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North Carolina Seeks Redemption vs. Nashville

By JOHN ARLIA - john.arlia@uslsoccer.com, 09/07/18, 11:48AM EDT

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NCFC looks to close gap in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff places


North Carolina FC and Nashville SC square off for the second time this season on Saturday in a key contest in the Eastern Conference playoff race. | Photo courtesy John Wilkinson III / Nashville SC

CARY, N.C. – Two teams on the fringe of the USL Cup Playoff places in the Eastern Conference square off on Saturday when North Carolina FC hosts Nashville SC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (5 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+). The sides, which are currently separated by just four points in the standings, meet for the first time since Ropapa Mensah bundled home a 94th-minute winner to give Nashville a crucial 1-0 victory at First Tennessee Park in June.

NCFC has endured a mixed bag of results in the nearly three months since that deflating defeat posting a 5-3-5 record highlighted by a 6-2 win over in-state rivals the Charlotte Independence two weeks ago, but the disappointment of that last-second setback still lingers.

“The last time we played them it ended so bitterly for us, I think that we all thought we deserved a little bit better from that game,” NCFC midfielder Steven Miller said. “They score at the death, the last kick of the game so that’s always going to be in the back of our minds. We owe them one here.”

Exacting revenge with three points on Saturday would be a massive boost to North Carolina’s playoff chances, which suffered a blow last weekend in a 3-0 home defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. A win would bring NCFC within a point of NSC and eighth-placed Ottawa Fury FC with the latter having already played three additional games.

NCFC Head Coach Collin Clarke understands how vital of a six-pointer Saturday’s contest could turn out to be with both sides currently sitting just outside of the final playoff spot.

“We’re both in a situation where we’re right on that borderline and they’re a good team,” Clarke said. “They’ve got some weapons that we need to be aware of. We’re at home so we have to go out and impose our style of play on them and get the three points.”

That will be a difficult task as Nashville has proven to be one of the most difficult sides in the USL to break down. NSC has conceded just 19 goals in 26 matches this season thanks to a rigid backline and strong play from starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who shares the league lead in shutouts with Fury FC’s Maxime Crepeau at 12 apiece. 

Nashville’s defensive record hasn’t translated as well away from First Tennessee Park this year as the side has allowed 14 goals in 14 road games. Given the team’s lack of consistent offensive firepower, NSC has recorded only two wins and collected just points in 12 points from 14 road games (2-6-6).

NSC Head Coach Gary Smith has tried different combinations and formations to try to spark more of an attacking threat, but his team still ranks third from the bottom in goals scored this season with 26 and only seven of those have come away from home.

“We’ve added individuals that have come in and been later additions to the group and Brandon [Allen] and Ish [Jome] have showed some really bright signs but haven’t quite given us the sort of impetus and goals we might have expected,” Smith said. “Which doesn’t say they haven’t done great for the team, but we have struggled all year to find that one individual to pin our flag to and say this guy is going to chip away at scoring goals.”

Smith hopes that whoever he selects for his starting 11 on Saturday will step up and “be a hero”, just like Mensah was in June, so his team can create some breathing room between themselves and NCFC in the standings. 

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