Bartosz Slisz scored his first career MLS goal in the 56th minute to help visiting Atlanta United record a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon.
Tristan Muyumba notched an assist and Brad Guzan turned aside four shots for Atlanta (3-6-4, 13 points), which saw its overall winless stretch extend to eight matches (0-4-4) and its road skid move to 0-3-3. Atlanta played without Giorgos Giakoumakis (hamstring) and Thiago Almada (calf).
Hany Mukhtar scored on a penalty kick in the 40th minute and Joe Willis did not make a save for Nashville SC (3-4-6, 15 points), who played their first match with interim coach Rumba Munthali at the helm. On Thursday, Nashville parted ways with Gary Smith, the only coach in the franchise’s MLS history.
Guzan was issued a yellow card after he came off his line and made contact with a hard-charging Mukhtar, who had gained inside position on an Atlanta defender in the penalty area. The 2022 MLS MVP made no mistake with the ensuing penalty kick, depositing the ball inside the right post for his third goal of the season.
Mukhtar nearly doubled the advantage in the 48th minute, but his blast caromed off the left post.
Two failed clearing attempts by Nashville SC led to Atlanta forging a 1-1 tie in the 56th minute. Slisz sized up his shot from outside the box and sent the ball past Willis inside the right post.
Nashville nearly regained the lead four minutes later after Jack Maher’s header following a corner kick deflected off a pair of bodies and went into the net. The apparent goal quickly was waved off after officials determined Maher had fouled Atlanta’s Ronald Hernandez prior to the header.
Nashville held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. It also finished with a 12-10 advantage in shots, with five of those coming on target. Atlanta United put just one shot on goal.
–Field Level Media
