Stars: They’re just like us. Tim Sullivan/Club and Country
Another big road win, another honor for Nashville SC – er, that’s honors, multiple, with both defender Dave Romney and attacker Randall Leal named to the MLS Team of Week Six.
Romney scored Nashville SC’s opening goal, thumping home a header – assisted by Leal from a set-piece opportunity. The defender also recorded a would-be MLS assist on a long throw-in, with CJ Sapong ultimately banging it home from close range to provide the game-winner after the initial shot was blocked. Romney’s 66 touches and 48 passes (44 of those completed) were both second on the team, behind only CB partner Walker Zimmerman. Romney was American Soccer Analysis‘s Goals Added player of the week, providing +0.77 value above average, including an interrupting mark of +0.25, roughly representing his defensive load. He received one first-place vote for MLS Player of the Week (from yours truly).
In addition to assisting on Romney’s goal, Leal took five shots (one on target) and won four fouls, including the one that let to the set-piece play where midfielder Hany Mukhtar touched him the ball before Leal assisted Romney’s goal. Leal completed 23/30 passes on the night, and made an interception and four ball-recoveries on the night.
They are the fourth and fifth Team of the Week selections for Nashville so far this season, with midfielder Aníbal Godoy and head coach Gary Smith earning the honor in Week One, and Walker Zimmerman getting the nod after Week Four. Nashville had 16 selections to TOTW last year, including two appearances for Leal.
Club and Country 