Playoff Push Takes Center Stage in San Antonio Tonight

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


Atlanta Silverbacks (7-8-9, 29 points)

vs. San Antonio Scorpions (6-7-10, 25 points)

When: 8:30 p.m. EDT

Where: Toyota Field | San Antonio, Texas

Watch: ESPN3 with a valid subscriber log-in

Last encounter: Silverbacks 3, San Antonio Scorpions 3 (August 8) | Recap | Highlights | Six goals shared between the sides in early August pushed Atlanta's unbeaten run to four games earlier in the Fall Season. Pedro Mendes, Junior Burgos and Jaime Chavez all found the net, but the Scorpions were able to nab an equalizer from Omar Cummings in the 71st minute to steal a point at Silverbacks Park.

What to Watch in Week 13:

1. A perfect time to improve road form. Atlanta is tough to crack at home, losing just twice at Silverbacks Park throughout the 2015 campaign, but it's been a little less consistent on the road. Despite dropping the two most recent away games, an offensive outburst against FC Edmonton and a lockdown performance in Indy earned Atlanta back-to-back road wins earlier in the Fall Season to show the Silverbacks can certainly get the job done outside the confines of Atlanta. As two important road matches approach - Saturday in San Antonio and next Sunday against the top-of-the-table New York Cosmos - the team will have high-stakes chances to show its capability away from home during the playoff hunt.

2. Silverbacks defender Rauwshan McKenzie could return to the lineup. After serving a one-match suspension against the RailHawks that took him out of the starting lineup for the first time all season, McKenzie will be available for selection Saturday night in San Antonio. Abdul Bangura slotted into the starting lineup admirably last Saturday, and now Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith will have an extra defensive option as he prepares to face San Antonio's productive striker Omar Cummings, a player whom Smith used to coach in Colorado.

3. Other key results will help shape playoff picture. While the race for the fourth and final playoff spot heats up, NASL matches elsewhere can be nearly as important for the Silverbacks as what goes on in San Antonio. Only Indy Eleven- 10th in the combined table- will have the weekend off, meaning all of Atlanta's direct rivals will be in action. Tampa Bay, currently in fourth, will head to Jacksonville, while fifth-place Fort Lauderdale hosts a Minnesota United side within three points of the top spot. FC Edmonton, two points ahead of the Silverbacks, welcomes the Cosmos to Clarke Field on Sunday.

Pregame Reading

Preview #SASvATL on AtlantaSilverbacksFC.com

Tactical Analysis | Two games in Week 12 doubled the usual tactical sample size. Corey Langley analyzed Atlanta's major themes from the homestand, including Kyle Porter's versatile performance and how the side counterattacks so effectively through Junior Burgos.

Double NASL honors for Pedro Mendes in Week 12 | As a reward for finding the net twice in one week for the Silverbacks, Pedro Mendes earned his third Team of the Week selection since rejoining Atlanta in the Fall Season. Pedro's first goal of the week, a chipped finish on the break against Minnesota United, also brought home more than 40% of the fan vote to give the 25-year-old his second Play of the Week win during the Fall Season.

Quotes

Kyle Porter

"We've really come together this Fall Season. Sure, there have been some setbacks, but our togetherness will help us push forward and hopefully get the next W on the road.

"When we're confident, we all play great football. For me, the goal was a big confidence booster."

Kosuke Kimura

"We conceded a goal a minute in, and then we came back, which we hadn't done in this season. That tells us something: Our confidence and chemistry within the team is building up."

"We played against them well at home, and we can do the same in San Antonio. Different field, different place, but everything else is the same. We have to keep bringing that mentality that we can outplay them."

Paul Black

"The lads are confident after the win. San Antonio's going to be a tough place to go away from home, but it's a good challenge. We'll take one game at a time and if we can pick up some more points, we're still in the running."

Around the League

Saturday, Sept. 26

Carolina RailHawks vs Ottawa Fury FC

7:30 p.m. EDT | ESPN3

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Minnesota United FC

7:30 p.m. EDT | ESPN3

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

7:30 p.m. EDT | ESPN3

Sunday, Sept. 27

FC Edmonton vs. New York Cosmos

4 p.m. EDT | ESPN3



North American Soccer League Stories from September 26, 2015


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