Atlanta United takes a small step forward with 1-1 draw vs Nashville SC | OneFootball

In front of a raucous crowd of 41,893 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta United and Nashville SC battled to a 1-1 draw in a hotly contested Southern rivalry matchup. Miguel Almiron opened the scoring in the first half with a composed finish to move into second place on Atlanta United’s all-time goalscoring list, but Nashville responded through Daniel Lovitz in the second period to snatch a point on the road.

The draw extended Atlanta's winless run in their last five under Ronny Deila and reminded them of the finishing edge they still lack in closing out matches.

First Half: Almiron’s Landmark Moment

The opening stages saw Atlanta United take immediate control of possession, moving the ball crisply through midfield and looking to stretch Nashville wide. Ronny Deila’s 4-3-2-1 setup featured Almiron in his familiar roaming attacking role, and the Paraguayan looked lively from the outset.

After early half-chances for Emmanuel Latte Lath and Almirón in the sixth and 17th minute, Almirón broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. After Pedo Amador's teasing ball was punched clear by goalkeeper Joe Willis. The ball fell kindly to Brook Lennon, whose incisive pass split the Nashville backline. Almiron timed his run perfectly and stayed onside to slot it past Willis with his right foot.

It was his 24th goal for the Five Stripes, lifting him into second place on the club's all-time scoring chart behind Josef Martínez. The crowd erupted, and Almiron pointed skyward in a tribute highlighting how much his return to the club has meant.

Nashville, meanwhile, struggled to string together meaningful possessions. They were primarily pinned back, relying on long balls toward Sam Surridge and the creative instincts of Mukhtar to break Atlanta’s press. Atlanta's midfield trio of Aleksey Miranchuk, Almiron, and Saba Lobjanidze largely controlled proceedings.

Second Half: Missed Chances and a Nashville Response

The second half saw Nashville emerge with more urgency. B.J. Callaghan’s adjustments included pushing Mukhtar into a more central role, and it paid dividends. The German playmaker began finding pockets of space behind Atlanta’s midfield and tested Brad Guzan with a dipping shot in the 52nd minute.

Atlanta responded with pressure of their own, and they had golden opportunities to extend the lead. Willis twice denied Ajani Fortune — first from a point-blank header and later with a low drive pushed wide. Saba also clipped the bar with a curling effort in the 63rd minute, as the Five Stripes sought to put the game to bed.

Atlanta conceded a corner courtesy of Luis Abram and from a well-taken corner kick, Nashville found their equalizer in the 66th minute. Mukhtar picked out Lovitz at the post. He cushioned the ball gently through traffic and passed Brad Guzan to restore parity. The goal was Nashville’s first shot on target since halftime, underscoring how dangerous they remain in transition.

The final 20 minutes were tense and open. Both teams pushed for a winner, and the game tilted end-to-end. Substitute Jamal Thiare nearly made an instant impact for Atlanta but flashed his shot just wide, while Mukhtar forced a late fingertip save from Guzan in stoppage time.

Final Whistle: A Point Shared, Questions Remain

Atlanta fans will feel frustrated not to have taken all three points, especially after a dominant first half. But building on early momentum continues to be a problem, particularly after halftime. On the plus side, Almiron's goal could be something for the Paraguayan star to build on.

For Nashville, it was a classic road performance — disciplined, opportunistic, and anchored by another moment of brilliance from Mukhtar. Though their attack often seemed stagnant, they did enough to leave with a valuable point and deny their rivals bragging rights.

Atlanta United travels to face Inter Chicago next week in what promises to be another high-profile showdown, while Nashville returns home to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. With the early playoff race intensifying, both clubs will see this result as a platform from which to build — but also a missed opportunity.

Atlanta United (4-3-3)  Player Ratings

GK-Brad Guzan – 6.5  Made a crucial late save on Mukhtar but had little to do otherwise. Solid distribution under pressure.

RB-Brooks Lennon – 6.0  Energetic as always on the right, but his delivery from wide areas was inconsistent.

CB-Luis Abram – 6.5  Steady and alert, kept Surridge relatively quiet and was tidy in possession.

LB-Pedro Amador – 7.0  Strong in aerial duels and showed good composure. Growing in confidence.

CB-Derrick Williams – 7.0  Excellent first half. Assisted in the buildup to the goal and defended well against Shaffelburg.

RM-Ajani Fortune – 7.0  Buzzed around midfield, broke up attacks, and transitioned play efficiently.

LM-Mateusz Klich – 6.5  Brought experience and leadership in the middle but faded late on.