The first full week of USL preseason brought plenty to talk about, including remarkable debuts in the stands by two of the league’s expansion clubs and performances that leave some things to talk about as we look ahead to the new season.

1. TO THE RAFTERS: Since Nashville SC had announced early in the week its inaugural preseason contest at First Tennessee Park against Atlanta United had sold out, there was an air of expectation as to what Saturday would bring. At that point, however, no-one knew that NSC’s debut crowd of 9,059 would be the second largest at a USL venue that night. Las Vegas Lights FC’s debut, which brought 10,387 fans to Cashman Field for a clash against the Montreal Impact, turned heads and bodes well for what’s to come this year for the USL overall after its record-setting 2017 season.

2. BIG ROPAPA: Neither Nashville or Las Vegas managed to earn a result against their MLS opposition, but that would have been a big expectation for either, especially Nashville, as it faced a side tipped to be near the top of Major League Soccer this season. As it was, there were positives to be taken for NSC in its display, particularly in the manner the side scored its first goal in club history. Ghanaian youngster Ropapa Mensah showed his promise with Penn FC a season ago and took full advantage of a beautiful counterattack that caught Atlanta’s defense flat to score the first goal in Nashville’s professional history. For someone who had been in camp for less than a week, Mensah’s finish was sharp, mirroring the potential that was on display last summer.