The Impact (7-10-4) will look to avenge their earlier loss to the Silverbacks (8-6-8) this year, when Atlanta topped Montreal by a score of 3-2 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

Atlanta tied the Charleston Battery this past weekend in a scoreless tie, while the Impact fell to the Portland Timbers 1-2 on Saturday, August 16th.

(Photo Caption: Atlanta defender Justin Moore will look to help achieve another shutout when the Silverbacks face the Impact this Wednesday. Photo by Ellen McRaney).

The Silverbacks have risen to top half of the standings over the past few weeks and are looking to lock up a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Montreal sits in ninth place and is scrapping for one of the seven spots to make the postseason. A win on Wednesday would put them in a tie for seventh place in the league.

Montreal boasts one of the most balanced attacks in the league; the team has had a remarkable 12 players score goals this year, second only to the Puerto Rico Islanders. Yet, the Impact have scored the fewest goals in the league (19) and are still looking to find a consistent scorer. Montreal traded for forward Charles Gbeke earlier in the year, but he has only been able to put away one goal in 12 games played.

Atlanta’s offense ranks second in the league with 33 goals scored, but the team will be without top striker Macoumba Kandji. Atlanta has also been able to only net two goals in their last three matches, being on the receiving end of a shutout twice. Newly acquired forward Aaron Paye made his debut with the Silverbacks last Saturday against the Charleston Battery and played the final 70 minutes of the match after replacing an injured Kandji, and he will look to put the offense back on track.

The Impact counters with an impressive defense – Montreal has only allowed 20 goals on the year, the fewest in the league. Keeper Matt Jordan ranks fourth in the league for both GAA (0.789) and shutouts (7). The battle between the Silverback offense and the Montreal offense will be one to watch.

Defensively, Atlanta has been fairly strong recently. The Silverbacks have posted two shutouts in the past three games, a stark improvement from the beginning of the year; Atlanta only posted one shutout in the first 19 games of the season.

Atlanta will continue on the four-game road swing when they face the Rochester Rhinos on August 23rd.

The Silverbacks will then return home on Saturday, August 30th for the regular season home finale against the Rochester Rhinos. For tickets or more information, please call 1-866-GO-BACKS or visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.