Friday July 18, 2008
ATLANTA—The Silverbacks eked out a point Friday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, playing the Portland Timbers to a 1-1 draw. Scott Buete responded with an injury time goal after the Timbers went ahead in the 90th minute.

(Photo Caption: Scott Buete drew level in injury time after Lawrence Olum put the Timbers ahead. Photo by Elaine Carroll)

With the Silverbacks throwing everything forward, Buete's goal came as he streaked through the crowded penalty area, getting on the end of a driven Ansu Toure cross to level the score.

“We lost two points tonight,” said a less-than-pleased head coach, Jason Smith. “We dominated the game but we just did not finish our chances. Everyone showed a lot of character after going down a goal, but we never should have been in that situation in the first place.”

From the opening whistle the Silverbacks looked to be the better team on the night, controlling long stretches of play and creating numerous scoring chances.

In just the 10th minute Mac Kandji earned his first of many chances, running onto a ball played through after a poor Portland clearance. However, after out-pacing his defender he was not able to get off a quality shot.

Nine minutes later it was Kandji again, sneaking in behind his marker after considerable build up in the midfield. Kandji surprised goalkeeper Brad Knighton, poking the ball away as he reached for it. Kandji could not muster much behind his shot and it was cleared by Shaun Higgans to safety.

The Timbers first chance came in the 22nd minute when Cameron Knowles beat Felipe Quintero to a ball in the penalty area. Quintero did put enough pressure on Knowles to force him to sail his header well off target.

With just over a half hour gone, Portland was forced to spend its second substitute due to injury after Tim Karalexis and Miguel Guante were both unable to continue.

The Silverbacks continued to dictate the run of play throughout the half, maintaining possession for long stretches of time. But it wasn't until the 44th minute that the Silverbacks seriously threatened again. Yet again it was Kandji, making room for himself between two defenders in the penalty area, driving a ball to the far post Knighton could only awkwardly bat away.

The Silverbacks carried the momentum into the second half. In the 50th minute Jason McLaughlin nearly broke the stalemate, nodding a Toure cross onto goal. Knighton managed to make the initial save but could not hold the ball. After a scramble in front of the goal the Portland defense managed to clear the ball to safety.

At the hour mark it was Kandji, yet again, connecting with Buete in the middle of the park, smacking the resulting shot squarely off the crossbar.

The Timber's first chance of the second half came with 15 minutes to play. But it was nothing more than a harmless header by Olum that sailed over the crossbar.

With time winding down, McLaughlin was denied by Knighton after receiving a sublime backheel from Kandji inside the penalty area.

The Silverbacks continuted to press. With only eight minutes to play substitute Nathan Knox won a ball in the penalty area, laying it off for an onrushing Tony McManus. The resulting shot was indicative of the night, sailing harmlessly over the crossbar.

With time expired it looked like the Silverbacks would settle for a point, until a rather odd play against the run of play put the Timbers in the lead. A weak attempt on goal led to a spinning deflection that found its way into Olum's path. Olum had little trouble putting away the shot from inside the penalty area to give the Timbers its short-lived lead.

But the Silverbacks did not give up. With no time left Buete ran onto the nicely played ball by Toure, slamming it past a helpless Knighton to pull the Silverbacks level for a point on the night.

The draw bumps the Silverbacks to 5-4-6 at the season's halfway mark.

The Silverbacks are back in action tomorrow night in former Silverback great Alex Pineda-Chacon's testimonial match versus Chacon's former club, Olimpia of Honduras. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m.

Box Score

Atlanta Silverbacks:
Felipe Quintero, Justin Moore (Blake Camp 90), David Hayes, Josh Bolton, Martyn Lancaster, Scott Buete, Rodrigo Rios (Nathan Knox 61), Tony McManus, Ansu Toure, Jason McLaughlin, Mac Kandji.

Portland Timbers:
Brad Knighton, Chris Brown (Taka Suzuki 77), Neil Dombrowski (Bryan Little 45), Miguel Guante Jamil Walker 33, Chris Bagley 87), Shaun Higgins, Cameron Knowles, Lawrence Olum, Tom Potl, Scot Thompson, Leonard Griffin, Tim Karalexis (Justin Thompson 6).

Goals:
POR—Olum 90
ATL—Buete (Toure) 90+

Misconduct:
POR—Guante (caution) 27
POR—Walker (caution) 54