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
.
.