Nashville SC upset rivals Atlanta United 3-1 as Tennessee squad win its first MLS game since early April
- Nashville went 2-0 in 56′, but Atlanta’s Thiago Almada got close late
- Jacob Shaffelburg sealed all three points with a goal early in stoppage time
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Fafa Picault scored in the first half and Teal Bunbury and Jacob Shaffelburg converted in the second half as hosts Nashville SC broke a three-match MLS winless rut with Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Atlanta United.
Reigning MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar had two assists for Nashville SC, starting with Picault’s score from his corner in the 36th minute.
A rebound from his shot led to Bunbury’s goal in the 56th for Nashville SC (4-3-3, 15 points), who tallied two goals as they went 0-1-2 in their previous league games.
Despite playing without leading scorer Giorgos Giakoumakis (five goals) due to a hamstring injury, Atlanta (5-2-3, 18 points) had opportunities.
Trailing 2-0, Atlanta made things interesting when Thiago Almada’s successful penalty kick in the 72nd minute brought the visitors within a goal.
Nashville SC scored the team’s first league win since April 1 with a 3–1 victory over Atlanta
A goal from Teal Bunbury made it 2–0 early in the second half, but Atlanta’s Thiago Almada scored from the spot to pull a goal back and make it interesting.
But Jacob Shaffelburg (14) sealed the win in the ’90s, taking all three points for Nashville
However, Shaffelburg’s wave ended by beating Atlanta goaltender Clement Diop to seal the win in the 91st minute with his third goal of the season.
Neither side wasted time in picking up the pace. Atlanta dominated most of the first half and had its first real chance of the game.
That came in the 26th minute, when Matheus Rossetto’s drive was saved by diving Nashville keeper Joe Willis.
A minute later, however, the hosts almost opened the scoring, but Picault’s scoreless header went high over the bar.
Picault wouldn’t miss at the back post less than 10 minutes later, when he easily fired in Mukhtar’s corner kick that also deflected off teammate Walker Zimmerman.
11 minutes into the second half, Nashville SC extended their lead. Mukhtar pushed the ball onto the wing and the rebound from Diop’s hand save from his shot went straight to Bunbury to convert.
However, VAR overturned a non-penalty call on Nashville’s Dax McCarty in the penalty area after 69 minutes. That’s how he opened the door for Almada, on his 22nd birthday, to freeze Willis from the spot with a push.
Nashville SC is in the middle of a 3-0-3 series against Atlanta, which went on a 2-0-2 run in this game.