USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Looking to Guard Home Field against the Steel

Published on August 24, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Back at the friendly confines of First Tennessee Park, Nashville SC has a chance over the next four days to lock in six critical points and further cement itself as a playoff team and possibly a top-four contender. It will begin on Saturday night at 7:30 at First Tennessee Park as Nashville takes on Bethlehem Steel FC, winners of five of its last six.

Bethlehem Breakdown

In the last month, Bethlehem have surged, finding plenty of goals, and thus plenty of wins. The Steel have won five of its last six games to go from outside to the playoff picture to 5th in the Eastern Conference. In those six contests, Bethlehem have scored 15 goals, taking advantage of an easier stretch of its schedule including win over Atlanta United 2, Richmond Kickers, Toronto FC 2 and most recently Ottawa Fury FC. The teams one loss in that stretch was a 2-1 defeat at home to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

Bethlehem have played four more games than Nashville, leaving just seven left on the schedule and fewer remaining opportunities for points. Including Nashville SC, the Steel will also have to play road games at Pittsburgh, Ottawa and Indy Eleven, teams with very good home records. With a tough schedule ahead and just 21 points possible left on the table, it will be important for Bethlehem to accumulate points as other teams, like Nashville, play more games down the stretch.

Nashville Narratives

Before the year began and the USL schedule was released, Nashville technical staff, players and fans identified the last 11 games as an opportunity to accumulate points and potentially make up ground in the standings. Saturday's game will kick that stretch off as Nashville hosts seven of its final 11 and play just four games against teams ahead of it in the standings, all at home. A win over Bethlehem would put Nashville just one point behind the Steel while keeping four games-in-hand. Smith has called the matchup a "Cup game" meaning it's a must win for Nashville SC.

Despite its scoring woes overall, Nashville hasn't had a problem bagging goals in First Tennessee Park. Of the eight games at FTP, SC has scored multiple goals in six of them, including its 2-0 win over Ottawa on August 10, and is 7-1-0 in the venue. Nashville will also want to continue its trend defensively at home. Bethlehem's 46 goals are sixth-best in the USL, but Nashville has allowed just three home goals all season. The defense will need another good performance on Saturday night to lock down a result.

Quotable

Head coach Gary Smith

"They were our first win of the season and it seems like a lifetime ago now. We are going to run into a young group who have matured throughout the course of the season. Never sure who is going to travel with the second teams but I expect some very creative individuals and it will be an extremely tough game. They know this is an important game with four games in hand against us. They'll need a win."

Watching the East

Nashville SC remains in a tie for 8th place in the Eastern Conference at 35 points, but have games in hand on the five teams ahead of it in the standings. A win on Saturday night, coupled with other results, could propel Nashville into 7th. Another win on Tuesday night could move it even higher.

How to Watch

Tickets are still available to the game at NashvilleSC.com/tickets but are going fast. If you are not able to make it to the game, the broadcast will air locally on MyTV30 and digitally across the country on ESPN+ with John Freeman and Ronnie Woodard on the call. On the radio, ESPN 94.9 Game 2 will have an English language broadcast while El Jefe 96.7 will have a Spanish language broadcast. Of course fans can also follow along via social media @NashvilleSC.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 24, 2018


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