Tuesday April 29, 2008
ATLANTA—For the second week in a row a Silverback was selected to the USL-1 weekly Best 11 side. Midfielder Ansu Toure earned the Week Two selection for his strong play in his Silverbacks debut in last Friday's 3-2 win over perennial league power Montreal at Silverbacks Park.

“I'm honored to be selected,” said Toure. “The credit goes too the team. We all played very hard on Friday to get the win.”

In the opening week of play, Silverbacks defender Matt Bobo earned a Best 11 selection for his steely defensive play in the Silverbacks' 1-1 draw with Carolina.

Portland's former Japanese international Takayuki Suzuki earned Player of the Week honors for his breathtaking goal and assist in the Timber's 2-0 win over rival Seattle.

Toure, who missed the club's season opener a week earlier due to a red card suspension he picked up last season while still with Minnesota, had a hand in all three of the Silverbacks' goals Friday night in front of a national TV audience.

After withstanding high pressure from the visitors in the opening minutes of Friday's match, it was Toure who cleared a shot off the goal line after a the Silverbacks failed to clear a corner kick. The ball was swept out of danger by Justin Moore, who found Mac Kandji near midfield. Kandji spectacularly took care of the rest.

Toure's hand in the second goal came from an earned free kick 20 yards from goal. The resulting set piece led to David Hayes' go-ahead goal.

Though crucial in both of the Silverbacks' goals, Toure did not get his name on the game sheet until the 70th minute, when his in-swinging cross from the right flank found a soaring Jason McLaughlin on the far post.

Week Two USL-1 Best 11
G Ray Burse, Portland: Six saves in 2-0 win over Seattle
D Stephen de Roux, Minnesota: Led team in 1-0 win at Vancouver
D Scot Thompson, Portland: Led team to pair of wins
D Marco Reda, Charleston: Led team in 1-0 loss at Carolina
M Shaun Higgins, Portland: Game-winner in 2-1 win over Minnesota
M Osei Telesford, Puerto Rico: Game-winner in 3-1 win over Miami
M Ansu Toure, Atlanta: Led team in 3-2 win over Montreal
M  Patrick Leduc, Montreal: Goal, assist in 3-2 loss at Atlanta
F Juan Pablo Galavis, Miami: Goal in 2-0 win at Puerto Rico
F Takayuki Suzuki, Portland: Goal, assist in 2-0 win over Seattle
F  Connally Edozien,  Carolina:  Game-winner in 1-0 win over Charleston

The Silverbacks take on the Seattle Sounders in a rematch of last season's championship match Friday night at Silverbacks Park. Kickoff is set for 7:55. The match will be televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel.