Liam Doyle and Nashville Soccer Club suffered penalty heartbreak in the USL Cup play-offs last weekend.

Playing in front of more than 20,000 spectators, the Manx footballer successfully slotted home the first penalty in the shootout, but top seeds Cincinnati hit back and held their nerve to triumph 6-5.

With the likes of ex-Copenhagen and Portland Timbers striker Fanendo Adi, former Middlesbrough midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma and ex-Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte in their ranks, Cincinnati were the highest seeded team in the play-offs.

However, Nashville dug deep and frustrated the Ohio side for large periods of the game and forced the game into extra-time.

Corben Bone then gave Cincinnati the lead early in the additional 30 minutes which looked like it would prove to be the winner until Bradley Bourgeois equalised with only six minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, it proved to be in vain as, despite Doyle coolly powering home the opening spotkick, it was Cincinnati who triumphed to bring an end to Nashville’s season. Despite the result, Doyle was pleased with how his side performed: ’We knew going into the game against Cincinnati we had to be at our best to compete, and for much of the game we were.

’Throughout the season we have matched up well with them, upping our game for the occasion.

’They are a very very good team who have dominated the league and have so much at their disposal for their switch to MLS next year.

’Players such as Fanendo Adi, Emmanuel Ledesma and Justin Hoyte have been a constant in their side and are quality players.

’In the match itself, we started slowly and had a below-par first half. However, even though they had the majority of possession, we defended very well and limited them to very few chances.

’We regrouped at half-time, changed our formation and went on to have the better of the second half, creating four massive opportunities and did more than enough to win.

’Extra-time was cagey with Cincinnati scoring first before we equalised late in extra-time. Penalties, as always, is a lottery - it was a nervy experience in front of that crowd but an experience I will never forget.’

Looking back at the season as a whole, Doyle is happy with how he and the team progressed, which culminated in the Manxman being crowned his side’s Defensive Player of the Year.

’The season went well for the most part and to have a run in the open cup and reach the playoffs is a solid achievement.

’It’s very rare that an expansion team from any sport in the USA makes play-offs.

’It was nice to win Defensive Player of the Year. Our team had been defensively brilliant all season and I’ve been able to improve my game through us being such a solid side.’