brian Anunga (yellow) 74’
NSH – Randall Leal (yellow) 90+6’
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan ©; Anton Walkes, Alan Franco (Matheus Rossetto – 68’), Miles Robinson, George Bello, Brooks Lennon (Ronald Hernandez – 84’); Ezequiel Barco, Amar Sejdić (Erik López – 68’); Marcelino Moreno, Luiz Araújo (Jurgen Damm – 84’), Josef MartÃnez.
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Tyler Wolff, Erick Torres, George Campbell, Mikey Ambrose.
NASHVILLE SC STARTING LINEUP
Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Dave Romney, Alistair Johnston, Taylor Washington, Walker Zimmerman ©; Hany Mukhtar (Alex Muyl – 89’), Anibal Godoy, Brian Anunga; Daniel Rios (Randall Leal – 59’), CJ Sapong (Ake Loba – 80’).
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Jack Maher, Abu Danladi, Eric Miller, Roberto Castellanos, Luke Haakenson.
OFFICIALS
Rosendo Mendoza (referee), Kyle Atkins (assistant), Jeremy Hanson (assistant), Luis Guardia (fourth), Michael Radchuk (VAR), Jeff Muschik (AVAR).
TEAM NOTES
- Gonzalo Pineda coached his first match for the club
ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED
Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998. The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,548), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.
