ATLANTA — In a closely contested match on Saturday, Nashville SC managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United, thanks to a well-executed goal by defender Daniel Lovitz. The equalizing goal came during the second half, with Lovitz capitalizing on a corner kick delivered by Hany Mukhtar in the 66th minute. Mukhtar’s assist was his fourth for the season.
Lovitz, who has been a reliable presence on the field, celebrated his 275th career appearance by finding the back of the net for the fifth time since beginning his professional journey in 2014. This season alone, Lovitz has scored twice, adding to his tally of four goals over six seasons with Nashville. His earlier career saw him score once more while with CF Montreal in 2018.
On the other hand, Atlanta United took the early advantage when Miguel Almirón struck in the 20th minute with a goal right in front of the goalpost. This marked Almirón’s third goal of the current season and his 24th in total, propelling him to second place on the club’s all-time scoring list, surpassing Thiago Almada. Almirón, who was pivotal for Atlanta United during his tenure in the 2017-18 seasons, had returned with notable enthusiasm.
In terms of defense, Brad Guzan was busy between the posts for Atlanta, making four crucial saves. Joe Willis, Nashville’s goalkeeper, logged one save during the encounter. Despite the draw snapping a three-match losing streak, Atlanta United’s struggles continued as their winless stretch was extended to five matches, highlighting their difficult season start. Even with their early lead, it marked the first time in four fixtures that Atlanta found the net.
Nashville SC’s record against Atlanta United improved, now standing at 3-2-1 in away games, and leading the overall series 6-3-4. Looking ahead, Atlanta United is set to face the Chicago Fire on the road, while Nashville SC will be hosting Charlotte FC. Both teams are eager to strengthen their standings in upcoming matches.