Thursday July 3, 2008
ATLANTA—The Atlanta Silverbacks earned three much-needed points going into a two week break in league play topping the Minnesota Thunder 3-2.  Mac Kandji had a pair of goals and Jason McLaughlin scored one on the night.

(Photo Caption: Mac Kandji upped his goal total to five in league play and six in all competitions. Photo by Elaine Carroll)

“We played a very good first half,” said head coach Jason Smith.  “Unfortunately we didn't keep up the pressure in the second and let them back in the game. But we came away with three points. That's the most important thing right now.”

The Silverbacks took to the offensive at the opening whistle, throwing numbers forward early against the Thunder.  Ansu Toure nearly put his name on the score sheet versus his old club in just the second minute, running onto a lovely through ball from Blake Camp.  Toure’s resulting shot skidded across the goal mouth, missing just wide.

“Getting numbers forward early is not something we have been doing in the past few games,” said defender David Hayes.  “We went at them from the opening whistle, and it showed in the result.”

Camp, featuring for the second time this season, replaced the injured Tony McManus in the central midfield.

In the seventh minute Rodrigo Rios first-timmed a McLaughlin flick past goalkeeper Nick Platter.  The goal, however, was disallowed, after Rios was ruled offside.

A minute later Toure had another chance, intercepting a weak back pass and going on goal.  Platter stood strong, kick-saving the driven ball.

Kandji had his first sniff of the goal in the 15th minute, running past his marker onto a nice ball from Camp.  He beat one defender before his shot on goal was blocked by a second.

Four minutes later Kandji would not be denied.  Taking a long ball from Rios, Kandji had little trouble shaking off the last defender before going one-on-one with Platter, beating the goalkeeper and slotting the ball to the far post.

“I've been saying all season the goals would come,” Kandji said.  “We're finally coming together as a team.  People are playing the ball to the right places, and we're getting goals from it.”

In the 24th minute McLaughlin doubled the score, collecting a ball in the middle of the park from Toure 35 yards from goal.  After a long touch forward, McLaughlin found himself with acres of space.  His left-footed crack to the far upper corner glanced off the underside of the crossbar past a stunned Platter.  The goal was McLaughlin's fifth on the season, equaling his total as a Silverback in the 2006 season.

Minnesota nearly got a goal back in the 35th minute when Kevin Taylor got on the end of a driven corner kick on the far post.  The header beat Felipe Quintero, who featured for the second time this season, but smacked the woodwork.

Three minutes later it was Quintero again, denying a series of close-range shots before it was cleared to safety.

With a minute to play Kandji nearly doubled his count, running onto a long ball from Rios on the right flank.  The resulting shot was cleared for a corner kick.

In added time, again it was Kandji from Rios.  This time he did not miss, getting in behind the defense and slotting the ball in past Platter.  The goal moves Kandji's goal count to a team leading seven goals in all competitions, six in league play.

Entering the second half, the Silverbacks received a jarring wake-up call just two minutes into the half when Tighe Dombrowski slid in unmarked nodding a Dale Weiler cross just inside Quintero’s near post.

With the play mostly at midfield in the second half, Minnesota pulled to within one in the 89th minute when Melvin Tarley got on the end of a driven Luchi Gonzales free kick just outside the penalty area.  Quintero made the initial save, but could not hold the ball, which trickled over the goal line for Minnesota’s second on the night.

The Silverbacks are in action again twice next week, hosting Mexican powerhouse and CONCACAF champions Pachuca on Wednesday, July 9th followed by legendary Argentinean club Independiente on Saturday, July 12th.  Kickoff for both international exhibitions is at 8:00pm.  League play does not resume for the Silverbacks until July 18, when the Portland Timbers return to Silverbacks Park.

Notes

Second Time Around
Felipe Quintero earned his second start of the season.

Second Time Around 2.0
Blake Camp also featured for the second time this year, filling in for the injured Tony McManus in the central midfield. Camp has one goal on the season.

Better by the Half Dozen
Mac Kandji's brace bumps his goal total to a club leading six on the season—five of which have come in league play.

Close Behind
Jason McLaughlin's tally puts him one goal behind Kandji in the golden boot race.

Playing With the Big Boys
The Silverbacks will face three of the top teams in Latin America starting Wednesday, hosting Pachuca of Mexico at Silverbacks Park. On Saturday Argentina's Independiente comes to town, followed by Honduran champions Olimpia on July 19.

Third Time's a Charm
The Silverbacks will get a third crack at Portland when the club resumes league play July 18. The Silverbacks are 0-1-1 versus Portland this season.