Ugly end sends Nashville SC spiraling to fourth loss in six games

Nick Gray | Special to The Tennessean

Nashville SC's scoreless streak must have a passport.

Nashville missed a penalty in the final 10 minutes, and two Ottawa goals in stoppage time earned the Fury a 2-0 win in Canada.

A day with Nashville SC supporter group, The Roadies Nashville SC supporters group, The Roadies is the largest and arguably the rowdiest group at every Nashville SC game.

The club has now played 276 minutes without a goal, which includes every match in July. Nashville has also lost four of six matches since the 11-game unbeaten streak was broken in June.

An ugly ending

A horrendous final 20 minutes undid an optimistic first 70 minutes for Nashville SC.

The best chance for Nashville SC came in the 82nd minute. An Ottawa handball in the box earned Nashville a penalty. But Alan Winn's try bounced off of the crossbar and kicked out, and a huge chance to end the dry spell was wasted by the Nashville winger.

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Nashville went down to 10 men as Bradley Bourgeois continued to battle a lower leg injury. Nashville then conceded a 91st-minute goal to Ottawa's Tony Taylor and a 95th-minute strike by Kevin Oliveira.

In between, a second yellow card earned London Woodberry a red card, the first such occurrence in club history.

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Despite some lineup changes, Nashville played quite a bit better than the 1-0 loss at Charlotte Independence 10 days ago. But little in premium scoring opportunities — a familiar refrain — again locked Nashville out of points.

Nashville maneuvered Saturday's match without Bolu Akinyode and Lebo Moloto while also finishing the game without an ailing Michael Reed in midfield. Given that Tucker Hume, Matt LaGrassa and Ryan James roamed the central midfield for the last moments of the match, a road draw seemed a positive result until the game unraveled in the final moments.

What is most troubling is that the scoring opportunities and shots on goal (three on Saturday) have not piled up over the last few games. Something will have to change to produce better results.

Lineup changes

Gary Smith changed the lineup — but not necessarily because of a struggling side.

Ropapa Mensah and Bolu Akinyode did not travel to Ottawa due to international travel complications. Both have played increasingly vital roles at forward and midfield, respectively. Akinyode had especially been in excellent form over the past month.

Smith also chose to begin the game with midfielder Lebo Moloto on the bench so that Nashville could bring on an attacking punch late in the game.

Smith has taken a liking to bring on players such as Taylor Washington, Mensah or Alan Winn — guys with playmaking ability and pace in abundance — but Mensah could not travel, and Washington and Winn started the game.

Mensah, Moloto and Akinyode will have fresher legs for Wednesday's home game against Atlanta United 2.

Man of the Match

Ottawa's Tony Taylor scored the game-winner on a wounded and mentally weakened Nashville side that lost Michael Reed, missed a penalty and went down to 10 men. Taylor had three total shots and played especially dangerous in the attacking end.