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Silverbacks Eye Revenge on Return to Edmonton

July 24, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - Atlanta Silverbacks FC (2-6-6, 12 points Combined Table) turn their sights on their third opponent in eight days, FC Edmonton (4-5-5, 17 points) this Sunday at Clarke Field at 4 p.m.

Edmonton, after a subpar defensive performance during the Spring Season, seems to have righted the ship, becoming one of the best teams in the first four weeks of the Fall.

The Eddies have only given up three goals in their first four games of the Fall Season. The only team that has done better defensively is the New York Cosmos, who have given up just two in just as many games. But, while New York has only scored one goal so far, Edmonton has scored eight. Ottawa Fury FC, the league's best attack at the moment, has scored nine. The Eddies also have 22 goals on the season, only one behind league-leading Carolina RailHawks.

Currently riding a four-match unbeaten streak, the Eddies are on a mission to flip the NASL table upside down. Edmonton ended the Spring Season second-to-last, but are currently sitting in second for the Fall Standings. Overall, Edmonton are only four points away from a playoff spot.

Under any normal circumstances, it would be conceivable to think that Lance Laing - the Eddies' leading goal-scorer - is the man Edmonton should thank. But, Laing has been with the Jamaican national team for the past three weeks and Edmonton has kept on rolling. By overloading the midfield - and with a little luck - the Eddies have risen to become on the toughest teams in the NASL.

Atlanta, on the other hand, will be trying their best to stop an unlucky slide. After earning their first win over Jacksonville Armada FC, the Silverbacks suffered a comeback draw from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and their second loss of the fall season at TD Place. Going from Florida to Canada in less than a week was bound to result in some tired legs. Now, the Silverbacks face an even longer flight for their third game in eight days.

The Silverbacks, though, have shown an ever-increasing attacking appetite. New additions Pedro Mendes, Junior Burgos, and Kosuke Kimura have helped to kickstart the attack, but the team is still getting accustomed to playing with a new 3-5-2 formation. They've also been a little unlucky with their defending after being accused of penalties inside the 18-yard-box twice in the last two games.

Their record might not show it, but Atlanta has been a mid-table team through the first 4 weeks of the fall. As soon as the Silverbacks get back to their defensive dominance, that mid-table performance could turn into a darkhorse playoff-contender. There would be no better start to that effort than getting revenge on the Eddies in the two teams' second meeting of the season.

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