Get Through the Bye Week Blues with Kickabout

Published on October 10, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


Quirky scheduling saw the Silverbacks face the Spring Season champions in two consecutive games during Week 14 and 15, first traveling to New York for a Sunday evening game that ended 1-1 at Shuart Stadium. Both sides made a quick journey back to Atlanta for an appearance on Wednesday Night Soccer, NASL's weekly showcase game on ONE World Sports, in which New York broke the deadlock of the season series with a 3-0 win.

After playing in Wednesday Night soccer, the Silverbacks will have a weekend bye for the rest of Week 15, returning to action Oct. 17 for the final three matches of the Fall Season. Entering the weekend, Atlanta sits three points behind a three-team tie for fourth place, which is the final NASL playoff spot.

Match Coverage:

Game 1: Silverbacks 1, NY Cosmos 1 | Recap | Highlights

Game 2: NY Cosmos 3, Silverbacks 0 | Recap | Highlights

UP NEXT: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (TICKETS)

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17

Where: Atlanta Silverbacks Park | 3200 Atlanta Silverbacks Way

Records: ATL: 7W-10D-10L, 31 points | TBR: 9W-7D-10L

Silverbacks vs. Rowdies in 2015: Tampa Bay bookended the NASL midseason break with two victories over the Silverbacks at Al Lang Stadium, but Week 16 will mark the first time in 2015 that the Rowdies visit the Silverbacks, who've improved immensely as a team since last playing the Rowdies in early July.

Weekly Headlines

#ATLvOTT Kickoff Change: To accommodate the Halloween plans, the Silverbacks' Fall Season finale against the NASL-leading Ottawa Fury FC has been moved to a 4 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 31.

"With the obvious high stakes riding on the match and the fact that it is on Halloween, a 4 p.m. kickoff is a no-brainer," Silverbacks president and general manager Andy Smith said. "This way, every supporter can take part in the our final match of the regular season against one of the NASL's top teams without sacrificing any of their Trick-or-Treat plans."

International Window

During Atlanta's Fall Season bye weekend, Silverbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus earned his fourth international call-up of 2015, joining the Haitian national team for a pair of friendlies to gear up to resume World Cup qualifying in November. On Friday, Les Grenadiers beat El Salvador in at BBVA Compass Stadium- home to Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo- with Ceus as an available substitute. After playing El Salvador, the Haitian team will travel to Guatemala for another intra-CONCACAF friendly Tuesday.

Silverbacks assistant head coach Steve Guppy also got in on the international action, traveling to Dublin to continue his position on Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland coaching staff. Matched up in Euro 2016 qualifying play against Germany, the World Cup holders, Ireland came away with a 1-0 victory that brought "The Boys in Green" within a single point of the top spot in Group D. Guppy and Ireland will now head to Poland for another qualifying match Sunday (2:45 ET, ESPN).

Mravec earns 1st Team of the Week

Atlanta Silverbacks midfielder Michal Mravec made his presence known on the scoresheet during Sunday's 1-all draw with the New York Cosmos, finish a set-piece header for his first NASL goal. For his all-around performance in the first of the two games against the Cosmos, Mravec also received his first NASL Team of the Week award, recognizing the 28-year-old for his steady outing as a defensive midfielder.

Around the League

Week 15 Preview | Viewing Guide

Saturday, Oct. 10

Carolina RailHawks vs. Jacksonville Armada FC

7:30 ET | ESPN3

Indy Eleven vs. San Antonio Scorpions

7:30 ET | ESPN3

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Ottawa Fury FC

7:30 ET | ESPN3

Minnesota United vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

8 ET | ESPN3

Sunday, Oct. 11

NY Cosmos vs. FC Edmonton

5 ET | ONE World Sports

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 10, 2015


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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