Preview: USOC 4th Round

June 15, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks travel to Red Bull Arena to take on the New York Red Bulls for the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.

After winning the MLS Supporters Shield in 2013, the New York Red Bulls continued their winning ways in 2014. The team, led by Thierry Henry and Bradley Wright-Phillips, made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before being knocked out by the New England Revolution.

During the offseason, the Red Bulls went through a bit of a rebuilding process. The club replaced then-coach Mike Petke with former Montreal manager Jesse Marsch. The team also lost Henry, who retired after a stellar career, including headlining stops in the English Premier League (Arsenal), Italian Serie A (Juventus) and Spanish La Liga (Barcelona). He also won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France and won 123 caps with his country.

This year has seen the addition of US international Sacha Kljestan, who has been instrumental to New York's early success.

Up top, the Red Bulls boast the 2014 MLS Golden Boot winner in Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips, while he does lead the team with five goals, hasn't exactly been the same since losing the play-making Henry. Also of note in the middle of the park is fan-favorite Dax McCarty, whose defensive midfield capabilities have earned him USMNT caps in the past.

Though he never made an appearance for the senior squad, New York defender Chris Duvall has a connection to the Silverbacks. Duvall, a Duluth native, played for the Silverbacks Reserves in 2012.

The Silverbacks have a connection to the Red Bulls themselves in defensive midfielder Dominic Oppong. Oppong ended New York's USOC run in 2010 with a 117th minute game winner during his time with the Harrisburg City Islanders. After Week 10's performance against the San Antonio Scorpions, it looks as if Oppong is looking forward to knocking out the MLS squad yet again.

Atlanta will be making a quick turnaround for its first clash with the Red Bulls, after falling to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 3-0, in the final game of the Spring Season on Saturday. The Silverbacks are surely relishing the opportunity to do play the spoiler yet again when taking on the MLS side. In 2014's Open Cup, the Silverbacks advanced to the quarterfinals before finally falling to the Chicago Fire. They collected major victories over the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake on that run.

The Silverbacks are one of only two NASL teams left in the competition. The other team remaining, the New York Cosmos, will take on New York City FC one day later.



North American Soccer League Stories from June 15, 2015


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