Georgia 3-0 Nashville
August 22, 1982 — DeKalb Memorial Stadium (Clarkston, Ga.)
Scoring Summary
GA — Danny McNevin (Giulio Bernardi) 46′
GA — Giulio Bernardi (Danny McNevin) 67′
GA — Kevin Fouser (Giulio Bernardi) [second half]
Generals beat Diamonds
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 08.23.82)
By Tracy Helms
CLARKSTON, Ga. — Giulio Bernardi and the Georgia Generals discovered the missing link during halftime of their game Sunday night against the Nashville Diamonds.
“We were driving the ball very well in the first half and getting in their box but then we couldn’t quite score,” Bernardi said. “We talked about that at halftime and in the second half we just wanted to work on that last pass.”
That strategy paved the way for Georgia’s 3-0 American Soccer League victory over Nashville in front of an estimated 850 people at DeKalb Memorial Stadium.
Bernardi was the main force in turning an eventless first half into an eventual Generals triumph with his two assists and one goal.
Bernardi booted a pass to Danny McNevin in front of the Diamonds’ goal and McNevin completed the play by hooking a shot past Nashville goalie Brien McInerney for the Generals’ first goal just 18 seconds into the second half.
McNevin returned the favor to Bernardi at the game’s 66:30 mark as he tossed a pass to Bernardi, who slid in a score form 10 yards out.
After coming off the bench midway through the final period, Kevin Fouser took an assist from Bernardi while running across the front of goal and then passed the ball to McInerney’s left for the Generals’ third goal.
“This shutout feels great,” Bernardi said. “We really played as a team and dominated every minute of the game.”
The domination was evident in the shot totals — Georgia outshot the visitors 30-6 in posting its 12th win against seven losses and four ties. Nashville, meanwhile, fell deeper into the ASL’s cellar with a 2-20-4 record.
“The first half was like the last time we played them (the two teams tied 1-1 last Sunday),” Bernardi said. “We controlled the ball, but we couldn’t score like we should have. Tonight’s second half was a good effort. We finished off our passing a lot better. I could’ve had another goal easily.”
The Generals travel to Oklahoma City Wednesday to confront the league’s second-place Slickers, who hold a 22-point edge over Georgia.
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