Nashville, TN, Monday, February 12, 2018 – Nashville Soccer Club played its first match this Saturday against future Major League Soccer competitors Atlanta United. The preseason friendly sold out First Tennessee Park, well in advance of the match. Despite the rain that soaked Nashville all weekend, the Nashville faithful showed up in impressive fashion. Nashville fell 3-1 to the visitors, but there are certainly positives to take away from the game.
Manager Gary Smith and Nashville were up for a tough test against the highest scoring team in the 2017 MLS season. However, Nashville put on an impressive defensive first half display, making it difficult for the visitors to create many goal-scoring opportunities. The rain helped Nashville, as the wet pitch limited Atlanta’s technical style of play. The infield was particularly waterlogged, and it resulted in the game’s first goal early in the second half. Atlanta’s Josef Martinez capitalized on an unfortunate back-pass to Nashville’s goalkeeper that came to a halt in the infield, leaving an easy finish for Atlanta’s top forward.
Nashville responded with its first goal in club history, just six minutes later. Ropapa Mensah marked his first appearance for the club with a tidy finish past Atlanta’s goalkeeper. The goal resulted from a well-worked play: a long-ball from the back was headed-on by Nashville target-man Tucker Hume to Alan Winn, who provided the assist for Mensah’s cheeky chip.
Atlanta responded quickly themselves, with goals in the 75th and 78th minute. Nashville’s back line collapsed on the counter attack as Darlington Nagbe drove forward and assisted an easy finish for Brandon Vazquez. Romario Williams then got on the score-sheet just three minutes later. A poor clearance from a cross fell straight to Williams’ feet, ten yards from an open goal.
The match would remain at 3-1, though Hume did well to create another half-chance in late stages of the game. Though the home team lost, there was a clear sense of pride in the way the boys in gold played. All in all, the non-ideal match conditions prevent many qualitative conclusions from being drawn regarding Nashville’s ability/style of play; neither team played the way they would have wanted to. However, this was still a celebratory occasion for the city, and the team delivered in a way that will no doubt inspire hope amongst the fans. There is certainly a lot to be excited about.
Nashville’s next match is against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, February 21 in Bradenton, Florida.
