MLS is back, and Atlanta United appear to be back to their losing ways as well
Good morning! Sydney here with this edition of the Scarves and Spikes Daily newsletter. Follow me on X, BSky, IG, and Threads.
Nashville SC 1, Atlanta United 0
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
After 50+ days of no matches, it looks as if nothing’s changed for Atlanta United. Same lack of ideas in the final third, same defensive mishaps, same result: a 1-0 loss to Nashville SC.
The thing is that Atlanta actually controlled the match somewhat well at various stages. It looked as if there was a decent chance that it might walk off the GEODIS Park pitch with a draw against the Supporters’ Shield leaders. But Shak Mohammed — who iced Atlanta’s loss to Nashville at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a late goal — broke the deadlock, getting to Alex Muyl’s header and putting it past Lucas Hoyos for what proved to be the winner.
From there, Atlanta never really looked like equalizing. Against the best defense in MLS, it would have already been a tough hill to climb. Considering the state of Atlanta United soccer these days, that hill may as well have been a mountain.
“We played like never, but we lost like always,” a frustrated Tata Martino said after the match. That about it sums it up.
(I’d be remiss to not mention Jay Fortune and Matt Edwards’s injuries. Hamstrings are always tricky, so let’s hope it’s nothing serious and that they’re back before too long.)
Atlanta United lose to the Supporters’ Shield leaders, with Jay Fortune’s injury status in question after leaving just after the 10-minute mark. Read more →
“At minimum, the team looked better drilled, and it appeared the chemistry was improved. Couple that with a few new signings and maybe the light really is visible at the end of the tunnel?” Read more →
Sydney and Tyler’s three after-the-whistle thoughts on Atlanta’s defeat at Nashville SC are live right now on YouTube. Watch now →
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