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USL Nashville SC

Three Things to Know: Nashville SC vs. Charleston Battery

August 23, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - The Boys in Gold got knocked down by New York Red Bulls II in a 2-1 defeat on Wednesday, but look to get back up again this Saturday, Aug. 23 at First Tennessee Park as they host the Charleston Battery at 7 p.m. CT. Wednesday's loss placed Nashville SC in fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, but the top of the table remains crammed with teams all within only a few points of one another. The start of the USL Championship Playoffs are in sight, and each result could make or break Nashville SC as it fights for home field advantage in the final stretch of the season.

Saturday's match will be Nashville's sixth out of seven in August and third in the last eight days. Here are the three things to know about the match.

1) Looking for Redemption

Saturday gives Nashville SC the opportunity for redemption on its home pitch. Nashville has faced Charleston twice already this season, once during the regular season and once in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup. The first meeting came of April 20, and Charleston dished Nashville its first road loss of 2019. A 3-1 affair halted NSC's three-match unbeaten run. Just over a month later, Nashville SC met with Charleston in the U.S. Open Cup. With a winner required in the second round of the knock out style tournament, the match went into a penalty shootout following a 1-1 end-of-regulation score. Nashville went on to fall 3-0 in penalties, and its U.S. Open Cup campaign came to an end.

2) Eyes on the Prize

Daniel Ríos, Lebo Moloto and Matt Pickens continue to close in on individual stat rankings in their respective categories. In the Golden Boot race, Ríos trails behind the current league-leader in goals by one. Moloto needs just two assists to catch the league's assist leader, and goalkeeper Matt Pickens is two clean sheets away from catching the leading goalkeeper in that category. From a team perspective, Nashville SC is fifth in the league in goals scored with 45 and tied for first in the league with eleven clean sheets.

3) Both Want to Bounce Back

Both Nashville SC and Charleston Battery are coming off of tight 2-1 losses in their most recent matches in similar fashion. As Nashville broke out early against New York on Wednesday with a goal from Ken Tribbett, Charleston was on the board first against Louisville City FC last Saturday thanks to Ataulla Guerra. However, neither team could hold on to their early leads, as their opponents answered with two goals of their own.

Be in the stands as Nashville SC and Charleston Battery battle in out at First Tennessee Park. Tickets are available here.

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