Atlanta United forward Xande Silva #16 celebrates with teammates after a goal during the first half of the match against Nashville SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Saturday August 26, 2023. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta United)

Atlanta United routs rivals Nashville SC 4-0

In front of 67,514 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta United defeated rivalsĀ  Nashville SC 4-0 on Saturday August 26.

Four separate players scored as Xande Silva earned his first club goal in the first half before Thiago Almada, Miles Robinson and new signing Saba Lobjanidze each found the back of the net in the second half. Atlanta also kept its eighth clean sheet of the year and moved within two points of second place in the Eastern Conference. Almada scored once and contributed two assists.

Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 28 of the 2023 MLS season. Almada becomes the first player this season to be named MLS Player of the Matchday three different times, after doing so on Matchday 1 and 4.

On the season, Almada now has 22 goal contributions (nine goals, 13 assists), which is tied with FC Cincinnatiā€™s Luciano Acosta for the most in the league.

Up next: Atlanta United (11-7-8, 41 points) returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium when it hosts FC Cincinnati Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m