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USL Nashville SC

Analyzing Nashville SC's 1-1 Draw at New York

March 28, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE -- Nashville Soccer Club has its first road test under its belt, and while it didn't bring home three points with a win, it did secure a hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls II on Sunday. This particular road draw stands out because of how rare it was against the three-time USL Eastern Conference finalist.

Nashville SC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first half thanks to a fantastic individual effort from Daniel Rios. Early in the second half, Brian White equalized off of a failed clearance from a set piece. Both teams had chances to find a winner in the final moments, but neither side could capitalize.

"I honestly felt there were some very good moments for us to extend our lead, and if we had been able to do that, I think that might have been enough," head coach Gary Smith said after the game. "However, when you look back on the balance of opportunities at both ends, a draw was probably a fair result, and against a very bright and positive New York side. I've seen lots of teams come here and get picked apart. I think it's a good result and there are some qualities within that result that will serve us well as we move into these next four games that are away from home out of the next five."

Smith isn't wrong when he says teams come to Red Bulls II and get picked apart. Last season, New York was one of the best USL Championship teams on home turf, sporting a 11-3-3 record in 2018 on the banks of the Hudson River. Dating back to the Red Bulls II's first season as a USL club in 2015, their home record stands at 37-15-10, meaning they win two out of every three games played at home.

How New York wins is just as impressive. In 2018, Red Bulls II finished third in the league with 74 goals, 49 of those coming at home. On seven occasions, New York scored four of more goals in a home game last season.

With the 1-1 draw this past Sunday, Red Bulls II has only been held to one or fewer goals at home five times since the beginning of the 2018 season. Nashville SC has been the opponent in two of those five games, holding Red Bulls II to one goal in each of its games in New York.

This time around, Nashville SC held NYRBII's attack to one goal despite facing 15 shot attempts. Nashville's league-best backline has continued its momentum from 2018 into this season, as it has given up just two goals through three games.

Sunday's game also marked goalkeeper Connor Sparrow's debut in a Nashville SC uniform, and he excelled in a tough environment, making a few key saves and other timely plays to keep the Red Bulls II attack at bay.

In his first start, communication with the backline was key for Sparrow, and he managed to direct traffic in front of him, keeping 12 of NYRBII's 15 shots off target and out of high-danger areas. It was just one game, but Sparrow hopes to keep up his level of play going into his next appearance.

"You obviously want to get off on a positive note, and I felt like I did my job," Sparrow said. "At the end of the day, obviously disappointed about the goal. A shutout would have been great, three points would have been great, but at the end of the day, we came here, it's a hard place to play and very good squad and we took a point."

With four points in the standings secured through three games, Nashville SC will have a bye weekend before its next game on the road at Ottawa Fury FC on April 6.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 28, 2019


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