Are Cinderella Man references weird or lame in the year 2018? I hope not, because less than a month after easily dispatching Atlanta United 2 less than a month ago, Nashville SC probably felt a lot like Jim Braddock’s opponents in the movie version of his story:
“That ain’t the same guy.”
The ATL UTD 2 team that Nashville took on Wednesday evening had a starting lineup with 48 MLS appearances this season alone, a far cry from the USL-centric squad that NSC defeated 3-0 in late June. With that in mind, a 1-0 victory probably isn’t too negative a result.
“If you look at the makeup of their team, with guys like Kevin Kratz, Romario Williams, to name a couple of first-team additions, I think I’m right in saying that it’s probably the strongest group that they’ve put out in USL,” Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith said. “I’d like to think that’s a credit to our group and how well we played against them in the last game. In fact, we have a wonderful local competition building here and a bit of a rivalry. It could be completely different reasons, but I’d like to think that. So, the game was always going to be much tougher and it proved that way.”
A Nashville SC team that hadn’t yet managed a single goal in the month of July (going 0-2-1 in that span – in fact, the last time they’d scored had been against this Atlanta team) got exactly that in the 80th minute from the foot of Taylor Washington, who notched his first professional tally.
A cross from the right side off the foot of Ish Jome skipped past striker Brandon Allen, but the substitute was there on the back post to slot home the game-winner. It was a long time coming for Washington in his third USL season.
“It’s a great feeling. As soon as I saw Ish [Jome] get the ball, I know what he does,” Washington said. “He takes people one-versus-one on the endline, and he put in a great ball, and Brandon made a great run and was able to sort of dummy it, and I was in the right place at the right time, thank God.
“It took me three years, but I’m happy and very pleased. I’m extremely happy we were able to get a win because we needed it.”
Halting the winless streak is a certain positive for Nashville SC – and the fact that it was a tight match is partially explained by the stronger squad the Baby Five Stripes trotted out – but there’s still work to do in unlocking the offense. NSC managed only eight shots, with three on the frame, and looked headed for another frustrating result until the 24-year old broke the deadlock in the 80th minute.
Of course, Atlanta’s strong squad combined with a bit of a weakened one for Nashville – keeper Matt Pickens, defender Bradley Bourgeois, and midfield captain Michael Reed all missed the contest with injury, and defender London Woodberry due to red card suspension – to explain some of that struggle. Backup keeper CJ Cochran got his first USL action for the Boys in Gold just a week after ending his month-long loan spell at Fresno FC. He pitched a shutout.
“I think it was good for me to get games [at Fresno], and I think it worked out that I got about five games out there, and it helps with the confidence and playing with the game,” he said. “You can train all you want, but in the middle of the season just jumping in can be quite difficult, so to get those games and some wins out there really helps out coming back out here. It’s unfortunate that Matt gets injured, but you know it’s part of the game. We’ve had a few to deal with this game, so the next man steps up and gives it his all.”
It’s very clear Nashville was at less than full strength. Still, forward Lebo Moloto played the game (despite struggling with injury of his own the previous week), fan favorite striker Ropapa Mensah got only his eighth start up top (in 18 regular season games), and wingers Jome and Alan Winn were in the starting lineup: the attacking unit should have been strong enough to be a little more dangerous to an Atlanta team that is second-bottom in the Eastern Conference in goals allowed, strong lineup or not.
Fortunately, there’s something to build on for Nashville, which takes on a moribund Toronto FC II team Saturday night with a chance to get a win streak going. Far and away the worst team in the USL, TFCII has allowed a mind-numbing 2.56 goals per game this season.
With Nashville back up to No. 7 in the Eastern Conference table after Wednesday’s win, there’s a chance to keep climbing and solidify playoff position if they’re able to get the job done in a neutral site game.
Starting lineups
Match events
- 15′ ATL Yellow card – 22 Mikey Ambrose (foul)
- 25′ ATL Yellow card – 6 Andrew Kendall-Moulin (foul)
- 45’+1 Half time
- 52′ ATL Substitution – On 11 Laurent Kissiedu, off 6 Andrew Kendall-Moulin
- 61′ NSH Yellow card – 2 Justin Davis (foul)
- 66′ ATL Substitution – On 39 Will Crain, off 22 Mikey Ambrose
- 71′ ATL Substitution – On 20 Chris Goslin, off 32 Kevin Kratz
- 73′ NSH Substitution – On 32 Brandon Allen, off 3 Ropapa Mensah
- 74′ NSH Substitution – On 23 Taylor Washington, off 19 Alan Winn
- 80′ NSH GOAL – 23 Taylor Washington (right foot), assisted by 11 Ish Jome
- 90’+1 NSH Substitution – On 10 Jordan Dunstan, off 11 Ish Jome
- 90’+5 Full time
Club and Country 