In simply their 2nd season in MLS, Nashville have another time made the Playoffs.
Gary Smith's guys are among the hardest to conquer in MLS and have some formidable distinction-makers of their ranks. Though they carry the tag of 'dark horses', they'll take a few stopping.
Here's the entirety you need to recognize about Nashville SC in advance of the submit season - from processes to key gamers, and their chances of winning the big prize.
Things that often appear to be cliches are such for a purpose - they're commonly proper. In Nashville's case, it's that if you maintain a strong domestic file and have suitable protecting fundamentals, you'll move far in soccer.
Though they have been criticized for drawing 18 in their 34 everyday season games, Nashville did highly well to lose simply four instances, even as maintaining an unbeaten document at Nissan Stadium.
No facet in MLS bettered their file of just 33 goals conceded, and that ability to dangle in games afforded the likes of Hany Mukhtar and CJ Sapong the danger to head scouse borrow three factors at the alternative cease.
Nashville will host Orlando City in Round One and could welcome the New York Red Bulls to Nissan Stadium in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, even though they'll also travel to Philadelphia. But that home advantage on the jump may be the essential spark that ignites Nashville's off-season run.
Everyone is aware of Nashville begin at the lower back. Walker Zimmerman is the proper protective anchor of their 3-center-again set-up, usually calling the pictures among the likes Dave Romney and Jack Maher. Alistair Johnston has been a real shining light at right-wing-lower back on each facets of the ball, with Taylor Washington and Daniel Lovitz sharing mins at the left.
Dax McCarty and Anibal Godoy offer a extraordinary display and ownership platform in the front of the middle-backs, but it's inside the assault wherein Nashville have caught such a lot of by way of surprise this season.
"Gary Smith’s sides obviously begin with protection, and the transfer to the lower back 3 machine he’s used for most of the season has helped them maintain their shielding standards, however the actual trade from 12 months one to yr two is the attack," Nashville expert Ben Wright of Broadway Sports advised 90min.
