NASHVILLE – Through one half, Louisville generated more chances, but was unable to take the shots make them count. To Nashville fans, that sounds like a familiar story – but they’re used to hearing it about their own team.
Instead, the Boys in Gold took advantage of one of their opportunities, building a lead at the break with a 37th-minute blast from Lebo Moloto. The South African ran onto a centering pass from fellow striker Ropapa Mensah, and slotted the ball underneath Louisville keeper Greg Ranjitsingh for the 1-0 lead.
The second half would devolve into a bit of chippiness: yellow cards were issued to Nashville’s Bradley Bourgeois, Liam Doyle, and Taylor Washington, as well as Louisville’s Cameron Lancaster. Some of that rough play would allow for one of the Boys in Purple’s best chances of the half, when Lancaster launched a free kick from just outside the Nashville penalty area, going inches high of the Nashville goal.
Whereas we’ve previously seen Gary Smith make conservative subs to protect a lead earlier this season, his first move was in the opposite direction – Alan Winn (the player often leaving the field for that conservative play) entered the field in the 70th minute, and immediately made a dangerous run to potentially double the lead, but his right-footed attempt from the edge of the six-yard box was saved by Ranjitsingh.
After a more lead-protection-oriented sub was made in the 81st minute (centerback David Edgar replaced Matt LaGrassa), the conservative approach wouldn’t harm Nashville in the least: Moloto scored his second of the game – and the season – in the 84th. Midfielder Michael Reed’s left-footed cross from just outside the box would find Moloto near the opposite post, and his headed attempt would easily beat Ranjitsingh to make the score 2-0. While Louisville had already exhausted all three of its substitutions by the 67th minute, Nashville looked the fresher side up until – and then after – Moloto’s second goal in the 84th. The Man of the Match was subbed off shortly thereafter for defender Ryan James, and NSC was able to ride out the victory.
The teams will meet again Aug. 18 in Louisville for the rubber-match, and both have designs on being contenders for the Eastern Conference Crown by the time that rolls around in three months.
Nashville’s next game is not a league contest: a U.S. Open Cup tie against Inter Nashville FC in a derby match Wednesday evening. NSC returns to league action May 26 on the road at Charleston Battery.
Starting lineups
Match events
- 37′ NSH GOAL – 10 Lebo Moloto from 3 Ropapa Mensah
- 45+1 Half time
- 46′ LOU Substitution – On 21 Shaun Francis, off 4 Sean Totsch
- 49′ NSH Yellow card – 22 Bradley Bourgeois (foul)
- 58′ NSH Yellow card – 5 Liam Doyle (foul)
- 59′ LOU Substitution – On 12 Luke Spencer, off 11 Niall McCabe
- 66′ LOU Yellow card – 9 Cameron Lancaster (foul)
- 67′ LOU Substitution – On 14 Ilija Ilic, off 10 Brian Ownby
- 70′ NSH Substitution – On 19 Alan Winn, off 23 Taylor Washington
- 81′ NSH Substitution – On 11 David Edgar, off 20 Matt LaGrassa
- 84′ NSH GOAL – 10 Lebo Moloto from 17 Michael Reed
- 89′ NSH Substitution – On 7 Ryan James, off 10 Lebo Moloto
- 90-‘+5 Full time
Club and Country 