Atlanta United Makes History in Music City
Atlanta United fans finally have a reason to celebrate in Nashville. On Saturday night, the 5-Stripes defeated Nashville SC 1-0 at GEODIS Park, securing their first-ever win at the venue and their first road victory of the 2025 MLS season.
The heroes? Ronald Hernández, who delivered the match-winning header, and Jayden Hibbert, the young goalkeeper who produced a career-defining clean sheet with seven spectacular saves. To cap it off, MLS named three Atlanta United players to the Team of the Matchday — the first time this has happened in 2025.
Ronald Hernández Breaks Through with a Rare Goal
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute, and it almost didn’t happen. Atlanta United’s first attempt at a free kick was called back by the referee. On the retake, Steven Alzate floated in a perfect ball, and Hernández rose high to meet it, powering a header off the post and in.
It was just the Venezuelan fullback’s second career goal in MLS, and the celebration reflected what it meant: passion, relief, and belief that Atlanta could finally conquer Nashville away from home.
“The timing was perfect, the delivery was perfect — all I had to do was finish it,” Hernández said postgame.
That finish earned him a spot in the MLS Team of the Matchday starting XI.
Jayden Hibbert’s Star-Making Performance
While Hernández scored the winner, it was Jayden Hibbert who preserved it. Starting just his fourth career MLS match, the 21-year-old Canadian goalkeeper put on a show that could signal the start of something special.
Hibbert made seven saves, including a crucial stop on Hany Mukhtar in the 66th minute. He also commanded his box with confidence, claiming crosses and cutting out Nashville’s attempts to play in behind.
Advanced stats back up just how good he was: Hibbert faced 1.5 post-shot expected goals (PSxG) on the night and saved them all. For context, that means Nashville was statistically expected to score at least once — but Hibbert denied them every time.
This was Hibbert’s second consecutive clean sheet, showing that Atlanta may have found its goalkeeper of the future.
Steven Alzate Shines in First Start
The third name on the MLS Team of the Matchday was Steven Alzate, who earned a bench spot after an excellent first start with Atlanta United.
The Colombian-English midfielder not only set up Hernández’s goal but also impressed with his calm presence in possession, sharp passing, and ability to connect the lines in midfield.
For a player who was only just signed in the summer transfer window, Alzate’s performance suggests he could quickly become a fixture in Ronny Deila’s starting XI.
Why This Win Matters
This wasn’t just another three points — it was a turning point:
- First road win of 2025: Atlanta had struggled away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but now they’ve broken that streak.
- First-ever win at GEODIS Park: The 5-Stripes had never beaten Nashville away until now.
- Confidence booster: With three players making Team of the Matchday, the squad’s morale will be sky-high.
Check out our full match recap of Atlanta’s draw vs. Toronto here ➝
What’s Next for Atlanta United?
The international break arrives just in time for the squad to rest and recharge. A whopping nine Atlanta United players will leave for international duty, including Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) and Ronald Hernández (Venezuela).
The 5-Stripes return to MLS action on Saturday, September 13, when they host the Columbus Crew at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For more on Atlanta United players abroad, check out our International Duty Tracker ➝
Final Word
Atlanta United fans, what do you think — is Jayden Hibbert the goalkeeper of the future? And how big was Hernández’s goal for the season momentum?
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter/X and Facebook using #ATLUTD.
