Randall Leal photo from file/Courtesy Nashville SC
Welcome to Boys in Not Gold, taking a look at Nashville SC’s players who are currently away on assignment.
Winger David Accam
On year-long loan to Hammarby IF in Sweden
Accam came on as an extra time substitute in the Svenska Cupen final, but neither his Hammarby team nor Häcken was able to use the extra frame to find a winner. The Swedish Cup was decided in penalties, and Accam hit the fourth of five-straight for Hammarby to help his squad lift the cup.
Up next: Hammarby will pause as the Allsvenskan is on an international break. Hammarby next plays July 4.
Defender Miguel Nazarit
On season-long loan to Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia
Nazarit did not see the field in the dead-rubber match against Junior F.C. in Copa Libertadores (Santa Fe could not advance out of the group stage) as the game ended in a scoreless draw. Failing to see the field – without injury – in a meaningless game probably indicates the likelihood that his club sees him as a future contributor.
Since Santa Fe did not make the Apertura playoffs, the club is on break until the Clausura begins after international play in the Summer.
Up next: Santa Fe’s (half) season is over.
Goalkeeper Defender Nick Hinds and goalkeeper Elliot Panicco
Austin Bold beat Real Monarchs SLC 2-0 on Wednesday evening. Panicco went the distance in his second-straight start, while Hinds entered the match as a 72nd-minute substitution.
Panicco made three saves in the shutout victory, though he was also saved by the crossbar twice. He completed 21/29 passes (only five of them short, as the team tends to play long, rather than building from the back with the goalkeeper).
Hinds helped his team seal victory with a stoppage-time assist – one of his perfect 9/9 completed passes, to go along with a 1/1 day crossing. He lost one duel but made up for it with an intercepted pass.
Up next: Austin Bold FC v. El Paso Locomotive • Thursday, 8 p.m. CDT (ESPN Deportes)
Defender Jack Maher
Maher was loaned to San Diego Loyal late last week.
Although his loan was only announced Friday, Maher was integrated into the squad quickly enough to make the starting lineup for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Las Vegas Lights.
Maher played as the middle centerback in a 3-4-3, and completed 91.8% of his 73(!) passes (second on the team in attempts only to RCB Thomas Van Caeyezeele, a name I really thought I had moved past having to remember how to spell). Maher also won 4/5 duels (2/3 aerial), and made five clearances, a tackle, and an interception defensively. He did not commit a foul and was fouled once.
He also lost a shoulder-to-shoulder battle that allowed the assist on Vegas’s opening goal, so there’s room for improvement in his game, even with a statistically-outstanding outing.
Up next: San Diego Loyal @ Phoenix Rising • Saturday, 9:30 p.m. CDT (ESPN+)
Forward Jhonder Cádiz
On international duty with Venezuela through the CONMEBOL qualifying window
Cádiz is one of four strikers on Venezuela’s World Cup qualifying roster for the coming window. He’s probably low on the pecking order, (other options: Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez, along with players from Liga MX and the Bundesliga) and is in line for substitute appearances, in all likelihood.
Through 4/18 matchdates, Venezuela stands eighth of 10 in the Confederation’s table. Taking at least four points against last-place Bolivia and fifth-place Uruguay will probably be necessary to remain in striking distance of World Cup qualification.
Up next: Venezuela @ Bolivia in La Paz, Bolivia • 3 p.m. CDT Thursday (FuboTV)
Venezuela v. Uruguay in Caracas, Venezuela • 5:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday, June 8 (FuboTV)
Midfielder Aníbal Godoy
On international duty with Panama through the Concacaf qualifying window
Panama stands second in Concacaf’s Group D, with matches over the next week against Anguilla and group-leading Dominican Republic. The Canaleros need to either outscore DR (against Barbados, whom Panama beat only 1-0, though a Barbados win also sets Panama up to win the group either way) by six goals against Anguilla, or the final group-stage match is a must-win to advance to the next round.
Winning the group gives Panama a two-legged tie the following week against the Group C winner. Failing to win the group means elimination from World Cup contention.
Godoy sits on exactly 100 caps for Panama, and is a key figure in his country’s current squad.
Up next: Panama ‘@’ Anguilla in Panama City • 6:00 p.m. CDT Saturday (Paramount+)
Panama v. Dominican Republic in Panama City • 7:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday, June 8 (Paramount+)
Defender Alistair Johnston
On international duty with Canada through the Concacaf qualifying window
Canada leads Group B, and as with Godoy’s Panama, a winner-take-all final match against second-place Suriname beckons in the final match of the round (unlike Panama, Canada has the massive goal-differential advantage at this point, so a draw would send them through in the vast majority of circumstances). Prior to that, Aruba beckons.
Winning the group gives Canada a two-legged tie the following week against the Group E winner. Failing to win the group means elimination from World Cup contention.
Up next: Canada v. Aruba in Bradenton, Fla. • 7:00 p.m. CDT Saturday (Paramount+)
Canada v. Suriname in Bridgeview, Ill. • 8:05 p.m. CDT Tuesday, June 8 (Paramount+)
Winger Randall Leal
On international duty with Costa Rica for the Nations League final round and a friendly against the US
Leal’s Costa Rica – as with the United States (and Honduras, Jamaica, and Mexico) – has a bye through to the third round of World Cup Qualifying, and has the 2020 Concacaf Nations League final round in this window, rather than first-round qualifying matches.
The Ticos will take on Mexico and then either the United States or Honduras (whether that’s in a Championship or third-place match) in Denver. At the conclusion of Nations League, Costa Rica has a friendly match against the United States in Salt Lake City to close out the window.
Leal should feature in all three games (though if Costa Rica can’t knock of Mexico, there’s a chance he gets some rest in the third-place match)
Up next: Costa Rica v. Mexico in Denver, Colo. • 9:00 p.m. CDT Thursday (Paramount+, TUDN)
Costa Rica v. USA or Honduras in Denver, Colo. • Time TBD, pending semifinal results, Sunday (Paramount+, TUDN)
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Club and Country 