Silverbacks Drawn to Potentially Visit Red Bulls

Published on May 21, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


Atlanta Silverbacks in Action
Atlanta Silverbacks in Action
(Atlanta Silverbacks, Credit: Rich von Biberstein / Atlanta Silverbacks)

ATLANTA - Before the Atlanta Silverbacks open their push in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against NPSL side Chattanooga FC next Wednesday, both teams already know who awaits them should they move on to the fourth round in the tournament's 102nd edition.

The U.S. Soccer Federation paired Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls with the eventual winner of Atlanta and Chattanooga's third-round contest. Either the Silverbacks or Chattanooga will visit the Red Bulls in Harrison, N.J., for the fourth round, when 17 MLS sides first appear in the competition. U.S. Soccer released the latest draw Thursday night from Chicago.

If the Silverbacks win away from home next Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Finley Stadium), they would visit Red Bulls on June 16 at Red Bull Arena. Currently, the Red Bulls sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference after 10 matches. During last season's Open Cup fourth round, the Red Bulls drew the New York Cosmos and lost to the NASL side.

Atlanta upended two MLS squads during last season's quarterfinal cup run, toppling Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids before falling to the Chicago Fire, 3-1, as one of the tournament's final eight teams. Only the Carolina RailHawks joined the Silverbacks as NASL clubs in the Cup quarterfinals.

Each of the nine U.S.-based NASL sides will enter the 2015 competition in next week's third round. Three teams - Atlanta, Carolina, and the New York Cosmos - advanced past MLS opposition in the fourth round last year.

The Silverbacks begin the 2015 campaign Wednesday in Chattanooga, Tenn., against a familiar opponent. For the second consecutive year, Chattanooga FC defeated the USL's Wilmington Hammerheads to meet the Silverbacks in the third round. One of the sparks that ignited Atlanta's quarterfinal run, the Silverbacks left Finley Stadium last year with a 5-0 victory that included a goal from current striker Jaime Chavez.

NASL Spring Season play continues for the fifth-place Silverbacks this Sunday afternoon as they head north of the border to meet FC Edmonton (4:00 p.m. EDT, ESPN3), followed by a quick turnaround for Wednesday evening's cup tie in Chattanooga.

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Images from this story

Atlanta Silverbacks in Action
Atlanta Silverbacks in Action
(Rich von Biberstein / Atlanta Silverbacks)		   



North American Soccer League Stories from May 21, 2015


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