NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bartosz Slisz scored his first career goal 10 minutes into the second half to help Atlanta United draw 1-1 with Nashville SC on Saturday.
Nashville (3-4-7), in its first game since joining the league in 2020 without coach Gary Smith leading the way, earned a draw under interim coach Rumba Munthali. Munthali, a former Nashville player and current player development coach, took temporary charge after Smith was fired on Thursday.
Atlanta United (3-6-5), who played without Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, have not won in eight games. Atlanta lost its dynamic duo to injuries in a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati last week.
Nashville took a 1-0 halftime lead on a Hany Mukhtar’s penalty goal at 40 minutes. Mukhtar’s third goal of the season came after Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Gusan was booked for a foul on Mukhtar in the box.
Slisz, a rookie midfielder, pulled Atlanta United forward even when he received a pass from Tristan Muyumba and fired a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner of the net in the 55th minute. It was the first assist of the season for Muyumba, who registered a goal and an assist in 10 appearances last season, his first in the league.
Joe Willis did not make a save in goal for Nashville. Guzan stopped four shots for Atlanta United, including three in the second half.
Nashville leads the all-time series 4-3-4. Atlanta United handed Nashville its worst defeat, 4-0, at the end of last season. Nashville picked up a 3-1 victory the last time Atlanta United came to town, in April of last season.
Atlanta United return home to face Los Angeles FC on Saturday. Nashville travels to play CF Montreal on Saturday.
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