Atlanta United beat Nashville SC at home, 4-0 to pick up back-to-back wins.
Fresh off a much-needed win against the Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United returned home to Mercedes Benz Stadium to continue building momentum. The team is sporting a new “404” themed kit dedicated to everything representative of the city and blasting homegrown artists from the speakers. With the spirit of the fans behind them, Atlanta reponds.
Nashville SC strikes first, letting off two shots in the first 20 seconds. They are giving Atlanta everything they can handle by building defensive walls at every turn. Giorgios Giakoumakis is aggressive in stopping their advances but misses a goal off the post in the 8th minute. Thankfully, the squad responds to his energy and creates separation through crafty dribbling. Thiago Almada joins the efforts by attempting to score as well, but he misses several times, unable to connect. Later, Nashville SC is trying to bring back their energy from the opening minutes but needs help finding something. Finally, in minute 26, magic happens for Atlanta United.
Newcomer Xande Silva cuts through with a slicing right-foot shot to the lower corner of the goal with an assist from Almada. That assist is now Almada’s 12th on the season, tying his stats from last year and bumping his career total to 24, good for third most in Atlanta United history. Sean Davis of Nashville SC decides he has seen enough of Atlanta United’s attacks and brings fire. He attempts a goal at minute 28 but is ultimately unsuccessful. Atlanta United continues being aggressive, including a shot in minute 41 by Almada and keeps Nashville SC away from the goal for the remainder of the half.
When the squads return, it doesn’t take long for the score to change. Almada, who has been aggressive all night, scores a goal with an assist from Silva and Giakoumakis, putting Atlanta United up 2-0 in the 46th minute. Nashville SC is doing its best to hang in with Atlanta United, fending off multiple attempts by the squad, but their defense breaks. Like lightning in a bottle, Miles Robinson boosts the score to 3-0 in the 57th minute with an assist from the man of the night, Almada. The teams continue jockeying back and forth over the next several minutes, but Nashville SC cannot get out of its way, missing multiple attempts to get on the board.
Eventually, Atlanta United buries Nashville SC with a back-heel goal from a player signed just this week – Saba Lobjanidze. Mercedes Benz stadium erupts as the score balloons to 4-0, and Lobjanidze taps his wrist, signaling, “It’s my time.” Despite four minutes of stoppage time added, Atlanta United secures back-to-back wins and improves to 8-0 at home when leading at halftime. Additionally, Atlanta United has not conceded in 250 consecutive minutes, outscoring opponents 7-0 in that span. Atlanta United is now two points behind second place in the division.
After the game, the message was simple. Head Coach Gonzalo Pineda credited the players, saying he attributed this success to them executing and having “little cohesions,” which had been missing before and during the Leagues Cup. Defender Caleb Wiley also added his thoughts on tonight’s win. “It’s a boost of confidence for the team. When we scored that first goal, we set the tempo, one of our goals coming into this game.”
Atlanta United can keep its momentum going as it takes on Cincinnati at home on Wednesday, August 30, at 7:30 PM.
Hall About Sports 