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Preview: Nashville SC Prepare for Fury in Ottawa

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


NASHVILLE - An early season break will end for Nashville Soccer Club on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa when NSC takes on Ottawa Fury FC at TD Place at 1 p.m. CT. Nashville SC has enjoyed a 13-day break between matches since it last played on Sunday, March 24, a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls II. Head coach Gary Smith and Nashville SC have spent the two weeks since the draw training to improve on a 1-1-1 (4 pts) start to the 2019 USL Championship season.

How to Follow

Local Radio: ESPN 94.9 Game2

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Last Time Out

Nashville SC had one of the hardest road trips of the season in the Championship right off the bat as it took on New York Red Bulls II in its first match away from home in 2019. After scoring the opening goal, Nashville buttoned down the hatches defensively, keeping the high-powered New York offense at bay in the 1-1 draw. It was just the fifth time since the start of 2018 that Red Bulls II had been held to one goal or fewer at home. Two of those five instances have come against Nashville SC.

Scouting Ottawa

Ottawa Fury FC just missed the USL Cup Playoffs last season, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference. With the Championship's Keeper of the Year and clean sheet leader in Maxime Crepeau, Ottawa allowed 43 goals in 34 games, good enough to be in the top half of the USL. Offense was a major issue, however, as the Fury scored just 31 goals, the second-fewest in the league.

Unfortunately for the Fury, the offseason was filled with the wrong kinds of headlines, as it was initially ruled by CONCACAF, the governing body for North American soccer, that Ottawa could not play in a U.S.-based league. While the ruling was delayed another year, the fluxuation of the club's status affected Ottawa's ability to sign players. The Fury lost Crepeau to Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer, but did retain a couple of other key pieces in captain Carl Haworth and midfielder Kevin Oliveira.

Despite all of the question marks surrounding the Fury, they have started 2019 1-0-1 with a draw to Charleston Battery and a win over USL-newcomer Birmingham Legion FC. The defense appears to be solid again as the club has allowed just one goal through its two games. Like Nashville, Ottawa has had a break before this game, last playing on March 16. Saturday will be the Fury's home opener, kicking off a stretch of five home games out of its next seven.

Storylines to Watch

Nashville's Canadian Woes - Nashville SC did not fare well on the road against teams from north of the border in 2018. Nashville lost to both the Fury and Toronto FC II in road games last year by identical 2-0 scores. Against Ottawa, NSC missed a PK that would have given it the lead late in the game, and proceeded to give up two goals in stoppage time of the match to lose. With Toronto FC II no longer a member of the USL Championship, Saturday's game will be Nashville's only road game against a Canadian team.

Ríos and Lancaster on target - After struggling to score throughout much of the 2018 season, Nashville SC signed the Championship's top two scorers for its 2019 campaign. The additions have already paid off as Daniel Ríos and Cameron Lancaster have provided all three of Nashville's goals so far this season. Ríos has scored Nashville's last two goals and is one of 35 USL Championship players with multiple goals this season.

Hume back in Ottawa - Nashville forward Tucker Hume will be traveling back to Ottawa for the second time since starting his professional career with the Fury. Coming out of the University of North Carolina, Hume signed with the Fury and scored three goals and added two assists as a rookie. Hume came on as a sub in the 60' minute in Nashville's game at Ottawa last season.

Weathering the cold - Spring has not sprung for Ottawa yet, as winter persists in the Canada. The Fury have been forced to close half of TD Place due to ice buildup. While it is due to snow on Friday, the forecast is promising on Saturday with a clear skies and a high of 48 degrees.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 4, 2019


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