The Atlanta Silverbacks tied the Puerto Rico Islanders tonight at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium in front of 2,016 fans. The Silverbacks remain unbeaten at home and hold a 6-0-2 record at home and 7-5-4 record overall.
The intensity of the game began the second the whistle blew to start the game and only increased as the match continued. The Silverbacks had a great chance in the 7th minute that Puerto Rico barely escaped by clearing the ball off the goal line. The Silverbacks dominated the half by putting pressure on Puerto Rico and picking through their defense with quick give-and-go passes. Their hard work paid off in the 16th minute when Warren Ukah put the Silverbacks ahead 1-0. Rodrigo Rios sent a ball into the box to Ukah; Ukah challenged the Islanders’ keeper, Dan Kennedy, and came down with the ball at his feet and his back to the goal; Ukah spun around and hit the ball into the net. The score stood for the remainder of the half with the Silverbacks leading 1-0.
Puerto Rico came out strong in the second half and gave the Silverbacks some added pressure. Felipe Quintero made some unbelievable saves and kept the Silverbacks in the lead. However, in the 76th minute the Islanders finally got past Quintero when their leading-scorer Alen Marcina scored a goal. Puerto Rico’s Edwin Miranda sent a beautiful ball in behind Quintero to the far post; Marcina ran onto it and headed it in the goal. The game became very physical from that point on as both teams fought for the win. The Silverbacks had two corner kicks in stoppage time but were unable to convert them to goals. The game ended in a 1-1 tie and both teams remain tied with 25 points in the USL First Division standings. Both keepers remain tied for number of wins; Quintero had 11 saves and Kennedy had nine saves.
The Silverbacks will take on the league-leading Montreal Impact next Friday, July 28 at 7:30 pm at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. For ticket information call 1-866-GO-BACKS.
Atlanta: 1 0: 1
Puerto Rico: 0 1: 1
Atlanta’s starters: Felipe Quintero, Joe Afful, Omar Jarun, Matt Bobo, David Hayes (Adilson DeLima – 74), Jason McLaughlin, Tony McManus, Rodrigo Rios (Liam George – 88), Scott Buete, Warren Ukah (Fabian Dawkins – 66), Machel Millwood (Josh Smith – 78).
Cautions:
Goals: Ukah – 16 (Rios)
Puerto Rico’s starters: Dan Kennedy, John Queely, Marco Velez, Mauricio Segovia, Noah Delgado, Edwin Miranda, Kormac Valdebenito, Gustavo Barros-Schelotto, Allen Marcina, Arturo Noranbuena (Mark Oehlman- 58), Dario Husain (Jonathon Lopuski – 85).
Caution: Velez – 61; Delgado - 87
Goals: Marcina – 76 (Miranda)
© Atlanta Silverbacks 2006 – All Rights Reserved.
