
Preview: Nashville SC Resumes League Play against Bethlehem Steel FC
June 6, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release
NASHVILLE - Nashville Soccer Club's training schedule has finally returned to normalcy following a month that saw four consecutive two-match weeks. It's been a chance for the team to recoup, get a couple of needed days off and most importantly, put together a solid week of training sessions.
Now, Nashville SC will return to the region where it picked up its first USL Championship victory in club history over a year ago when it travels to take on Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM CT. It was March of 2018 when Nashville went on the road and earned a 1-0 victory over Bethlehem. Nashville SC scored the lone goal of the match on a first-half penalty.
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Last Time Out
Nashville SC's last outing ended in frustration as it fell in penalties against Charleston Battery in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup. Kharlton Belmar scored an equalizing goal in the second half, but the Boys in Gold could not find a winner despite taking a total of 26 shots.
Scouting Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel FC is in its fourth season in the USL Championship. It is the development team for MLS' Philadelphia Union. Steel FC currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, but is tied on points with 10th-place Atlanta United 2. As with most MLS development sides, Bethlehem has had plenty of squad rotation throughout this season. Players have gone up to the Union in MLS, and have also gone to play internationally, including Matt Real and Mark McKenzie, who are currently in Poland playing with the U.S. in the FIFA U20 World Cup. The Union play on Saturday night against New York Red Bulls, so Steel FC's squad composition for Sunday could depend on the Union's squad on Saturday.
Storylines to Watch
Testing the Streak
Despite losing in U.S. Open Cup play, Nashville SC is still on an unbeaten run in league play that was stretched to four in a row on May 25 with a 0-0 draw at Indy Eleven. The streak began with a 5-1 drubbing of Swope Park Rangers at home and has included two home results and two road results.
Road Form, Road Fun
Nashville SC has been exceptional on the road so far this season. Through seven road matches, Nashville has lost just one (3-1 at Charleston Battery on April 20), won three and drawn three. In the month of May, Nashville did not lose on the road, beating Atlanta United 2 and Birmingham Legion, and drawing Indy Eleven 0-0.
Belmar Breaking Out
While winger Kharlton Belmar has been a major factor in Nashville SC's offensive attack through the first few months of the season, he began to bump up his stats in May. He scored his first Nashville SC goal and had his first assist on May 11 against Swope Park Rangers, and followed it up with a goal against Charleston Battery on May 25. Belmar has started all but one league match so far this season, and came off the bench in Nashville's 0-0 draw at Indy Eleven.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 6, 2019
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