Nashville SC beats Atlanta United, 3-1, for first MLS win in four weeks
Nashville SC is on a winning streak for the first time this season after defeating Atlanta United, 3-1, at Geodis Park on Saturday.
The victory over their Eastern Conference rivals was the second straight win for Nashville (4-3-3, 15 points), which beat San Antonio FC 1-0 in a U.S. Open Cup third-round game Wednesday. It marked Nashville's first win in its last four MLS games, dating back a 2-0 win at Orlando City SC on April 1.
Fafa Picault scored off a corner kick from Hany Mukhtar in the 36th minute, and Teal Bunbury tapped in the rebound of a Mukhtar shot in the 56th minute. Atlanta United (5-2-3, 18 points) picked up its pressure after Bunbury's goal but could only manage one goal, a Thiago Almada penalty kick with 20 minutes to play. Jacob Shaffelburg scored a counterattack goal in stoppage time to put the finishing touches on the victory.
Nashville will return to action when it hosts Chicago Fire FC on May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Here are three observations from Saturday's win:
Smith's lineup changes spark offense
Looking to ignite an attack that ranks in the bottom 10 of MLS with eight goals in nine games, Nashville coach Gary Smith tweaked his normal 4-4-2 formation, placing Picault up top to the left of Mukhtar and Teal Bunbury and moving Alex Muyl to left midfield. The result was Nashville's highest-scoring game of the season.
Picault's speed, combined with Mukhtar's dynamism and Bunbury's hold-up play, formed an attacking trio that created a steady flow of chances. Mukhtar's passing was precise all match — especially his corner kick, on which Picault rushed into the box unmarked to score, and on his through-ball assist to Shaffelburg. Muyl, normally a right-sided player, laced a crisp long ball down the left sideline to Mukhtar which culminated in Bunbury's goal.
Nashville had just 35% possession and took 11 shots to Atlanta's 16, but four of Nashville's shots were on goal compared to two of Atlanta's.
Walker Zimmerman looks healthy
Like many other regulars, Nashville's top defender didn't play against San Antonio, but rest for Zimmerman was more crucial than for most.
Zimmerman left Nashville's April 22 draw with Los Angeles FC after suffering from groin tightness, but Smith said Wednesday that he didn't believe there was any "lasting damage" and that Zimmerman was progressing well towards a return. If he felt any ill effects against Atlanta, he certainly didn't show them.
Zimmerman was a force in the air, coming up with several critical clearances and even winning balls on Atlanta's side of the field. He assisted on Picault's goal by getting a flick-on header off Mukhtar's corner kick.
MORE: Nashville SC scores late to beat San Antonio FC, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup third round
MORE: How Nashville SC's U.S. Open Cup win over San Antonio FC could help to galvanize team
Nashville continues its rivalry supremacy
The current iteration of Nashville SC played its first-ever MLS game against Atlanta United on Feb. 29, 2020, losing 2-1 at Nissan Stadium. Atlanta won the next meeting, 2-0, in Atlanta that August.
Since then, however, Nashville hasn't lost to their southern rivals. It began its current seven-game unbeaten streak against Atlanta with a 4-2 win in September 2020, and has four wins and three draws in that span.
Nashville's rivalry dominance includes a 3-2 win in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup third round at Geodis Park.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC beats Atlanta United, 3-1, snaps MLS winless streak
