NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bartosz Slisz scored his first career goal 10 minutes into the second half to help shorthanded Atlanta United earn a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday.
Nashville (3-4-7), in its first match since joining the league in 2020 without manager Gary Smith leading the way, earned the tie under interim manager Rumba Munthali. Munthali, a former Nashville player and the current player development coach, took the temporary reins after Smith was fired on Thursday.
Atlanta United (3-6-5), which played without Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, is winless in its last eight matches. Atlanta lost its dynamic duo to injuries in last week’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati.
Nashville took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a penalty-kick goal by Hany Mukhtar in the 40th minute. Mukhtar’s third goal of the season came after Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Gusan was tagged with a yellow card for a foul on Mukhtar in the penalty area.
Slisz, a rookie midfielder, pulled Atlanta United even when he took a pass from Tristan Muyumba and drilled a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the net in the 55th minute. It was the first assist of the season for Muyumba, who had a goal and an assist in 10 appearances last season, his first in the league.
Joe Willis did not have 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 late last season. Nashville posted a 3-1 victory the last time Atlanta United came to town in April of last season.
Atlanta United returns home to play Los Angeles FC on Saturday. Nashville travels to play CF Montreal on Saturday.
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