October 10, 2018 USL Toronto FC II--Nashville SC vs Toronto FC II game review (from uslsoccer.com)

   
Nashville SC ‘Dejected’ After Missing Chance to Clinch Playoff Place
By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/10/18, 8:24AM EDT 

Winless streak at First Tennessee Park reaches four games after squandered opportunities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With the door to the USL Cup Playoffs opened wide for Nashville SC thanks 
to Louisville City FC’s victory earlier in the evening against North Carolina FC, the hosts 
at First Tennessee Park on Tuesday night appeared set to walk into their first postseason 
thanks to a two-goal lead fueled by second-half substitute Brandon Allen.

But as has been the case on occasion recently, Toronto FC II had other ideas with a tremendous 
comeback that saw Nashville’s recent winless streak on home turf extend to four games 
in a 2-2 draw that left the hosts just short of a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs.

“It's a game we should have won, no two ways about it,” said Nashville Head Coach Gary Smith. 
“In front of goal, even though we scored two, it should have been four or five easily. 
And uncharacteristically, we’ve conceded two at a very important moment. Still in our hands. 
The guys, as you can imagine, are dejected. They felt as though the job should have been complete, 
and it should have been. But we’ve not got long to turn around again and face the best team 
in the league.”

That Nashville was unable to claim its playoff spot on the same night as the New York Red Bulls II 
and Indy Eleven was in part down to a sparkling display in goal by Toronto goalkeeper 
Caleb Patterson-Sewell, who produced a 10-save performance that included a first-half penalty 
kick save to deny NSC’s Matt LaGrassa and numerous other key stops in either half.

But Nashville too was unable to take full advantage of the opportunities it created until Allen’s 
introduction in the 62nd minute. A minute after entering, Allen set up LaGrassa for a simple 
finish with a driving run into the left side of the penalty area that allowed him to cut a pass 
back to the top of the six-yard area to be struck home. Nine minutes after that he set up and 
finished off Nashville’s second of the night, getting on the end of Alan Winn’s low cross after 
having sent the winger down the left flank with a ball into space before making a beeline for 
the back post to get the return.

“When I came on I just tried to do the best that I could to work hard,” said Allen. “I have not 
played as much as I would want to in the last few games. I knew I had to put on a performance 
when I came on.”

 
Nashville SC's Brandon Allen (left) and Alan Winn celebrate Nashville's second goal on Tuesday 
night against Toronto FC II. | Photo courtesy John Wilkinson III / Nashville SC

Earlier in the season at First Tennessee Park that would likely have been curtains for Toronto, 
but instead the last-place side in the Eastern Conference continued its recent role as a spoiler 
for playoff contenders. After its victory 10 days prior against the Charleston Battery 
at MUSC Health Stadium, goals by Jordan Perruzzi and Jordan Hamilton – who continued to prove 
his talent with his eighth goal of the season – pulled the visitors level and continued Nashville’s 
recent home struggles.

NSC is now 0-1-3 in its last four outings at First Tennessee Park, with its last victory there 
coming on August 28 against the Richmond Kickers. With FC Cincinnati coming in on Saturday, 
that’s a worrying sign for a side that should it suffer a defeat could be out of the postseason 
entirely depending on results for Ottawa Fury FC and Bethlehem Steel FC elsewhere this weekend.

Despite that possibility, and the disappointment of Tuesday’s result, Nashville’s players were 
looking to stay upbeat as it takes on the 2018 USL Regular Season champion to wrap up its 
regular season.

“This is what people live for, pressured moments and coming down to it,” said NSC’s Taylor Washington. 
“Regardless, we’ve just got to get the job done. It’ll be good.” 

4-4-2                     4-1-4-1
Nashville SC              Toronto FC II
2                         2   

October 9, 2018 8:30 PM 
Referee Kevin Broadley   Venue First Tennessee Park   Attendance 7,531

Nashville SC
18 Pickens GK
27 Kimura DF
23 Washington DF
 2 Davis DF           90+5' Yellow 
 5 Doyle DF
17 Reed MF (C)       
20 LaGrassa MF        22' missed Penalty, 63' GOAL  
30 Akinyode MF
19 Winn MF
12 Hume FW            62' subbed out  
 3 Mensah FW          80' subbed out   
 
Substitutes
21 C.J. Cochran 
28 Woodberry          80' subbed in   
 7 James 
11 Jome 
32 Allen              62' subbed in, 72' GOAL  
 8 Shroot 
26 Tyrpak 

Manager  Smith

Toronto FC II
28 Patterson-Sewell GK (C) 90+1' Yellow card   
36 Kübel DF
54 Telfer DF
49 Boskovic DF
38 Bjornethun DF        83' subbed out   
27 Fraser MF
20 Akinola MF           73' subbed out  
50 Srbely MF            34' Yellow card   
11 Bakero MF            77' subbed out  
46 Endoh MF
22 Hamilton FW          85' GOAL   

Substitutes
30 Angoitia 
57 Mohammed 
59 Okello Ayo           83' subbed in   
48 Campbell    
55 Daniels 
39 Petrasso             77' subbed in   
77 Perruzza             73' subbed in, 75' GOAL  

Manager  Rabasca

Team Stats  
NAS                                TFC   
 39.6%    Possession                60.4%  
 51.8%    Duels success rate        48.2%  
 53.3%    Aerial duels won          46.7%  
 13       Interceptions             13     
  0       Offsides                   2   
 10       Corners                    1   
336       Passes                   546   
 63       Long passes               77   
 79.8%    Passing accuracy          86.6%  
 68.5%    Passing acc in opp half   81.3%  
 32       Crosses                   17   
 21.9%    Crossing accuracy         29.4%  
  2       Goals                      2   
 24       Shots                     11   
 12       Shots on target            3   
  4       Blocked shots              1   
  8       Shots outside the box      5   
 16       Shots inside the box       6   
 50.0%    Shooting accuracy         27.3%  
 14       Tackles                   10   
 71.4%    Tackles success rate      80.0%  
 18       Clearances                29   
 14       Fouls conceded             9   
  1       Yellow cards               2   
  0       Red cards                  0   

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