Nashville 5-0 Jacksonville

July 17, 1997 — Ezell Park (Nashville, Tenn.)

Scoring Summary
NASH — Mourat Dahlal (3′)
NASH — John Smith (18′)
NASH — Idelfonso Cantero (first half)
NASH — Jamel Mitchell (second half)
NASH — Jamel Mitchell (second half)

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Mitchell helps Metros roar past Jacksonville

(Nashville Tennessean, 07.18.97)

By Charles Searcy

Jamel Mitchell scored twice and Randy Dedini and Michael LaBerge combined for a shutout as the Nashville Metros extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-0 win over visiting Jacksonville last night.

“Consistency is what I was most proud of,” said Metros coach Greg Petersen, who watched his team improve its record to 11-7. “I thought the three days off [for the A-League All-Star game] was a big help. Everyone on the team looked refreshed.”

Nashville, playing before 1,82 [sic] fans, jumped on the Cyclones early, scoring less than three minutes into the first half when Mourat Dahlal took a corner kick from Idelfonso Cantero and slammed it past Jacksonville goalie Phil Wellington.

Dahlal would come back midway of the period to set up John Smith at the 17:39 mark for his first goal for the Metros. Smith, the A-League’s assist leader, joined the team from the Orlando Sundogs only hours before the game and quickly became a vital part of the Metros’ run to the playoffs.

Cantero scored just before the half with a crossing shot past the outstretched arms of Wellington. Luis Berbari got the assist, setting up Cantero in the center of the field.

“I hope,” Cantero smiled when asked about his goal. Cantero, who speaks very little English, would later set up the fourth goal of the night.

“We came, we saw, we got smashed,” said Cyclones coach Pete Petersen, no relation to the Metros’ coach.

Mitchell has now scored 11 goals in his last 13 games.

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