Monday July 9, 2007
          The Atlanta Silverbacks lost to FC Dallas tonight after falling 4-3 in six rounds of penalty kicks at Pizza Hut Park in the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's third round. The Silverbacks played down a man through both overtime periods and eight minutes of regulation - the referee ejected Daniel Antoniuk from the match in the 82nd minute.

“The guys battled hard all night especially after we went to ten men and I’m extremely proud of them considering the fact that we played 120 minutes,” commented Head Coach Jason Smith. “We performed with one of the leaders in the MLS; they had the majority of possession, but we played great defensively and had some chances of our own to score.”

          Dallas, the MLS-side and favored team in the match, had the majority of the possession in the first half, but the Silverbacks played smart defense and held off any advances from FC Dallas. Silverbacks’ goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh made some brilliant saves and both teams went to the locker room with a scoreless first half in the books. 
          Neither team took prominent control of the match in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the home team took the first blood with a quick counterattack goal in the 74th minute. Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala sent the ball forward to Carlos Ruiz who finished a shot from outside the box, giving Dallas the 1-0 lead. The Silverbacks did not let the goal slow them down and the USL First Division side evened the score less than five minutes later. David Hayes sent the ball to Antoniuk who put away the equalizer for Atlanta. Unfortunately for Atlanta, their loan goal-scorer was ejected from the match in the 82nd minute and the ‘Backs had to play down for the rest of regulation. After withstanding some excellent chances by Dallas, the Silverbacks’ ten-man squad continued to fight throughout both 15 minutes of scoreless overtime. Atlanta made some late subs in preparation for the possibility of penalty kicks. The Silverbacks went goal-for-goal with Dallas through the first five-rounds of penalty kicks including two amazing saves from McIntosh. In the end, the Silverbacks went down in the sixth round; Scott Buete’s PK went just over the crossbar and Dallas’ Arturo Alvarez was able to get the ball past McIntosh for the win. 

ATL 1 - Rios (Goal)
DAL 1 – Ruiz – (Goal)
ATL 2 – Moore – (Save)
DAL 2 – Richetti – (Save)
ATL 3 – O’Brien – (Wide Left)
DAL 3 – Toja – (Save)
ATL 4 – Rivillo – (Goal)
DAL 4 – Gbandi – (Goal)
ATL 5 – Hayes – (Goal)
DAL 5 – Thompson - (Goal)
ATL 6 – Buete – (High)
DAL 6 – Alvarez – (Goal)

    The Silverbacks will return to Atlanta to take on the Rayados de Monterrey of the Mexican Primera Division on Thursday, July 12 at 7:55 p.m. at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. For ticket information call 404-969-4900 or visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.

Atlanta’s starters: Ryan McIntosh, David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Martyn Lancaster, Justin Moore, Rodrigo Rios, Tony McManus, Scott Buete, Rafique Hassim (John Queeley - 66) (Angel Rivillo - 114), Daniel Antoniuk, Warren Ukah (Corey Woolfolk – 74) (Dayton O’Brien - 119).
Goals: Antoniuk – 78 (Hayes)
Cautions: McManus – 72; Rios – 82; Lancaster – 92; Bobo- 96
Ejections: Antoniuk - 82   

Dallas’ starters: Dario Sala, Chris Gbandi, Pablo Richetti, Juan Toja, Ramon Nunez (Dominic Oduruo – 69), Clarence Goodson (David Wagenfuhr – 113), Arturo Alvarez, Drew Moor (Abe Thompson – 91), Aaron Pitchkolan, Bobby Rhine (Michael Dello-Russo - 117), Carlos Ruiz.
Goals: Ruiz – 74 (Sala)   
Cautions:
Ejections:

© Atlanta Silverbacks 2007 – All Rights Reserved.