Frantic Finish Ends in 1-1 Draw

Published on September 17, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (September 17, 2011) - The Atlanta Silverbacks and Fort Lauderdale Strikers played to a 1-1 draw Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The Strikers came out strong, immediately putting pressure on a Silverbacks back line that has recently been ravaged by injuries, suspensions, and other absences. The most recent defensive loss for the Silverbacks is center back Mattias Schnorf, who returned to his home country of Switzerland this week for personal reasons. 

Silverbacks goalkeeper Felipe Quintero was busy in the early stages of the game, and was called into action to make an important save in the 19th minute. Strikers midfielder Eduardo Coudet got on the end of a corner kick, but Quintero was there to stop the close-range header to keep the game scoreless.

The best chance of the first half fell to the home team in the 28th minute when forward Martin Nuñez somehow missed an open net. Nuñez, who spent one season playing for Georgia Perimeter College, dribbled the ball around Quintero but blasted his shot wide of the open net.

The Silverbacks came out of the locker room looking like a new team, instantly controlling the possession and dictating the pace of the second half. A pair of substitutes, midfielder Ciaran O'Brien and forward Conor Chinn, had an immediate impact on the game. Chinn looked to have scored the game's first goal in the 69th minute, but his close-range shot rattled the post and somehow stayed out of the net.

The goal the Silverbacks were looking for finally came just one minute before stoppage time. Midfielder Nico Colaluca, who turned in his strongest effort of the season Saturday night, fired a shot off the post and in, beating Strikers goalkeeper Matt Glaeser to earn a late 1-0 advantage. It was Colaluca's first goal in a Silverbacks uniform.  

Less than a minute later, the Strikers, who failed to convert several quality scoring chances earlier in the game, also found the net, tying the game. Forward Brian Shriver poked in a pass from midfielder Yoximar Granado to make the score 1-1, a score that would eventually stand.

Only one game remains for the Silverbacks this season, with the MLS-bound Montreal Impact coming to Atlanta Silverbacks Park on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 17, 2011


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