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Preview: Lancaster's Return Highlights Nashville SC's Upcoming Trip to Louisville

July 4, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE -- One of the juiciest matchups for the season for Nashville Soccer Club, and possibly for the entire USL Championship, will take place on Saturday night as Nashville travels less than two hours north on I-65 to face two-time defending USL Cup champion Louisville City FC at Slugger Field. The match is rife with storylines as the rivals face off for the first time in the 2019 regular season.

How to Follow

Local TV Broadcast: MyTV30

Radio Broadcast: ESPN 94.9 Game 2

Digital Stream: ESPN+

Social Media: @NashvilleSC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Last Time Out

Nashville SC suffered its first loss in nearly two months last Saturday night in a 1-0 defeat on the road to North Carolina FC in Cary, N.C. It was a frustrating match as the North Carolina defense stifled Nashville's attack all evening. One first half goal ended up being the difference as North Carolina leapfrogged Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings.

Scouting Louisville City FC

Possibly Nashville SC's biggest USL Championship rival, Louisville City is the reigning two-time USL Cup champions, earning two stars above its crest. This season did not get off to a good start for the defending champs as Louisville lost three of its first five matches. That start to the season was a precursor to some inconsistency as Louisville has had stretches where it has looked the part of a defending champ, and at other times a middle of the pack Eastern Conference club.

Louisville made headlines this week as it dealt forward Lucky Mkosana, signed this past offseason, to Tampa Bay Rowdies in a trade to acquire midfielder Antoine Hoppenot. Hoppenot has been one of the better creators in the league for the past several seasons as head coach John Hackworth looks to buoy an attack that has scored just 25 goals in 17 matches in 2019, a far cry from the elite offense Louisville has displayed in the past.

Storylines to Watch

Lancaster's Return

Cameron Lancaster was awarded the USL Championship's Golden Boot last season, setting a league record with 25 goals in 2018 for Louisville City. Now Lancaster has traded his purple for Nashville SC gold as he signed an MLS contract with Nashville this past offseason. Saturday's match will be the first meaningful one for Lancaster against the only American club he has ever played for. Lancaster is certainly familiar with the quirks of Slugger Field and will be itching to return to the site of so much career success.

Bouncing Back

It has been seven weeks since Nashville SC has had to bounce back from a USL Championship defeat. In league matches following a loss this season, Nashville is 1-2-0, finding a result each of the three times. Against a fellow Eastern Conference playoff team like Louisville City, Nashville will need to regain its form to come back to the Music City with points.

Renewing the Rivalry

Nashville SC and Louisville City have met four times in competition, three in USL Championship play and once in the Round of 16 in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. In the four matches, Louisville leads the series 2-1-1 and has taken two wins and a draw on home turf. Nashville's most recent match in Louisville was its best as it held the future champions to a 0-0 draw at Slugger in August of 2018. While a road result against an Eastern Conference contender would be welcomed, all three points would send a clear message for Nashville SC at the midway point in the season.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 4, 2019


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