History makers combined for Atlanta United in a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC. Brooks Lennon and Miguel Almirón provided the lone goal of the match for the 5-Stripes, earning a share of the points for their side. Atlanta United snapped a goalless streak that went on for over 360 minutes.
Final score: Atlanta United 1, Nashville SC 1
Quote from head coach Ronny Deila: "I think we played really well to the goal. We were the team that we wanted to be, the team that we're talking about. I'm very happy that I see that, and I saw a lot of energy. In the second half, we started to be more passive. That's not something we talk about, not something we want to do ... What we have done this week, keep on doing the same things, believing what we're doing, and get that [first] period way longer."
What happened: Atlanta United got started early through quick switches way out wide. Pedro Amador was running just paces away from the sideline, finding plenty of space to get forward. Brooks Lennon was literally standing out of bounds and coming back in to receive the ball.
All that stretching allowed more space in the center for the likes of Mateusz Klich, Alexey Miranchuk and Miguel Almirón.
Undoubtedly, the first 10 minutes were all Atlanta. It was consistent possession, but unlike in past matches this season, it wasn't wasteful possession. The patience was definitive, as the 5-Stripes were willing to wait for lanes to open up.
Yet, the best chance of the day early on came for Nashville, as Miranchuk's errant back pass led to a cross and near finish at the back post. Sam Surridge just couldn't get on top of the ball, and it soared over.
Not but a minute later in the 20th minute, Atlanta United struck first, and it was a double milestone moment. Amador's cross was dangerous, and Nashville keeper Joe Willis came out to punch, leveling Latte Lath in the process. The ball fell to Brooks Lennon, who whipped a low ball into the path of Almirón, who tapped it in for 1-0.
The goal was Almirón's 24th for the club in MLS regular season matches, putting him at second most in club history and surpassing Thiago Almada. The assist for Lennon was his 40th, breaking the tie he had with Julian Gressel and putting him first in Atlanta United history in career assists.
Things got tense as Nashville opened up after conceding, but that didn't change the way Atlanta United looked in defense. They were compact and organized, not reaching too far out of position to try and win the ball back but instead pressing intelligently. The match settled down into the end of the first half, and the 5-Stripes led at halftime for the first time since April 5 against FC Dallas.
Nashville stepped on the gas in the second half, mostly by securing a large share of the ball. They earned set piece after set piece, and eventually found the equalizer. A corner cross found Daniel Lovitz, whose volley was pure and into the bottom right corner, leveling the score at one in the 66th minute.
Deila brought four substitutes — Edwin Mosquera, Bartosz Slisz, Matt Edwards and Jamal Thiaré — in the later stages of the match, but Atlanta United was unable to get a foothold in the second half.
Instead, it was Brad Guzan coming up with crucial saves to maintain the result. The captain denied Hany Mukhtar from just a few feet away in the 75th minute, standing strong in the net. Neither squad could find the winner, and the match ended in a draw.
Key stat: 8. That's how many corners Nashville had on the afternoon. Their lone goal came from one of those eight, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before they found a way to capitalize on one of them.
Standouts: Miguel Almirón, starting in the No. 10 role, was sensational. His propensity for carrying the ball forward out of really tight positions was very useful, as Nashville threw bodies at him when he came back to receive the ball. His goal in the 20th minute was a tap-in finish, but his positioning earned the comfortable finish.
Pedro Amador, whose initial cross set up the goal, played an instrumental role all over the pitch Saturday. He was consistently an option out on the left side of the Atlanta United attack, but that didn't stop him from recovering to make timely defensive plays. His ability to play up and down the left flank has been massive for the 5-Stripes this season.
Milestones:
-- Miguel Almirón and Saba Lobjanidze both made their 350th career club appearances. Saba also picked up his 50th cap for Atlanta United, becoming one of just 30 players in club history to reach half a century of appearances.
-- Miguel Almirón scored his 24th career MLS regular season goal for Atlanta United, putting him in second place in club history. Only Josef Martínez has more with 98 goals.
-- Brooks Lennon broke Atlanta United's all-time assists record, surpassing Julian Gressel with his 40th career assist with the club.
Next up: Atlanta United will hit the road again, this time heading north to Chicago for a date with the Fire. The 5-Stripes will go from one NFL stadium to another, as the match will kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 10 at Soldier Field.
