Welcome to The Wrap! In my efforts to figure out how a full postgame package will play out during the regular season, trying out the final piece on the last game before moving onto the next one. While you’re here, don’t forget to follow the site on Facebook and Twitter.
Local content
The halftime reset basically could have served as the game story, minus one outstanding save from Matt Pickens and Ropapa Mensah’s cherry on top.
Fortunately, the full game story allowed me to use a groan-worthy pun in the headline!
7,487 screaming Nashville fans witnessed a triple-dose of history, with the team’s first home win, first run-of-play goal, and first multi-goal outing in club regular-season history. They also witnessed Charlotte fail to earn a result, something the previous league leaders had yet to do this year.
Postgame presser video of Gary Smith and players. A transcript of Smith’s comments, and one of Alan Winn/Bradley Bourgeois.
Breakdown and player ratings. (Don’t forget that you can always contribute to the community player ratings):
For the second week in a row, Alan Winn is my man of the match. This time, though, the positives that he brought weren’t nearly as dragged down by the negative of “what-if” or lost potential for plays he didn’t finish. His goal included an effective-if-clunky cutback with the backheel, and the finish was much more impressive than it had seemed live. He was willing to provide a bit of a high press at times, and his speed continues to change the game down the wings.
A little lighter content-wise last game, but you’ll survive, yeah?
Elsewhere – blogdom
Music City Soccer gamer. 615 Formation game column. Golden Goal game story. The Soccer Speedway/Golden Goal player ratings. Nashville SC Soccer quick recap. Frenchy.
Elsewhere – newsy types
Alan Winn is up for the league’s goal of the week, while Matt Pickens is up for save of the week. Winn was already named to the Best XI of the week.
The USL’s game story. The Eastern Conference notebook includes quite a bit more about the game. Some love for Alan Winn in their stat-oriented weekend wrap-up. Nashville enters the league’s power rankings (seven spots behind the team they just trashed). … I love Ghana Soccernet so much. They talk about Mensah’s tally. … What we learned, from USA Today Network Tennessee.
Club and Country 