Atlanta Silverbacks

The Atlanta Silverbacks beat Miami FC 2-1 Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,000 fans at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. The two teams came into the match tied in points (29) with Atlanta sitting in 6^th place and Miami just behind in 7^th place. Tonight’s match takes Atlanta ’s record to 9-8-5 and strengthens the team’s chances to make playoffs.

Head Coach Jason Smith commented on the win, “It’s very important to win the first game in a three game series, but we have to be cautious because Miami is a very good team. We still have to take care of business next week.”
The Silverbacks wasted no time getting onto the board and scored on the opening play of the match. Atlanta took the kick and brought the ball through Miami ’s defense, Rodrigo Rios sent a cross in to Josh Smith who finished the Silverbacks’ first goal with only 40 seconds on the clock. Miami answered in the 11^th minute with a goal of their own. Zinho (Crizam Oliveira) received the ball in the box, dribbled across the face of the goal, and fired a shot past Felipe Quintero. The Silverbacks’ defense contained Romario and Zinho for the remainder of the half and went into the locker room with an even 1-1 score.
The intensity only increased in the second half with both teams working hard for the win and the subsequent three points. The Rios-Smith combo struck again in the 59^th minute; Rios sent the ball into Smith who beat a defender to the ball and pushed a shot past a diving Eric Kronberg. Miami made a strong push just after the Silverbacks’ goal but Quintero made an amazing save and kept the Silverbacks ahead. In the 86^th minute Miami lost Allen Handy after he took Machel Millwood down on a breakaway. The referee gave Handy two yellow cards, the resulting red card, and ejected him from the game. The Silverbacks had numerous chances in the final minutes. Liam George had a shot go off the post during injury time, but Atlanta did not add to their lead. The game ended with the 2-1 win in favor of the Silverbacks.

The two teams will have a rematch this week in Atlanta on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 pm at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. Please purchase your tickets early. For ticket information call 1-866-GO-BACKS.

Atlanta ’s starters: Felipe Quintero, Matt Bobo , David Hayes, Joe Afful, Omar Jarun (Antonio De La Torre – 88), Tony McManus, Rodrigo Rios, Josh Smith (Liam George - 72), Scott Buete, Jason McLaughlin (Warren Ukah – 58), Alex Pineda-Chacon (Machel Millwood – 58).
Cautions: Afful – 16; McManus - 28
Goals: Smith – 1 (Rios); Smith – 59 (Rios)

Miami ’s starters: Eric Kronberg, Stephane Guillaume, Allen Handy, JP Rodrigues, Jamil Jean-Jaques (Walter Ramirez – 81), Francisco Gomez, Diego Walsh (Oscar Gil – 75), Jeff Matteo (Fabian Sandoval - ), Crizam Oliveira, Mario Rodriguez, Romario Farias.
Cautions: Handy – 86; Handy – 86; Rodriguez - 90
Goals: Oliviera – 11