Sports stats



Scorpions Visit Red-Hot Silverbacks

August 7, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks (5-6-6, 21 points) continue their 2-game home stint on Saturday (7:30 p.m. | TICKETS) against the San Antonio Scorpions (4-4-7, 16 points), putting a three-match winning streak on the line against the NASL's defending champions.

The Silverbacks began this three-match tear in Edmonton on July 22, downing the Eddies, 3-1, before silencing Indy Eleven, 1-0, in Indianapolis and surviving the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 2-1, in a match that featured three late ejections for the Strikers. The win streak is the first for Atlanta since the Silverbacks strung three together in 2008 while playing in United Soccer League. Those three victories also came within a one-week span. The Silverbacks last won four consecutive matches in 2007, also in USL play, against Rochester, Charleston, Vancouver, and Rochester again.

After a turbulent Spring Season, the Silverbacks retooled in preparation for the fall. The additions that Gary Smith brought in certainly turned the team into one of the most feared right now in the NASL. New men Junior Burgos, Pedro Mendes and Kosuke Kimura are now firmly planted in the Starting XI and making major contributions.

Mendes, after scoring two goals on Wednesday against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-5-7, 17 points), is now tied - with Jaime Chavez - as the team's goal-scoring leader. He's also had a couple assists.

Burgos has also been one of the best players in the last few weeks, earning himself a few assists and a goal in the process, too. With Michael Reed and Josh Hughes - the energetic and destroying midfielder that he is - Burgos has been able to really focus his efforts on the attack.

Burgos and Mendes have been great, but Chavez has been fantastic. It appears 2014 Chavez is back and here to stay and Smith couldn't be happier. With smart midfielders behind him, Chavez keeps to the edge of the backline and can spring the attack at any moment.

Both Mendes and Chavez are sitting at four goals. Saturday, depending on who scores, could see a change in team-leading goal statistics.

It won't be easy, though. San Antonio will be bringing NASL goal-scoring leader Omar Cummings with them. Cummings, a former Gary Smith player, has been superb for a team that, otherwise, might be sitting at the bottom of the table. Last time the Scorpions came to Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Cummings ensured they left with three points.

That loss to the Scorpions on June 6 was Atlanta's only loss at home. The Silverbacks haven't lost a game at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in the Fall Season, though, and will surely be looking for revenge.

With the Mendes/Chavez partnership blossoming and Cummings being himself, Saturday's match looks to be an all-out attacking brawl. A win for the Silverbacks would also raise them to a 4-game winning streak. Atlanta, who has a definite possibility of making the playoffs, are getting hot at just the right time.

Catch all the goal-scoring action on Saturday, August 8th (7:30 p.m., ESPN3).

• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...

North American Soccer League Stories from August 7, 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.

Other Recent Atlanta Silverbacks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central