DEFENSE EARNS SECOND CONSECUTIVE SHUTOUT ON THE ROAD
INDIANAPOLIS – Against one of the elite teams in the USL Championship, on the road, in its seventh match in 21 days, Nashville Soccer Club grinded out a 0-0 against Indy Eleven on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. While the match wasn’t always pretty on the turf with football lines, Nashville SC extended its streak without a loss to five straight results.
Nashville’s best look of the match was also its first shot as midfielder Lebo Moloto chipped a ball over the backline in the 16’ minute to forward Tucker Hume who was able to poke a shot on target. The ball found Indy keeper Evan Newton’s leg, however, and was turned aside.
Much of the rest of the match was spent defending as Indy controlled much of the possession at home, with a 62-38 advantage over NSC. The defense held strong however, earning the sixth clean sheet for the season and the fourth for keeper Matt Pickens in eight matches played. The defense held the potent Indy offense to just 10 shots and on three on target in the 90 minutes.
Here are three takeaways from the hard-earned draw.
Defense Locking In – It’s taken a bit for Nashville SC’s defense to round into form, but after two consecutive clean sheets and only two total goals allowed in the last four USL Championship matches, it appears that the defense has returned to its 2018 form. The defense has now gone 255 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. Pickens also appears to be hitting his stride, with four clean sheets in eight starts in net for Nashville.
Squad Rotation Continues – With so many matches the last three weeks, head coach Gary Smith made significant changes throughout his Starting XI. Tucker Hume and Ropapa Mensah got their first start as a combination up top in the 3-5-2. MLS-signed midfielder Derrick Jones got his first start in the midfield in a Nashville SC uniform. Smith also opted to go back to three centerbacks against the Indy offense and it worked, limited Indy to just three shots on target.
Road Form Shines – Nashville SC has now played seven matches on the road, and has earned results in six of the matches with a 3-1-3 road record. Outside of its loss, a 3-1 defeat at Charleston Battery, Nashville has allowed just three other road goals. It’s a good sign as Nashville will stay on the road for its next two USL Championship matches, at Bethlehem Steel FC and Hartford Athletic.
Nashville remains in second place in the Eastern Conference with the point earned and will have a much deserved break in USL Championship action after a month that saw Nashville play six league matches. The Boys in Gold will return to the USL Championship pitch in 15 days when it plays at Bethlehem Steel FC in Philadelphia on June 9.
