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Silverbacks to Visit Chattanooga FC in Open Cup 3rd Round

May 26, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks will make a short trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. on Wednesday as they make open play against Chattanooga FC in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

It is a trip that the Silverbacks are all too familiar with. The two teams played met in the third round of the tournament last year, with Atlanta walking away the 5-0 victor. While familiarity is nice, complacency could lead to an upset. So, the Silverbacks will need to careful in their approach. Chattanooga, the only remaining team in the tournament from the National Premier Soccer League, have been a dangerous team so far this season.

Chattanooga currently sits atop their conference, which includes the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves and Georgia Revolution, in the NPSL. The team is undefeated in league play, including a 1-0 win over the Silverbacks Reserves side.

The Silverbacks should expect some tired legs from Chattanooga, though. The game on Wednesday will be their third in seven days. Luckily for them, it will be their second consecutive game at Finley Stadium.

If all goes right, Wednesday's matchup should see chances for many Silverbacks who haven't played much. Players like Alex Harlley, Ferrety Sousa, Christopher Christian, and Fabrice Gautrat may get an opportunity to shine as majority of the first team rests and recuperates after coming back from Canada on Monday.

While Chattanooga has been no slouch during their season, Atlanta coach Gary Smith could see this as an opportunity for tactical experimentation. It will be interesting to see whom Smith decides to bring along on the trip.

Atlanta fans should be excited about this year's U.S. Open Cup if the 2014 version was any indication. The Silverbacks made a wonderful run last year. After the initial 5-0 win over Chattanooga FC, Atlanta defeated Real Salt Lake in a 2-1 thriller at Silverbacks Park. The team then travelled to Colorado to take on the Rapids for one of the most confusing games of the tournament. By the time the game was over, seven players had been ejected.

Unfortunately, the Silverbacks' run ended the following round after a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire.

Fans will expect the Silverbacks to once again put on a great display through the tournament.

It won't be easy, though. The winner of the match on Wednesday will fly to Harrison, N.J. to take on New York Red Bulls on June 16. The Red Bulls are having a fantastic season themselves as they sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference. While the team did play Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, and Colorado Rapids last year, the Red Bulls are surely the most notable teams the Silverbacks will have come up against. Especially, when travelling to their home base of Red Bull Arena.

With the U.S. Open Cup, the American equivalent of England's FA Cup, being the only way for the NASL to gain entry into the prestigious CONCACAF Champions League, Smith's Silverbacks side cannot afford to take the tournament lightly. A win against Chattanooga FC on Wednesday would get the ball rolling for a team in one of the oldest American tournaments.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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