Nashville v Orlando
Many ties in this game back to the NY area, great to see Tony Meola again, we were at his first game for the USMNT and he of course starred for the LI Rough Riders in 1995 as they took the last title in the USL as the top league in the land back in 1995. Nashville have past NYRB players, Muyl, McCarty, Davis & from upstate, Haiti international and at least a 2nd generation player, Fafa “Gazelle” Picault. Their GM, Mike Jacob is also a local product, past asst. TD at Sporting KC, Pres. of NSCAA (USC), Exec VP at USL, Asst. at Duke, he had interviewed but removed himself from consideration as USSSF Sporting Director, Mike had coached in Evansville, as well as Iona after attending Pace. Mike of course has some gear from Soccer Long Island Magazine and a scout in Luke Sassano of the Cosmos. Orlando with Felipe, another ex NYRB standout.
Through the early going each team has held the ball and had some positive play but nothing on the scoreboard as yet. McGuire just wide from inside the area. Fafa starts the game on the bench, his speed will be a game changer when he gets inserted. Surridge from a great ball by Shaffelburg just does not get it quite right as the ball sails high and wide, maybe a headed ball would have been easier? Surridge tries to slide a ball on to Mukhtar but it is out, off the defender for a corner. At 25’, Nashville has had a few goes on goal of late. Short corner by Orlando has a long shot that is not so high given the distance. Just beyond the area the shot was taken on the 3rd opportunity. Cartagena mugged by Surridge and all are surprised with a yellow and in the both. Nashville gets lucky on D in tthe area as a ball bounds off the body of one cleared out by Lovitz. A shot in goes off a defender, very dangerous for Nashville as it goes over the end line. Nashville now has a pair of corners, set pieces beyond the 6 in and out back in and cleared out. Zimmerman blocks a distant shot by Torres for a corner. It bounces around, Orlando does not take a shot at first touch but passes and it clears down too their end. At 40’, if Nashville can go into the locker room at all zeros, they should be happy and would be fortunate. They are down on shots 12-2, Cartagena gets one at 41’ from way beyond the area, he goes upper 90, where the spiders go. Nashville, having been shut out in many of their last half dozen games are in a bit of a pickle now. Mukhtar rocks the cage and may have caused the GK to suffer an injury, as the ball from 40 yards had some movement on it. The pair of minutes for stoppage time may have doubled with this injury to the Peruvian GK. Godoy fouls Pereya. Another distant shot by Orlando is blocked over the end line, corner at 49’, their 4th corner thus far. Almost getting another goal for Orlando on this kick
Davis has the ball cleared away from him for an early corner. Mukhtar takes it, the ball goes in and then back to the GK, Orlando recovers it and looks toward the goal. Orlando gets an errant pass, Davis breaks it up, a yellow to Schlegel as he brings Mukhtar to ground, just 5 yards beyond the area. Mukhtar is of course over the ball, I am sure he goes to goal, into the wall then into their defensive end Nashville holds, over the top and Orlando plays it out, a player of each time are down. Throw in Nashville by Moore headed on and over by Zimmerman. McGuire for Angulo after a spin and block out by Zimmerman, all in purple are demanding a hand ball waiting to put the ball in play until after the replay as it is being reviewed. VAR has the call stand. Cartagena swings and misses on a shot, it comes out to half field for his team back in it is played in, knocked out for another corner. Torres will put the ball in play, headed out for another corner. The home team with another go at it, finds the target and the GK makes the save at the post. Gallesse in the air grabs a ball. A long cross picked out by the GK , can’t handle it but he gathers it in. Mukhtar saved, a long rebound escapes all and Nashville called for a foul by Davis in their defensive third. Cartagena is down, time is paused, he is out for Urso they were working on his hamstring. Lovitz goes to ground in the area, no foul breaks up the play. Orlando drives one in near post and a corner to follow. A ball in punched away by Gallesse it was a bullet. Muyl out for Bunbury, less than 20’ to go and no Fafa, he is an offensive force. Lovitz carded for a professional foul on Urso. Torres goes too long and high, it will come right back out. Lovitz for Bunbury and his header just off the mark. Enrique just in has the ball punched away from him at the near post. Offside but Gallesse had a great save anyway. Deep throw for Orlando at 81’, it goes way back, hit wildly forward over the end line. 23-6 is now the shot differential. Fafa just mentioned now by Meola. Mukhtar looks for a long shot and goes upper deck with it. A 40 yard ball to Torres, as he falls, pushes it on to Urso and covered by the GK. Surridge with a foul deep in the area, now Fafa for Moore and Amuga for Davis, less than 5’ to play some added time but enough to get into the game? Felipe next in for Orlando. Orlando not just holding the ball but getting forward, then it is lost and recovered via a foul on Lovitz. Felipe on for Angulo. Fafa beats a player and gets into it with the GK as he intercedes with in a small fray. Felipe far side and his pass to long for his player over the end line. Godoy carded for dropping Urso after Fafa was knocked down in the corner. Seven minutes of added time. Orlando will play forward, not just to kill the clock. Felipe gets in front of Mukhtar and stops to draw a bump, no call but still up to his tricks.