(NashvilleSC.com, 08.31.19)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A brilliant one-touch half volley goal in the 79th minute from forward Kharlton Belmar gave Nashville SC a massive 2-1 road win at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday evening at Al Lang Stadium. The win moves Nashville to second place in the USL Eastern Conference.

A lofted through ball from defender Bradley Bourgeois sprung Belmar free. The forward took just one touch and fired it inside the far post on the fly. The goal was Belmar’s third of the season and came after head coach Gary Smith had inserted him into the match as a substitute less than 10 minutes earlier in the 71st minute.

The win over Tampa Bay was the first for Nashville SC in the club’s brief two-year history following two losses and a draw in the three previous meetings. Nashville SC leapfrogged Tampa in the standings with the victory, taking sole possession of second place in the east with seven matches left in the season.

Nashville opened the scoring just before halftime in the 44th minute when Cameron Lancaster won a free kick just outside the Rowdies’ 18-yard box. Lancaster took the free kick low and forced a save from Tampa keeper John McCarthy. The rebound from McCarthy found an on-rushing Lebo Moloto, who immediately sent the ball into the net to give Nashville the lead.

The Rowdies bounced right back immediately in the second half when Sebastián Guenzatti equalized on a cross through the box. However, deft substitutions from Smith, bringing on Belmar and fellow winter Alan Winn, spun the match back in Nashville’s favor late.

Three Takeaways

Road warriors yet again
The win was Nashville SC’s ninth on the road, more than double its total away from home last season (4). Coming against Tampa Bay, a team that has spent the majority of the season on top of the Eastern Conference standings, makes it even more impressive. Nashville SC had to weather Tampa Bay’s attack, which pressed all match behind its home fans. The nine road wins and 30 road points are the most for any team in the east. With just two road matches left on its schedule, Nashville could win 11 of 17 road matches in 2019, an impressive possibility.

Defense stands tall
Pickens and the Nashville SC defense put in a monumental performance on the road in a tough environment. Tampa Bay took 20 shots, including eight on target, and Nashville SC allowed just the one goal. The 20 shots and eight on target both tie the most against Pickens and Nashville in the club’s two-year history. The seven saves are a Nashville SC record for Pickens, who made several point-blank stops despite taking numerous hits inside the box. One of those hits forced Pickens into a jersey change in stoppage time, but the keeper held just as firm in an 84 jersey as he did in his usual number 18.

Bourgeois and Belmar combine for winner
Both Bradley Bourgeois and Kharlton Belmar have found themselves on the outside looking in at a starting spot for stretches during the 2019 season, but the pair combined for one of the biggest goals of the season to secure three points for Nashville SC. Bourgeois lofted a ball over the top and led Belmar on a break, and he one-touched it past McCarthy into the net. For Bourgeois, it was the second consecutive start after not starting in the previous seven matches and his first assist on the season. It was the third goal for Belmar and the second in the last three weeks following a road goal against the Charlotte Independence.

Up Next

Nashville SC will have its penultimate road match of the season next Saturday night when it takes on Saint Louis FC in the St. Louis suburbs on September 7. Saint Louis beat Nashville earlier this season 1-0 at First Tennessee Park, but has since fallen outside of the playoff picture, winning once in its last 15 matches. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast on MyTV30.