Sunday July 13, 2008
ATLANTA—The Atlanta Silverbacks fell to Argentinean first division side Club Atletico Independiente 2-1 Saturday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

(Photo Caption: Ansu Toure splits two Independiente defenders in the Silverbacks 2-1 loss. Photo by Ellen McRaney)

After a slow start to the match, Jason McLaughlin put the Silverbacks in the lead in the 27th minute. The home side held the lead for another 50 minutes before the visitors could equalize from the penalty spot. The winner came more than a minute after the announced stoppage time had expired.

The Reds carried the run of play in the opening 10 minutes of the match, but did little to threaten the Silverbacks goal. But towards the 20 minute mark, the game began to shift in the Silverbacks favor.

“We didn't play very well in the first 20 minutes or so,” said head coach Jason Smith.

But once the Silverbacks did get going, and much to the surprise of the Reds, the Silverbacks proved to be the better team, stringing together passes and finding forwards McLaughlin and Mac Kandji, both of whom caused problems for the Reds defenders throughout the night.

McLaughlin opened the night's scoring in the 27th minute, connecting with Ansu Toure on a well timed counter attack. Toure played the ball perfectly onto McLaughlin's diagonal run from midfield. After a couple of controlling touches, McLaughlin bent the ball to the far post past a diving Adrian Gabbarini.

Towards the end of the first half, the visitors picked up the pressure, testing Felipe Quintero several times. Quintero played his best soccer of the season, controlling his penalty area, and making several spectacular saves.

In the 34th minute Quintero stood up Damian Luna, swatting away the midfielder's breakaway attempt, and seven minutes later, he defied gravity, hanging in the air to top away an almost sure goal by Pablo Vitti, who headed a driven cross down and to the far post.

Quintero also had some help. On the resulting corner kick off his save on Vitti, Scott Buete cleared a partially saved ball off the line.

And with no time left in the half, Quintero saved spectacularly to his right.

The second half saw wholesale changes by both teams. The Reds had the first opportunity of the second stanza, when Victor Sosa beat half time substitute Ryan McIntosh with a driven ball to the far post. McIntosh was, however, saved by the woodwork.

With both teams lineup altered considerably throughout the half, neither team cold establish continuity. With only three remaining started on the field for the Silverbacks, the Reds regained control of the match with 20 minutes to play.

“We wanted to give some guys who haven't played a lot this season a good look,” Smith said. “I don't think some of them did as well as we had hoped.”

The visitors leveled the score with 14 minutes to play after Sosa sold a nudge in the penalty area. Leandro Gioda stepped up and finished the spot kick.

The difference between the Argentinean reserves and their American counterparts became evident in the waning moments of the game. On several occasions the Reds threatened, narrowly missing chances. They finally connected in added time following a acrobatic save by McIntosh which conceded a corner. Damioan Ledesma got on the end of a well-placed corner kick to give the Reds the win.

The Silverbacks return to league action next Friday, hosting the Portland Timbers.

Box Score

Atlanta Silverbacks:
Felipe Quintero (Ryan McIntosh 45), Justin Moore (Zack Kirby 74), David Hayes (Tate Parrish 87), Josh Bolton, Martyn Lancaster, Scott Buete, Rodrigo Rios (Chris Mahaffey 83), Ansu Toure (Kevin Barrow 62), Blake Camp (Greg Chevalier 45), Jason McLaughlin (Nathan Knox 77), Mac Kandji.
 
Club Atletico Independiente:
Adrian Gabbarini, Ricardo Moreira, Leandro Gioda, Damian Ledesma, Matis Di Gregorio (Patricio Rodriguez 66), Leonel Rios (Hernan Fredes 55), Mariano Herron (Juan Caracoche 45), Adrian Calello, Emanuel Centurion (Matias Oyola 72), Pablo Vitti (Bruno Enzo 83), Damian Luna (Victor Sosa 60).

Goals:
ATL—McLaughlin (Toure) 27
IND—Gioda (Penalty Kick) 77
IND—D  Ledesma (Fredes) 90

Misconduct:
IND—Centurion (caution) 62