Post-Match Quote Sheet
Bethlehem Steel FC at Nashville SC | August 10, 2019 – First Tennessee Park, Nashville, Tenn.
Bethlehem Steel FC
Head Coach Brendan Burke
On his team’s performance tonight . . .
Determination to defend well in groups and a good understanding of how to control space and channel [Nashville SC] into the right areas I thought limited their clean looks at goal to very few.
On Todd Morton’s performance . . .
Todd [Morton] was good, but I actually don’t think he had a lot to do. Even in the second half he made two or three important interventions, but it wasn’t like he was getting peppered.
On his team’s defensive efforts against Nashville SC . . .
The guys in front of them were committed to keeping the ball out in wide areas. It was a collective effort, but I thought that the defensive unit reacted well over and over again when there were emergency defending situations.
Goalkeeper Todd Morton
On how important his team’s defense was in tonight’s match . . .
Very critical obviously; we had a clean sheet. I think we stuck to exactly what we wanted to in the game plan, trying to deny them as much opportunity as possible and Walter [Cortés] was unreal with that goal-line clearance. You can’t ask for more from that; the effort was definitely there.
On his first Steel FC clean sheet . . .
I was fortunate that most of the shots were right at me, so it wasn’t too much, but I’m obviously happy to get the clean sheet. It’s nice for the confidence and then the defenders as well; that shows how much work they’re putting in so they make my job easy.
On Walter Cortés’ goal-line clearance . . .
Unbelievable, otherwise that was a goal and I don’t know how he did it; I still don’t know. I saw it, it was going in as I was spinning backwards and I would have been devastated if that went in. He was unbelievable there.
Midfield James Chambers
On his team’s performance tonight . . .
Tonight we had a lot of heart, a lot of desire and we defended well. We gave up a lot of possession, but that was the game plan to a certain point. I think we won our individual battles, which was important, and we got a good point on the road.
On Nashville SC holding the majority of possession and defending against their attack . . .
I think we conceded possession, but that was a tactic on our part to press them a little bit deeper than what we normally do and they struggled at times to break us down. When you have 70 percent possession you’re going to get a couple more chances on goal, which is understandable. Todd [Morton] made a great save, Walter [Cortés] obviously made a great play and I think the defense stood up well, so 70 percent possession is fine, but we didn’t really get overly punished from the possession that they had.
On if this result can push his team forward in future matches . . .
I think we’ve been in this position a couple of times this season where we’ve had good results and it hasn’t yielded anything in the following week. It’s nice to get this result when we have a little bit of time to soak it in and understand what it means for the rest of the season, because we have no game next week and we have Birmingham [Legion FC] and Swope [Park Rangers] when they come into town. It’ll be a big two weeks for us, but we’re focused.
