Atlanta United 2 lost 3-0 to Nashville SC Saturday night at First Tennessee Park in the 2019 regular season finale.
ATL UTD 2 had a chance to take the lead in the first minute when Guillermo Benitez played Luiz Fernando down the left side. The Brazilian forward dribbled into the box and took a low shot aimed at the far corner, but Matt Pickens rushed out to deny the attempt and blocked it for a corner that was ultimately cleared.
Nashville took the lead in the 23rd minute from a corner. Justin Davis sent an in-swinging ball to the back post where Forrest Lasso finished with a header into the bottom right corner. Daniel Rios doubled the lead in the 33rd minute when he put away a bouncing through ball from Bolu Akinyode inside the box. Rios later added a second goal in the 39th minute.
Benitez nearly picked out the upper left corner in the 60th minute when he one-timed a left-footed shot, but an out-stretched Pickens pushed it away for a corner. Academy defender Garrison Tubbs also had a scoring opportunity in the 70th minute. Kevin Barajas recycled a cleared corner kick and delivered a cross from the left side towards the far post. Bienvenue Kanakimana headed the ball back to the center of the box where Tubbs put a shot on target, but Pickens again denied the attempt.
ATL UTD 2 finished its second season 9-17-8 with 35 points, besting its inaugural campaign by four points.
