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USL Nashville SC

Final Road Game on Tap for Nashville SC in Richmond

October 5, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Playoff scenarios are now coming into clearer view and Nashville Soccer Club can significantly increase its playoff chances with three points on the road against the Richmond Kickers. Nashville will need to take advantage of two clear opportunities for points as they play the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference over the next four days starting with Richmond on Saturday night at 6 p.m.

Richmond Breakdown

Not much has changed for the Kickers since Nashville SC met them last on August 28 at First Tennessee Park. Since that 4-0 road loss, Richmond is 0-5-1 while being outscored 15-5 in the six games. It's a snapshot of what has been a disappointing season for the Kickers in which they have already been eliminated from the playoffs and have one win since July 9. The Kickers have allowed the most goals in the USL, 74, and have scored the fewest, 28.

On top of the season long struggles, Richmond will be without one of its best goalscorers in Heviel Cordovés, who will serve a one-game suspension on Saturday night. Cordovés' seven goals account for 25% of the total goals Richmond has scored this season, and his presence offensively will surely be missed by the Kickers.

Nashville Narratives

The biggest storyline for Nashville SC centers around the postseason. Nashville is one of six teams fighting for the final three spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. While SC is currently on the outside looking in, sitting in ninth because of a tiebreaker, it likely has the best shot of any of the six teams to make it in the final eight due to its end of the season schedule. As mentioned previously, Nashville will face the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference in its next two games, at Richmond on Saturday and vs. Toronto FC II on Tuesday night.

The easiest scenario for clinching a spot will be wins against Richmond and Toronto and a North Carolina FC win or draw against New York Red Bulls II on Saturday. Those three results would have Nashville locked in by Tuesday. There are thousands of other scenarios that could play out, but a win on Saturday would make SC's path to the playoffs a lot more clear heading into the final week of the season.

Quotable

Head Coach Gary Smith

"There is nothing less in our mind than a victory and the playoffs. That comes through focus, attitude, energy and a belief we can make the postseason."

How to Watch

The final road game of the season will kickoff at 6 p.m. CST and will be broadcast locally in Nashville on MyTV30. Fans across the country can tune in on ESPN+. A radio broadcast will also be available on ESPN 94.9 Game 2.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 5, 2018


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