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USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Looking Inward Ahead of Return to Action against Bethlehem Steel FC

June 8, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - This Sunday in Philadelphia, Nashville Soccer Club will emerge from a lengthy break and get another crack at league play in a matchup against Bethlehem Steel FC.

During the week and a half of rest, the Boys in Gold had the chance to reflect on what they were doing well during a chaotic month of May and make proper internal adjustments to continue its four-match unbeaten run in USL Championship play.

"When there's a little bit more time in between, I do always feel it's a good opportunity to reinforce some of the main characteristics of the group," Head Coach Gary Smith said. "We've been looking at what we're like as a group without the ball, probably more importantly, how are we going to break teams down when that moment comes around again, and what are we like in possession and creating. It's been a really nice perspective from the back-to-back games where you're trying to keep players fresh, and you're just really planning for the next opponent."

Nashville's last outing ended with lots of frustration as it lost in penalties in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup to Charleston Battery. In that match, Nashville SC had the lion's share of scoring chances, but couldn't muster more than one goal through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time.

That has certainly been a focus for Smith and the players throughout this break, but at the end of the day, scoring goals comes down to execution in the moment.

"I honestly thought that our creation and our mentality against Charleston was very good in terms of trying to break a team down and to get back in a game and go on and win it," Smith said. "I did honestly feel as though there were loads of dimensions to it that were very good, and it was just that final execution in front of goal. There's only so much I believe you can do when you're going through those periods. I think Lebo [Moloto] had six efforts, none on target. Daniel [Ríos] has been great for us, had one out of his three efforts on target. The finishing across the board for lots of players was just not good on the night. Yes, of course, we've looked at some more practical dimensions to that, what does it look like finishing off of crosses, what does it look like in combination play. The bottom line is when those moments come, the guys we know who have been very efficient for us in the past have got to stay calm, they've got to stay collected, and they've got to make those moments count. As long as we continue along the same line and in the same vein, I suspect we'll win more than we'll lose."

While that loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the team, captain Michael Reed hopes the squad is well-rested and ready to put the Open Cup defeat behind them with a solid effort on the road at Steel FC.

"You can't look towards the past, you've got to look towards the future. If guys come in with a positive attitude and are willing to fight, then we'll be alright. It's tough whenever you have overtimes, it's tough when you have eight games in 26 days. Hopefully the guys recharge and are ready for the season. I think if you look forward at the games we have, we have a couple of weekends off, which is nice. No excuses not to be recharged."

Facing Bethlehem Steel FC is no easy task, as the squad sees plenty of rotation based on first-team needs for MLS' Philadelphia Union and international team duty. However, no matter who shows up for Steel FC on Sunday at McCarthy Stadium, Smith knows his team will have to be disciplined to get another road victory.

"They have had some mixed results this year, and there have been a lot of changes there in the way that they play," Smith said. "They're, of course, emulating their first team and they've got this diamond shape in the midfield and a front two, which is different than the group last year. They look a younger group as well, I think they've predominately been more academy players than possibly last year. Nevertheless, they're always a talented group, they have a wonderful system there, the products of that are seen in the first team, so this has been a really good staging ground for those younger players to develop. I believe we're away from the main stadium, which will present some other new characteristics. But all in all, it really is about how we've come through a decent period when we've had a lot of games in a short space of time, and having had the time to recover and regroup, I'd like to think we can get out of the traps quickly and we can make the most of what will be two away games, and the first one being a difficult encounter as always."

Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT on Sunday. Be sure to check out our Parking Lot Party at Waldo's Chicken and Beer to watch the match with other Nashville SC fans.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 8, 2019


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