CHESTER, Pa. (August 9, 2019) – Bethlehem Steel FC (6-12-4, 13th place in East) heads back out on the road this week for a matchup with future MLS side Nashville SC (12-5-5, 3rd place in East) at First Tennessee Park in Nashville, Tenn. tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Steel sit only three points under the USL Championship playoff line with, trailing Saint Louis FC (25 points), Charlotte Independence (24 points) and Birmingham Legion FC (23 points) for that 10th place spot in the East.
It was another rough showing for the Steel last time out, as they fell 3-0 at home to a surging Hartford Athletic. Daniel Bedoya, Hugh Alexander Dixon and WojciechWojcik all struck for Hartford, but recent acquisition Todd Morton made eight saves in his Steel FC debut, including a double save that was nominated for USL Championship Save of the Week. Defender Ben Ofeimu saw red in the match after two cautionable offenses and midfielder Cole Turner picked up his fifth yellow card of the year. Both players will be suspended for Saturday’s match against Nashville.
The Boys in Blue fell to Gary Smith’s side 4-1 in early June. Since then the Tennessee side has built momentum and only dropped seven points in their last seven matches combined. Nashville is in its best form of the season, hasn’t given up a goal in its last four matches, and holds a goal differential of +10 in that span. The Steel won’t get to see former Philadelphia Union midfielder Derrick Jones on the other side of the ball in this one, as he remains out from an ankle injury that he picked up earlier this season. Even without Jones in the lineup this is going to be a tough test for the visitors.
The Boys in Blue take on Nashville SC tomorrow, Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET at First Tennessee Park. Steel fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
MATCH INFORMATION
2019 USL Championship Regular Season
Date: August 10, 2019
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: First Tennessee Park, Nashville, Tenn.
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Assistant Referees: Walter Heatherly; Matthew Rodman
Fourth Official: Ronald Ware
Bethlehem Steel FC: 6-12-4, 13th place
Nashville SC: 12-5-5, 3rd place
Match Day Twitter: @BSteelFC
Game Day Hashtag: #NSHvBST
Match Center: https://bit.ly/2YAjX7S
Watch: ESPN+
