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USL Nashville SC

Nashville Back at Home for Key Saturday Showdown

September 28, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Three crucial road points were key in getting Nashville SC into a playoff spot. Now it will need a result against New York Red Bulls II on Saturday night at home in order to remain in the top eight. In what is essentially a playoff game for both teams, both Nashville and New York sit right on the cutoff of the USL playoffs with just four games remaining in each of its schedules.

New York Breakdown

The biggest storyline heading in to the game on the New York side is its road form. This season, New York is 0-5-9 on the road, and is quickly approaching the one year anniversary of its last regular season USL road victory (October 7, 2017). While New York has gotten nine road results - all draws, it will likely need at least one road win down the stretch as three of its final four games this season are away from home.

Scoring has not been an issue for the Red Bulls II this season as the club has produced the third-most goals in the USL with 62. Looking a little deeper though, New York has just 16 of those goals on the road while 46 have come at home. The club is averaging just 1.1 goals per game on the road while averaging nearly three per game at home. The trend should bode well for Nashville at First Tennessee Park on Saturday.

Nashville Narratives

A different goal scoring split favors Nashville SC. When Nashville scores two or more goals, like it did on Wednesday night against Atlanta United, its record is 9-0-1. That stat speaks to SC's great overall defense, and how good it is when playing with a lead. Nashville has also never lost a game it has led at any point. In 12 games at First Tennessee Park, Nashville SC is averaging 1.75 goals per game, just a hair under that magic number of two.

One of the biggest positives to come out of the Atlanta game outside of the win was the chemistry up top between forwards Ropapa Mensah and Tucker Hume. Head coach Gary Smith used the word "fantastic" to describe the combo. The forward position has been in flux throughout the season, but some stability at the end of the season could be key to a late surge for SC.

Quotable

Winger Taylor Washington

"[New York Red Bulls II is] a great organization and they have great young talent, but we have our guys, and I stand by our guys, and I know that we will get the job done."

Watching the Standings

Nashville is in 8th place at 43 points and New York is in 9th at 42. With the two teams being so close, getting a win for Nashville to create some separation is vital. One other game to keep an eye on this weekend is 7th place Ottawa Fury FC hosting 6th place Bethlehem Steel FC. If Nashville were to win and the other game finish in a tie, Nashville would come out of the weekend tied for sixth with the Steel.

How to Watch

Limited tickets are still available to Saturday night's game at NashvilleSC.com/tickets. The game will be available locally on MyTV30 and digitally on ESPN+. Radio broadcasts will also be available in English on ESPN 94.9 Game 2 and Spanish on El Jefe 96.7 FM.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 28, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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