Friday June 13, 2008
PORTLAND, OREGON—The Atlanta Silverbacks needed an 88th minute goal by Nathan Knox to draw the Portland Timbers 2-2 at the always hostile PGE Park Thursday night. The Silverbacks opening goal came off the head of Portland’s Miguel Guante for an own goal.

The Silverbacks played with a man advantage for 73 minutes and with a two-man advantage for the final 22 minutes of the match after Portland’s Tommy Poltl and Scot Thompson respectively were shown straight red cards for violent conduct.

“We got a point on the road, so we have to be content with that,” said head coach Jason Smith. “But playing a man up for most of the game, and then two up, it feels like a loss even though we battled back to tie the game twice.”

Ryan McIntosh started in goal with David Hayes, Josh Bolton, Matt Bobo, and Martyn Lancaster making up the back line. Blake Camp featured in the central midfield for the Silverbacks for the first time since joining the club alongside Tony McManus, with Scott Buete on the left flank and Ansu Toure on the right. Mac Kandji and Jason McLaughlin ran up front. Zach Kirby, Rodrigo Rios, Nathan Knox, and Chris Mahaffey were used as second half substitutes.

Only 14 minutes into the match the Timbers took advantage of a defensive gaff, as Bobo was unable to hold off Chris Bagley as they jostled for a long ball. Bagley got the best of Bobo and marched in, sliding the ball past a charging McIntosh to put the home club in the lead.

Just three minutes later the Silverbacks went up a man after Poltl violently swung violently at Buete as the two tussled for the ball near midfield.

Immediately Silverbacks used the man advantage to push numbers forward. Hayes spent much of the first half on the offensive side of the field, leaving defensive duties to Bobo, Bolton, and Lancaster.

The pressure paid off in the 29th minute when Guante, under pressure, headed a Jason McLaughlin cross into his own goal for what, had it gone the other way, would have been a spectacular goal.

Ten minutes later the Timbers jumped back in the lead when Justin Thompson got on the end of a long free kick at the top of the penalty area played from the other side of midfield, dubiously out-muscling a Silverbacks defender and finishing easily on a helpless McIntosh.

The Timbers nearly got a third in the 47th minute after a ball played across the Silverback goal line was not immediately cleared to safety. Two Timber players had a crack at goal before the ball was finally swept to safety.

In the 68th minute the Silverbacks were given a two-man advantage when Scot Thompson was given his marching orders after a late tackle on Kandji.

With everyone but Bobo and Kirby pushed in the offensive third, the Silverbacks had several near misses before Knox netted his first goal as a Silverback in the 88th minute, slamming home a driven Hayes cross from the left flank from inside the six-yard box.

The draw gives the Silverbacks a much-needed point in the league standings, moving the club to 3-3-4 on the season.

Notes

First Timer
Blake Camp made his first start for the Silverbacks in the central midfield since joining the club in the offseason.

Persona Non Grata
Mac Kandji drew the ire of the Timber Army throughout the match, receiving deafening whistles and boos every time he touched the ball—particularly after he drew the foul that saw Scot Thompson sent off.

Back in the Saddle Again
Despite his ejection in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match, Chris Mahaffey was eligible to play, and did, going in for Josh Bolton in the 86th minute. He will, however, not be available for the USOC second round match versus Miami June 24.

Back in the Saddle Again, Part II
Zach Kirby made his return to league play after serving a three game suspension. He came on for Martyn Lancaster in the 51st minute.

Next Up
The Silverbacks travel to Minnesota to face the Thunder at the National Sports Center on Saturday night. Kickoff is at 7:00. The match can be seen live or on demand at  HYPERLINK "http://www.USLLive.com" www.USLLive.com.