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Nashville SC Thrives Under Pressure to Earn 2-0 Win over North Carolina FC at Nissan Stadium

October 14, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Saturday night's Nashville SC match against North Carolina FC came with all sorts of pressure.

Nashville needed a win to keep pace at the top of the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings and clinch a home playoff match. Couple that with a big environment at Nissan Stadium, and you've got one of the most high-stakes matches of the season.

However, the pressure wasn't too much for the Boys in Gold, as they cruised to a 2-0 win to secure at least one home playoff match. Despite periods of sustained pressure by North Carolina, particularly in the opening minutes of each half, Nashville bunkered in when necessary and broke out in the attacking third when needed on the way to a big win.

"I have to say, I'm absolutely delighted with the way that the guys approached this one," Head Coach Gary Smith said. "You can imagine that there's an awful lot of tension and a little bit of pressure starting to mount on both teams at the top of the table. We come to a venue that is not very natural to us, although our performances here have improved along the way. After Tuesday night's escapade and excitement, we find ourselves in such a grand stadium that we've now got to perform I think in a very different way. The circumstances are not the same. The way the game unfolded, I thought we started a little bit tentative, which was replicated in the second period in the first 15 minutes or so. But I thought for the vast majority of the game, we controlled the periods, we created some nice opportunities, and I thought we were deserved winners. I didn't think at any point in time that they deserved any more than what they got."

In the first half, Nashville withstood some early possession by North Carolina before starting to control the pace of play. That control was rewarded with a Ropapa Mensah goal off of a corner kick in the 32' minute. Despite a strong start for North Carolina in the second half, Nashville was able to break out and double its lead on a Lebo Moloto goal off of a beautiful Taylor Washington cross.

Washington was proud of the way the team remained calm and composed despite the pressure of the moment.

"Just going out there and doing your job, taking everything that's on the table for us and we did our part," he said. "The team played magnificently, and we've been working all year for this so this is the fun part. Just go out there and enjoy it and the do the best that we possibly can and we did."

With the win, Nashville SC will now host the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs at First Tennessee Park and can finish no lower than second place in the standings. A win over Atlanta United 2 this Saturday, coupled with a Pittsburgh Riverhounds loss or draw, would give Nashville SC first place and home field advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

While Saturday's result at Nissan Stadium was a big step forward, Washington knows the job isn't done yet.

"We still have one more game to go," he said. "We've been a great road team as well but down the stretch we've been a great home team as well so it is great to be able to sleep in your own bed, not travel, cook your own meals, things like that, but yeah. We're still focused on this win and we've still got Atlanta to go before the playoffs."

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