Early penalty earns Nashville SC first USL victory

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It wasn’t the prettiest of games from the outset – within six minutes of the beginning of the game in Bethlehem, Pa., Nashville SC picked up a penalty opportunity (through a poor call, with contact occurring well outside the box) and a man advantage (a more-than justified red card on the same play).

Michael Cox ran onto a long ball from defender Liam Doyle, was hauled down just outside the area by Brandon Aubrey, and after a quick conference between the referee and his linesman, stepped up to convert from the spot. Cox did just that, while Aubrey watched the rest of the match from the locker room, and Nashville SC held on for a 1-0 victory at Goodman Field over the host Bethlehem Steel.

“I was able to get on to the end of the ball from Liam,” Cox explained. “I got a touch on it and got hammered down in the box. It’s a good feeling to score that first goal and glad it held up.”

Despite playing against ten men for more than 90 minutes of open play, the Boys in Gold couldn’t add another goal. They seemed to take one cutback too many, one touch too many, or one pass too many in dangerous areas to turn pressure into production. They were out-possessed 51-49 by the Steel, and actually even outshot 13-12 (though Nashville’s seven shots on target well outstripped Bethlehem’s four).

A lack of chemistry was understandable, given some significant personnel changes compared to the previous two contests: defender Taylor Washington and midfielder Bolu Akinyode earned their first starts after previous opportunities to come off the bench, while forward Alan Winn earned his first playing time of the season, starting up top next to Cox. There were changes in shape, too, with Nashville beginning in its typical 5-3-2 formation (or 3-5-2 on the team sheet), but flipping into a 4-4-2 look with Washington and Winn at wing midfield roles while attacking midfielder Lebo Moloto played in a more advanced position with Cox.

Still, chemistry issues are only going to be the culprit (or at least a reasonable culprit) for this team’s lack of scoring output for so long. They need to gel, and need to do so quickly. Winn provided a needed burst of speed on the field (as did Washington, with a more defensive focus), but opted to pass to a well-covered teammate (Cox) in the box instead of taking a shot late in the first half, and had another ball taken away at the edge of the six-yard box. Cox lost the ball inside the penalty area without getting a shot off once, as well.

Moloto, who had previously been far and away the most important offensive player for Nashville, had just one unsuccessful dribble on the day, and while he was an outstanding 91.9% passing on the day, (and 93.3% in the opponent’s half), none of those passes were completed into the penalty area, and he had just one touch in the area himself (that a pass out from the top of the box). He took just one shot, and missed frame with it. Of course, that Nashville was able to win without the typical incisive contribution from Moloto is a positive sign, and something to build upon going forward.

This team still needs to develop its cohesion, particularly in the offensive third – indeed, I would have very few worries defensively, with Matt Pickens saving all four shots on target comfortably enough, and the defense locked-down enough to allow only those four shots on the frame.

“Firstly, I think Matt’s overall performance again was top drawer. [Bethlehem] threw caution to the wind and had some nice forward play. We had to get a second goal, it would have deflated them. Matt kept his goal intact. What I did see, was a backline, and Bolu and Michael in the midfield, who did a sterling job defensively.”

The solid play going forward, on the other hand, will come with time. Earning a goal and a win for the first time in club history during regular-season play is a step in the right direction, and a building block for the future.

League-leading Charlotte Independence (2-0-1 with a plus-five goal differential through three games) comes to town next weekend, and while it’s early to read too much into the standings, they’ll certainly be a test. Hopefully, the Boys in Gold can build toward a second win in a row.

Lineups

Match Events

5′ BST Red card – 44 Brandon Aubrey (professional foul)

6′ NSH Goal – 9 Michael Cox (penalty kick)

45’+4 – Half time

59′ BST Yellow card – 45 James Chambers (dissent)

63′ BST Sub – On 63 Brenden Aaronson, off 41 Mike Catalano

63′ NSH Sub – On 20 Matt LaGrassa, off 10 Lebo Moloto

69′ BST Sub – On 42 Aidan Apodaca, off  45 James Chambers

71′ NSH Sub – On 3 Ropapa Mensah, off 9 Michael Cox

72′ NSH Sub – On 27 Kosuke Kimura, off 7 Ryan James

78′ BST Sub – On 37 Chris Nanco, off 20 Marcus Epps

78′ BST Yellow card – 24 Adam Najem (foul)

79′ NSH Yellow card – 2 Justin Davis (foul)

90′ NSH Yellow card – 20 Matt LaGrassa (time wasting)

90’+4 – Full time

Quotes courtesy Nashville SC media relations.