NASHVILLE – Against one of the sides struggling most to put together a solid Major League Soccer season, perhaps one of the USL’s stronger side would be considered an upset special. Nashville SC proved this evening that that label is insulting – the better team, the one that should have been considered the favorite, won.
Nashville created plenty of chances in the first half, but needed help from the Rapids to break the deadlock. NSC left back Justin Davis whipped in a cross, and Michael Azira deflected the ball into his own net past keeper Zac MacMath. It felt a harsh way for the Rapids to go down, but the 1-0 halftime lead enjoyed by Nashville was deserved: even though the shot numbers were level, they created a greater volume of dangerous moments in the offensive third.
After the half, Nashville continued to enjoy the bulk of the run of play. They began to build up a shot advantage, but couldn’t put enough efforts on frame to find the back.
It was a late super-sub who made the difference. Ropapa Mensah replaced striker Brandon Allen in the 77th minute. After barely a minute on the pitch, he nodded home a cross from centerback Liam Doyle to double the advantage.
The Boys in Gold had already begun the defensive substitutions (replacing left winger Ismaila Jome with defender Ryan James in the 73rd minute), and that would continue with the final replacement in the 85th. Right back Kosuke Kimura – who, along with starting keeper Matt Pickens, had won an MLS Cup for the Rapids in 2010, when Nashville headman Gary Smith was stalking the sidelines in Denver – replaced midfielder Matt LaGrassa, and a shift from the 4-4-2 to a 5-3-2 with all three midfielders playing in a defensive posture indicated a willingness to see out the result.
The strikers would still combine for another chance, with Lebo Moloto’s throughball to Mensah barely cut out by a defender. More importantly though, Colorado wouldn’t seriously threaten Nashville’s goal, and the 2-0 result sees the Boys in Gold into the fifth round of the US Open Cup – in just its first appearance.
The draw will take place tomorrow afternoon, and Nashville will know the next step on its quest to hoisting the US Soccer Federation’s top domestic trophy.
Lineups
Match events
- 39′ COL OWN GOAL – 22 Michael Azira (NSH 2 Justin Davis “assist” on a cross)
- 45’+2 – Half-time.
- 47′ NSH Yellow card – 11 Ish Jome (foul)
- 69′ COL Substitution – On 32 Jack McBean, off 94 Marlon Hairston
- 73′ NSH Substitution – On 7 Ryan James, off 11 Ismaila Jome
- 75′ COL Substitution – On 21 Bismark Adjei-Boateng, off 8 Johan Blomberg
- 77′ NSH Substitution – On 3 Ropapa Mensah, off 32 Brandon Allen
- 78′ NSH GOAL – 3 Ropapa Mensah (headed), assisted by Liam Doyle
- 82′ COL Yellow card – 17 Dillon Serna (foul)
- 84′ NSH Yellow card – 2 Justin Davis (time-wasting)
- 85′ NSH Substitution – On 27 Kosuke Kimura, off 20 Matt LaGrassa
- 90’+3 NSH Yellow card – 7 Ryan James (foul)
- 90’+4 Full-time.
Club and Country 