ATLANTA (May 3, 2025) – Nashville Soccer Club came back from a 1-0 first half deficit to earn a 1-1 road draw at Atlanta United FC Saturday afternoon. Defender Dan Lovitz scored a set piece goal courtesy of a Hany Mukhtar corner kick in the 66th minute to secure the point for the Boys in Gold.
Dan the man: Lovitz, who leads MLS in goal contributions by a defender this season with five (two goals, three assists), set a new career high for regular season goals when he tied the match in the 66th minute.
Stay hot Hany: Mukhtar extended his point streak to two matches (two goals, two assists) when he registered his team-leading fourth assist of the season on Lovitz’s game-tying goal.
Next up: Nashville SC will begin 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play when it hosts fellow Tennessee side Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the Round of 32 at GEODIS Park on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. CT
Notes:
Nashville SC:
- out possessed (59% to 41%) and outshot (12 to 6) Atlanta while recording 2.2 to 1 xG
- leads MLS this season in goals by defenders with six
- recorded its sixth match of the season with 2+ expected goals (xG)
- is 4W-3L-5D vs. Atlanta United FC all-time in MLS play (regular season)
- is 5W-3L-5D vs. Atlanta all-time across all competitions (regular season + U.S. Open Cup)
- is 2W-2L-2D vs. Atlanta all-time on the road in MLS play (regular season)
- has scored 23 goals across all competitions vs. Atlanta, its most in a single series
- is 63W-56L-59D all-time in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
- is 25W-37L-28D all-time on the road in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
- is 44W-40L-41D all-time vs. Eastern Conference opponents in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
- is 12W-2L-9D all-time during May in MLS play (regular season)
- is 32W-35L-25D all-time on Saturday in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
- is 42W-45L-48D all-time on weekends in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
- is 19W-10L-20D all-time in regular season afternoon matches
- is 5W-34L-7D all-time when trailing at half in MLS play (regular season + playoffs)
Head Coach B.J. Callaghan is unbeaten at Atlanta (1W-0L-1D)
Dan Lovitz
- made his 150th career regular season appearance for Nashville SC
- recorded his second goal of the season, a new regular season career high
- leads MLS in goal contributions by a defender with five (two goals, three assists)
- earned Nashville SC Man of the Match honors
Jack Maher led the team with 94.6% passing accuracy (minimum 80 passes)
Hany Mukhtar
- served as team captain for the fourth time this season (2W-1L-1D)
- recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season on Dan Lovitz’s 66th minute goal
Jeisson Palacios
- led the team with three clearances
- made his fourth consecutive start in place of injured centerback Walker Zimmerman
Jacob Shaffelburg made his second start of the season
Sam Surridge made his 50th career MLS appearance, all with Nashville SC (regular season + playoffs)
Joe Willis recorded one save
Patrick Yazbek led all players with 8.76 miles covered
Box score:
Nashville SC (5W-4L-2D) at Atlanta United FC (2W-5L-4D)
May 3, 2025 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Final score:
NSH: 1
ATL: 1
Scoring summary:
ATL: Miguel Almirón (A: Brooks Lennon) 20’
NSH: Dan Lovitz (A: Hany Mukhtar) 66’
Discipline:
ATL: Mateusz Klich (Caution) 43’
ATL: Bartosz Slisz (Caution) 78’
ATL: Miguel Almirón (Caution) 82’
NSH: Jonathan Pérez (Caution) 90’ + 4
Lineups:
NSH starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz, Jeisson Palacios, Jack Maher, Andy Najar (Josh Bauer 89’); Patrick Yazbek, Hany Mukhtar (C), Jacob Shaffelburg (Ahmed Qasem 77’), Alex Muyl (Jonathan Pérez 63’), Eddi Tagseth; Sam Surridge
Substitutes: Brian Schwake, Bryan Acosta, Gastón Brugman, Teal Bunbury, Taylor Washington, Chris Applewhite
ATL starters: Brad Guzan (C); Derrick Williams, Brooks Lennon, Pedro Amador, Luis Abram; Saba Lobjanidze (Edwin Mosquera 67’), Miguel Almirón (Matthew Edwards 85’), Jay Fortune, Mateusz Klich (Bartosz Slisz 67’), Alexey Miranchuk; Emmanuel Latte Lath (Jamal Thiaré 85’)
Substitutes: Josh Cohen, Ronald Hernandez, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Will Reilly
Match officials:
Referee: Sergii Boiko
AR1: Jose Da Silva
AR2: Meghan Mullen
4TH: Sergii Demianchuk
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
Weather: Indoors
NEXT HOME MATCH
U.S. Open Cup - Round of 32
Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. CT | GEODIS Park
- Nashville SC faces Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
- Nashville SC is back in the historic U.S. Open Cup tournament for the first time since 2023 and hosting a Round of 32 match on May 6.
