ATLANTA, Ga. (Aug. 26, 2023)– Nashville Soccer Club (11W-9L-5D, 38 pts) fell 4-0 to Atlanta United FC (11W-7L-8D, 41 pts) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in its return to MLS regular season via goals from Xande Silva, Thiago Almada, Miles Robinson and Saba Lobjanidze. Nashville SC has two more opportunities to pick up points this week, with a midweek competition in Miami and a Saturday match against Charlotte FC back at GEODIS Park on Sept. 2, 2023.
Players Back: Defender Jack Maher and midfielder Aníbal Godoy returned to MLS play, registering 90 minutes on the night. While Maher was missing since suffering an injury on July 8 at Chicago Fire FC, Godoy was on international duty since June 10 at Toronto FC. Both players returned to Nashville SC’s lineups in Leagues Cup 2023.
Sam Starts: Nashville SC’s newly signed Designated Player Sam Surridge made his MLS debut as he recorded 68 minutes with his start in the match. Surridge made four appearances with one start in Nashville SC’s Leagues Cup 2023 run and recorded three goals and two assists in that tournament.
Midweek Miami: Nashville SC will continue its busy three-match week as it heads to face off against Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match marks the second time in MLS competition the two sides have met, and the fourth across all competitions this season. The game will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and on 104.5 The Zone.
Match Timeline:
ATL 26’: Thiago Almada slots a ball into the box for Xande Silva to knock into the back of the net
ATL 46’: Xande Silva finds Thiago Almada in the box, and Almada sends the ball into the back of the net
ATL 57’: Thiago Almada services a corner to find Miles Robinson’s head for the goal
ATL 87’: Saba Lobjanidze takes the ball finds the back of the net off a backheel maneuver
Notes:
- Nashville SC:
- lost its first match against Atlanta United since August 2020
- sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 38 points
- recorded an accurate passing percentage of 82.6% tonight
- Aníbal Godoy made his return to MLS for the first time since June 10 against Toronto FC as he captained the Panamanian national team through its 2023 Nations League and 2023 Gold Cup Final runs
- Dan Lovitz led the team with four chances created and two clearances
- Lukas MacNaughton led the team with two interceptions
- Jack Maher made his return to MLS registering 90 minutes after his injury on July 8, 2023 vs. Chicago Fire FC
- Hany Mukhtar wore the captain’s armband for the eighth time this season, extending his record as captain to 4W-2L-2D
- Alex Muyl led the team with five tackles and two tackles won
- Sam Surridgemade his MLS debut by registering 68 minutes
Box Score:
Nashville SC (11W-9L-5D, 38 pts) vs. Atlanta United FC (11W-7L-8D, 41 pts)
Aug. 26, 2023 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Final Score:
NSH: 0
ATL: 4
Scoring Summary:
ATL: Xande Silva (A: Thiago Almada) 26’
ATL: Thiago Almada (A: Xande Silva) 46’
ATL: Miles Robinson (A: Thiago Almada) 57’
ATL: Saba Lobjanidze (Unassisted) 87’
Discipline:
ATL: Tristan Myumba (Caution) 34’
ATL: Gonzalo Pineda (Caution) 35’
ATL: Tyler Wolff (Caution) 66’
Lineups:
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Lukas MacNaughton, Jack Maher, Shaq Moore; Hany Mukhtar (C) (Ethan Zubak 89’), Jacob Shaffelburg (Luke Haakenson 68’), Alex Muyl (Tah Brian Anunga 68’), Aníbal Godoy, Sean Davis (Randall Leal 68’); Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 68’)
Substitutes: Dax McCarty, Ethan Zubak, Laurence Wyke, Josh Bauer, Elliot Panicco
ATL Starters: Brad Guzan (C); Luis Abram, Brooks Lennon, Miles Robinson, Caleb Wiley (Ronald Hernandez 77’); Tristan Myumba Nkita, Thiago Almada, Mattheus Rossetto, Edwin Mosquera (Tyler Wolff 61’); Girgos Giakoumakis, Xande Silva (Saba Lobjanidze 61’)
Substitutes: Santiago Sosa, Amar Sejdic, Derrick Etienne Jr., Miguel Berry, Juan Jose Purata, Quentin Westberg
Match Officials:
Referee: Jon Freeman
AR1: Jason White
AR2: Gianni Facchini
4TH Official: Joshua Encarnacion
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Jozef Batko
Weather: Clear, 90 degrees
