USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Scores Early and Late in 4-1 Preseason Win

Published on February 27, 2019 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Nashville Soccer Club started fast and finished strong at Lipscomb University on Wednesday night with two goals in the first 10 minutes and two in the final 16 as the professional side beat the college side 4-1. Forwards Tucker Hume, Daniel Ríos and Cameron Lancaster and midfielder Lebo Moloto all scored for the visitors in the preseason win.

90 in a Nutshell

The friendly couldn't have gotten off to a better start for Nashville as the club tallied in the opening two minutes off a deflection from a cross into the box by Kharlton Belmar. Hume was credited with the goal as he was in the area making a run towards the goal. Seven minutes later, Moloto capitalized on a prime chance at the top of the box as the ball fell to the midfielder with the net open. It was the first of the preseason for Moloto, who has spent the offseason recovering from a knee injury suffered late in the season in 2018.

Nashville SC didn't hit the scoresheet again in the first half, and early in the second, Lipscomb halved the deficit to tighten the collars of NSC fans. After mass substitutions for the final 30 minutes saw MLS signee forwards Lancaster and Ríos come on to the pitch together, the tables turned back towards Nashville. Lancaster capitalized on an indirect free kick inside the box off a touch from Michael Reed in the 74'. Then in the 84' Ríos thumped home a rebound from a Matt LaGrassa cross to provide the final tally.

Goals

2' NSH - Tucker Hume (Kharlton Belmar)

9' NSH - Lebo Moloto

63' LIP - Ryan Birchfield

74' NSH - Cameron Lancaster (Michael Reed)

84' NSH - Daniel Ríos

Coach's Corner

Head coach Gary Smith

"[Lipscomb's] very competitive. I think they're well set-up and well organized, and it makes it a really decent game. What differences from last year, I think our possession, we looked brighter, we looked more fluid with the ball, there was a lot more composure about us, which was nice to see after a really tough encounter on Friday. A big part of tonight was to look a little bit more confident and to work in a little more fluid manner with the ball. I think we saw that an awful lot more. Kharlton Belmar looked bright, had plenty of sights at goal. Unfortunately, not getting himself on the sheet, but certainly looked a goal threat. Of course, looking at [Lancaster and Ríos], they score when they come on, bodes well. I'd like to see a lot more of them together, but preseason has been that way. They've both had their little issues. All and all, a really good night all around. We've come away from it with no injury problems and a really good workout."

Key Stat

Shots 19-3

Nashville SC peppered the Lipscomb net all night as it put up 19 shots, 8 on target, and controlled the majority of possession throughout the match. While he didn't score, forward Kharlton Belmar was dangerous all night, accounting for five shots himself and a litany of quality chances for Nashville SC.

Up Next

Nashville SC will play its final preseason friendly this weekend in Evansville against Indy Eleven at 2 p.m. The game will be an early look at two of the Eastern Conference favorites on a neutral field.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 27, 2019


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