Atlanta United earned a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC Thursday night at Nissan Stadium. Anton Walkes scored his second goal of the season while Homegrown Jackson Conway netted his first MLS goal in just his third appearance. Alec Kann also made six saves in his first MLS appearance since May 13, 2018.
Walkes opened the scoring in the fifth minute from an Atlanta free kick. After Marcelino Moreno won the free kick in Nashville’s half, Jake Mulraney delivered a ball into the box where Walkes was able to beat his mark and head the ball just inside the far post. It was Walkes’ second goal of the season and fourth of his Atlanta career, while Mulraney recorded his team-high fourth assist of the season.
Kann made a diving save to deny Hany Mukhtar in the 13th minute, however on the ensuing corner Mukhtar’s cross was headed in by Jalil Anibaba to even the score at 1-1. Early in the second half, Mukhtar put Nashville ahead from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after a handball in the box by Cubo Torres.
However, Atlanta responded in the 59th minute through Conway to make it 2-2. Moreno played in a corner kick from the left side that Conway headed low and just inside the back post.
Atlanta was reduced to 10-men after Mulraney was shown a straight red card by referee Joe Dickerson in the 74th minute for a challenge just outside the box on Randall Leal. Mukhtar stepped up to take the free kick and placed a well-hit effort on frame, but Kann was able to tip over the crossbar to keep the game level.
Atlanta continued to search for the winning goal despite playing down a man. In the 90th minute Brooks Lennon made a run into the right side of the box but had his attempt saved by Joe Willis.
Atlanta (2-3-7, 13 points) returns to action Saturday, July 17 against New England Revolution at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (5 p.m., ESPN, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
MATCH INFO
Nashville SC 2, Atlanta United 2
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, Tennessee
STATS
Shots: 17-6 Nashville
Shots on Target: 8-2 Nashville
Corner kicks: 6-3 Nashville
Fouls committed: 17-16 Atlanta
Offside: 6-1 Nashville
Possession: 50-50
Passing Accuracy: 81-79 Nashville
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL– Anton Walkes (Jake Mulraney) HIGHLIGHT 5’
NSH– Jalil Anibaba (Hany Mukhtar) HIGHLIGHT 14’
NSH– Hany Mukhtar HIGHLIGHT 49’
ATL– Jackson Conway (Marcelino Moreno) HIGHLIGHT 59’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
NSH – Randall Leal (yellow) 28’
ATL – Tyler Wolff (yellow) 39’
ATL – Santiago Sosa (yellow) 44’
ATL – Cubo Torres (yellow) 47’
ATL – Marcelino Moreno (yellow) 47’
ATL – Jake Mulraney (red) 74’
NSH – Luke Haakenson (yellow) 82’
NSH – Dax McCarty (yellow) 89’
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Alec Kann; Anton Walkes ©, Alex De John, Brooks Lennon; Santiago Sosa, Mo Adams (George Campbell 23’), Tyler Wolff (Mikey Ambrose 88’), Marcelino Moreno; Jake Mulraney, Erick “Cubo” Torres (Jackson Conway 53’), Machop Chol
Substitutes not used: Ben Lundgaard, Ronald Hernandez, Erik Lopez, Josh Bauer
NASHVILLE SC STARTING LINEUP
Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Jalil Anibaba, Dave Romney, Jack Maher (Abu Danladi 82’); Dax McCarty ©, Hany Mukhtar, Alex Muyl (Luke Haakenson 81’) , Brian Anunga; Randall Leal, CJ Sapong (Jhonder Cadiz 72’)
Substitutes not used: Daniel Rios, Eric Miller, Dylan Nealis, Matt LaGrassa, Taylor Washington, Bryan Meredith
OFFICIALS
Joe Dickerson (referee), Jeremy Hanson (assistant), Chantal Boudreau, (assistant), Silviu Petrescu (fourth), Younes Marrakchi (VAR), Jeff Muschik (AVAR).
TEAM NOTES
- Anton Walkes became the fourth player in Atlanta United history to wear the captain’s armband in an MLS match, along with Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowicz and Brad Guzan.
- Atlanta Homegrown Machop Chol made his first MLS start
- Anton Walkes scored his second goal of the season and fourth of his MLS career
- Jake Mulraney recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season.
- George Campbell came on to replace Mo Adams in the 23rd minute, marking the first time Atlanta had three Homegrown players on the field at the same time (Tyler Wolff, Machop Chol). Atlanta later had four, as Jackson Conway came on as a substitute for Cubo Torres.
- Conway scored his first MLS goal in his third appearance
