Nashville 1-2 Vancouver
May 25, 1997 — Ezell Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
Scoring Summary
VAN — unknown
VAN — Garret Kusch (85′)
NASH — Noah Gins (87′)
Second-half penalty gives Metros the boot
(Nashville Tennessean, 05.26.97)
By Charles Searcy
A tripping call set up the eventual winning goal yesterday as visiting Vancouver handed the Nashville Metros a 2-1 loss at Columbia Soccer Complex.
Metros midfielder Andrew Galloway, in an attempt to stop Vancouver player/coach Carl Valentine from setting up the 86ers from the left wing, was called for tripping at the 5:45 mark of the second half. On the free kick, Valentine centered the ball for Garret Kusch, whose header slipped past Metros goalkeeper Randy Dedini. That put the 86ers up 2-0.
“We knew [Kusch] was very dangerous and we talked before the game that if anyone needed taking care of it was him,” Metros coach Greg Petersen said. “We just had a breakdown.”
Nashville (3-3), playing before 936 die-hard fans on a rainy afternoon, cut the lead to 2-1 with 3:45 left on Noah Gins’ goal with an assist from D.J. Johnson from the wing. Gins missed wide left just seconds later and a third shot at goal with 1:15 left was saved by 86ers goalkeeper Paul Dolan.
“The opportunities were there and we didn’t take advantage of them as did Vancouver,” Petersen said. “Their first goal was a mistake by our midfielder.”
Valentine said the 86ers (7-3) were getting tired late.
“I was concerned because we played Friday night in Atlanta [losing 3-2] and then having to play here this afternoon,” Valentine said. “We’re six players short because we’ve lost them to World Cup competition.”
Nashville missed a golden opportunity early in the first half after Vancouver was whistled for an illegal touch of the ball. The subsequent direct free kick from about 20 yards in front of the goal by Luis Berbari sailed high.
“I’m not making any excuses,” Petersen said. “We’re still learning to play with one another. Vancouver is very talented, has veteran players and very organized. That means a great deal.”
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