Saturday May 24, 2008
Charleston, South Carolina--The Atlanta Silverbacks fell to the league leading Charleston Battery 2-0 Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium.

(Photo Caption: Ridrigo Rios, seen here in action versus Seattle, made his 100th appearance for the Silverbacks Saturday in the club's 2-0 loss at Charleston. Photo by Elaine Carroll)

“Obviously I’m disappointed,” said head coach Jason Smith. “We made some mistakes in the back, and I think in the midfield and up front we were a little selfish. It looks like it’s time to shake up the line up, make some changes going into next week.”

The match marked captain Rodrigo Rios’ 100th appearance for the Silverbacks. He is the second player in club history to reach the milestone.

“Right now, it doesn’t matter how many games I’ve played because we lost tonight,” Rios said. “I’m so sad, I’m so mad right now, because this team has so much potential, but I do not think we are playing up to it. Our goal is to win the league, and the post season tournament, and we are a long ways from both of those things right now.”

For the second consecutive game, the Silverbacks opened the match playing hesitantly. It nearly cost them in the eighth minute when the Battery’s Lazo Alavanja got in behind the Silverbacks’ back line, forcing goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh off his line. McIntosh saved the initial attempt but could not hold the ball, which was cleared to safety after rolling dangerously across the Silverbacks’ open goal.

Eight minutes later McIntosh was again called into action, tipping a dipping Osvaldo Alonso free kick from 25 yards out over the crossbar.

The Silverbacks’ best chance of the half came in the 31st minute off a glancing header by Matt Bobo off a Rios corner kick, missing just wide.

The Battery opened scoring three minutes later when league-leading scorer Randi Patterson got on the end of a well played through ball from Chris Williams and slotted the ball first-time under a charging McIntosh. The goal was Patterson’s sixth on the season.

Five minutes later McIntosh robbed Patterson of his second, going to ground nicely to keep the Silverbacks deficit to one.

After a stern talking to during the interval, the Silverbacks played with considerably more vigor entering the second half, taking control--and maintaining--the run of play for the majority of the second half.

But still, the Silverbacks could not seem to mount a sustainable attack until after the hour mark, when Ansu Toure took it upon himself and made a long run with the ball down the left flank. His driving blast, however, was saved by Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans, who easily collected his own rebound.

The Battery nearly doubled its lead--and against the run of play--when Alavanja nearly lobbed McIntosh from 50 yards out, missing just wide as McIntosh scrambled to cover his goal.

The Battery found the goal again in the 74th minute after a breakdown in the Silverbacks back line led to a foul outside the penalty area, and the resulting free kick was not played clear. Substitute Aaron King slammed the ball past a helpless McIntosh from close range to double the Battery lead.

Notes:

Century Man
The match marked captain Rodrigo Rios’ 100th appearance for the Silverbacks.

Derby Downer
The Silverbacks dropped three Southern Derby points in the loss. Charleston now leads the supporter-sponsored competition between the Silverbacks, Charleston, and Carolina with three points. The Silverbacks and Carolina each have one point.

Number Two
Saturday’s loss is the second consecutive for the Silverbacks. The club fell last Sunday 4-2 at Seattle.

Down Under
The loss put the Silverbacks under .500 for the first time this season, falling to 2-3-2 on the year.

Next Up
The Silverbacks return to Silverbacks Park Saturday May 24 to host the Carolina RailHawks in a Southern Derby match-up. Kick off is at 7:55

Box

Charleston Battery:
Keith Wiggans, Tim Velton, Kevin Nylen, Nelson Akwari, John Wilson, Chris Williams, Osvaldo Alonso, Mike Richardson, Ian Fuller (Louie Rolko 88), Randi Patterson (Stephen Armstrong 89), Lazo Alavanja (Aaron King 70).

Atlanta Silverbacks:
Ryan McIntosh, Justin Moore (Josh Bolton 82), David Hayes, Matt Bobo, Martyn Lancaster, Scott Buete, Rodrigo Rios (Blake Camp 75), Tony McManus, Jason McLaughlin, Ansu Toure, Mac Kandji.

Goals
CHS--Patterson (Williams) 30
CHS--King 75

Misconduct
CHS--Nylen (caution) 12
ATL--Hayes (caution) 38
ATL--Moore (caution) 53
ATL--Kanji (caution) 90

Attendance:
4,861