Substitute Jackson Conway scored his first career MLS goal and 10-man Atlanta United earned a 2-2 draw at Nashville SC on Thursday night in a game that will feel more like a victory for the visitors.
Anton Walkes also found the net early for 10-man Atlanta (2-3-7, 13 points), which remains winless in its last seven matches but has drawn five of those games.
Both goals came from set pieces for United, which was without 10 players between injuries and international absences and also lost Mo Adams to injury before halftime.
After the break, Jake Mulraney was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity when he tackled Randall Leal.
Jalil Anibaba scored his first goal of the season for the hosts to tie it at 1-1, early in the first half.
Hany Mukhtar converted from the penalty spot early in the second half for his fourth of the year after providing Anibaba’s assist as Nashville (4-1-7, 19 points) remained unbeaten in nine home games.
But, after scoring five goals in the 80th minute or later in its last five games, Nashville couldn’t find a sixth to complete back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Conway entered for Erick Torres in the 53rd minute. The 19-year-old pulled his side level six minutes later.
As Marcelino Moreno struck his corner from the left, Conway made a run toward the near post, then reversed course and backpedaled to lose his marker. The result was a tricky but unmarked header, and Conway guided it between goalkeeper Joe Willis and the left post.
In truth, Nashville was fortunate to pull level earlier after Torres committed an inexplicable hand ball. Mukhtar stepped up and converted the penalty.
Walkes gave Atlanta the lead after only five minutes when he headed in Mulraney’s diagonal free kick.
The lead was gone nine minutes later when Anibaba answered on a corner kick header of his own from Mukhtar’s service.
–Field Level Media