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Silverbacks, Chavez Run over FC Edmonton

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


EDMONTON, Can. - Jaime Chavez entered Sunday afternoon's showdown against FC Edmonton with the reigning NASL Play of the Week. He left with two more goals and an assist in the 10-man Atlanta Silverbacks, 3-1, victory at Clarke Field.

After a scoreless first half, Chavez and Atlanta (3-6-6, 15 points Combined Table) hijacked the match with a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Late substitute Shaka Bangura sealed Edmonton's fate with an exclamation point in the 88th minute.

"We certainly had one or two more opportunities than we did in past matches," Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. "This new (3-5-2) formation has had some encouraging signs since we implemented it (at the beginning of the Fall season). Going into halftime, we felt confident. We found our breakthrough in the second half. After adding the second - and then third - we knew there were three points to be had."

Atlanta - in its third consecutive away match of the Fall Season - scored a season-high three goals against the Eddies. In the Spring's meeting between the two teams, Edmonton escaped with a 4-2 victory at Clarke Field on May 24.

The Silverbacks opened the scoring in the 49th minute when Pedro Mendes fired a rocket from close range from the far post. Edmonton goalkeeper Matt VanOekel made the initial save, but parried the rebound across the face of his own goal. That's where a stampeding Chavez tapped in the tie-shattering strike.

He completed his brace 15 minutes later with a sleek sprint into FC Edmonton's box. The over-the-top delivery from Junior Burgos caught the in-stride Chavez, who clinically headed the ball onto his left foot and into VanOekel's net.

Chavez's pair against Edmonton brings his season total to four in NASL play and five in all competitions.

Just six minutes after Atlanta's second goal, center official Juan Marquez reduced the visitors to 10 men with nearly 20 minutes left to play. Just four minutes after entering the match for Burgos, Michal Mravec was dealt a straight red card for a tackle in the 72nd minute.

It took 13 minutes for Edmonton to take advantage, but it destroyed Atlanta and Steward Ceus ' clean sheet with a Tomi Ameobi goal in the 85th minute.

The Eddies' goal was negated just three minutes later when Bangura displayed an immaculate first touch on a full-tilt run. The cross-field ball from Chavez sprung Bangura for his third goal of the season after a calm rounding of VanOekel.

"There's no lacking in this group," Smith said. "We had to find the right formation and shape for everyone to fit into. Never at any point have I doubted this team. They showed (on Sunday) what I've never doubted. To this point on this trip, I felt we deserved more than we got. Today was a different story.

"We're delighted to put this victory in our pocket and now we are ready to move on."

The Silverbacks next travel to face Indy Eleven on Aug. 1 in the finale of the four-match road trip. Atlanta returns to Atlanta Silverbacks Park on Aug. 5 to host the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (7:30 p.m.), presented by Univision.

Match Facts: * Silverbacks midfielder and former FC Edmonton player, Kyle Porter, made his second start against his former team in 2015. * Pablo Cruz, former Silverbacks midfielder, is listed on FC Edmonton's roster but did not make the team's 18-man squad for the match against his former team. * Silverbacks backliners Simon Mensing, Paul Black and Rauwshan McKenzie have started and played in every minute of every match for Atlanta in 2015. * Silverbacks forward Jaime Chavez entered the match as the NASL Play of the Week reigning champion after netting a 64th minute bicycle kick against Fort Lauderdale on Match Day 14. The second-year Silverback scored in the 49th and 66th minutes to bury his third strike in two games. His only goal in the Spring Season also came against FC Edmonton at Clarke Field. * Silverbacks defender Paul Black entered the match off two consecutive NASL Team of the Week recognitions (Week Nos. 13-14). He also was honored in Week 7 of the Spring Season.

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