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USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC's Playoff Magic Number at 9

September 6, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


It's Nashville Soccer Club's "Magic Number" of points to finish in the top 10 of the Eastern Conference and clinch a second consecutive USL Championship playoff berth. Nashville SC will clinch when the Magic Number hits 0 which could happen from Nashville earning points or Saint Louis dropping them.

While there is a good bit of math involved with coming to that Magic Number, the simple explanation is that Nashville needs to more points than the team currently with the 11th most possible points left in the 2019 regular season. Right now, that 11th team is Nashville's next opponent, Saint Louis FC.

How does that impact this weekend's match?

With a win and three points earned, thus taking away three points from Saint Louis, Nashville can lower its Magic Number to 3, needing just one more win in its final six matches of the season to secure one of the 10 coveted playoff spots.

The soonest Nashville can clinch an Eastern Conference playoff spot is September 14th when Saint Louis travels to Birmingham Legion FC. A Saint Louis loss in that match, coupled with a Nashville win on Saturday against STL would lower the Magic Number to 0.

Of course a win on Saturday would mean much more than just lowering a Magic Number. It would mean first place in the East for Nashville SC, a summit still yet to be conquered in the club's two-year history.

Kickoff is a 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night and the game will be broadcast locally on MyTV30 and digitally on ESPN+.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 6, 2019


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