USL Nashville SC

Preview: Nashville SC Travels Down to Kennesaw for Date with Atlanta United 2

May 2, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE -- A familiar opponent in unfamiliar territory will await Nashville Soccer Club on Saturday as NSC heads down to Kennesaw, Ga. for a road match against Atlanta United 2 at 6:30 p.m. CT. It will be the fourth matchup between the clubs, but the first to take place at Atlanta United 2's, new home at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw.

How to Follow

Local English Radio: ESPN 94.9 Game2

Digital: ESPN+

Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @NashvilleSC

Last Time Out

Nashville SC looked poised for a huge road win at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday night holding a 2-0 lead in the 87' minute. Late breakdowns by the NSC defense led to the Riverhounds finding two goals in the final three minutes plus stoppage time to steal a share of the points and leave Nashville feeling like it had lost even though the match finished in a draw.

Scouting Atlanta

In its second season as a USL Championship club, Atlanta United 2 looks to have found much firmer footing than it did last season. In 2018, Atlanta finished 14th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference, compiling just seven wins in 34 matches. This season, ATL UTD 2 has gotten off to a better start, securing three wins a draw in its first eight matches, and is tied for 10th in a tightly-packed Eastern Conference.

At home, Atlanta is much stronger than when on the road, often sending down first team players from its MLS squad to populate its USL Championship team. Leading scorer Romario Williams is one of those players would have moved back and forth between MLS and USL, appearing for the first team in one MLS match and one CONCACAF Champions League match but also three for ATL UTD 2. Williams, a forward, has scored three goals in three appearances for the second team, scoring a hat trick against Charlotte Independence earlier this season.

Storylines to Watch

Nashville dominance over Atlanta United 2 - Nashville SC earned nine points against ATL UTD 2 last season, going 3-0-0 in three matches between the clubs. Nashville outscored Atlanta 6-0 in the three matches combined, holding the club without a goal for all 270 minutes. Coming off a loss and a draw in its last two matches, more dominance against Atlanta would be welcome for Nashville SC.

Scenery change for Atlanta - After spending last season playing at the home of the Gwinnett Stripers, the Atlanta Braves Triple-A affiliate, Atlanta has some new digs a bit closer to Nashville. This season, the club will play northwest of Atlanta in Kennesaw, Ga. at the home of the Kennesaw St. Owls football team. Reviews have been positive so far for the surface and venue as Nashville gets its first look at the new digs.

Defenders on the board - Both Bradley Bourgeois and Ken Tribbett scored goals last weekend for Nashville, becoming the first two defenders to score for NSC this season. Defenders contributed just five goals to Nashville's goal total last season. Secondary scoring for the backline would be welcome this season for Nashville SC and would allow the offense to continue clicking.

Stay with three in the back? - Nashville SC unveiled a 3-5-2 formation for the first time this season, and it worked to great effect for 87 minutes against Pittsburgh last Saturday. Does head coach Gary Smith go back to that formation against Atlanta? And if so, does he change up the personnel in the formation? We will get our answer Saturday night at kickoff at 6:30 p.m.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 2, 2019


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