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Silverbacks Host League Newcomers Indy Eleven in Final Spring Season Game

June 6, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


After a four-week stretch of road games during the month of May, the Atlanta Silverbacks are finally getting to enjoy an extended period of time at home. The Silverbacks host NASL newcomers Indy Eleven at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, which will serve as their second of three straight games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

Indy Eleven (0-3-5) comes to Atlanta hoping to avoid posting a winless NASL Spring Season. Head coach Juergen Sommer's side has only collected three points in eight games, and this Saturday's game in Atlanta represents their final chance to get on the board with a win in the Spring Season.

It's not like Indy Eleven hasn't been competitive this season. As a matter of fact, five of the team's six losses have been of the one-goal variety. Sommer's side actually possesses a better goal differential than the Silverbacks (3-0-5), who sit six points clear of them in the standings.

Both team's enter Saturday's game on the heels of 2-1 home losses. The Silverbacks fell to league-leading Minnesota United FC last weekend, while Indy Eleven ended up on the wrong end of a heartbreaking result against the San Antonio Scorpions. Each team probably felt that they deserved better in Week 8. The Silverbacks controlled the possession and created the majority of the scoring chances against Minnesota, and Indy Eleven looked poised for a hard-fought 1-1 draw against one of the league's top teams - only to concede a goal in the last-minute of stoppage time to drop all three points.

Looking ahead to their game against Indy Eleven this weekend, the Silverbacks will certainly be pointing to finishing off scoring chances as the major objective. The team hasn't had any trouble generating opportunities in front of the net this season - the question has been whether or not they have finished them. Like they have done against most opponents this year, the Silverbacks outshot Minnesota last Saturday, 18-6. They just weren't as clinical in front of the net as their opponents were.

"We say it every week, but it's true - every game matters and every point matters," said Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda. "Last week's home loss was devastating because we could have won and instead we walked away with nothing. At some point we have to make our own luck."

Silverbacks forward Deon McCaulay has been among the league's best in terms of putting himself in good scoring spots, but the Belizean national team's top scorer has only been able to finish a pair of his many opportunities in league play this season. The Silverbacks looked to have maybe solved their finishing issues when they trounced Chattanooga FC, 5-0, in the third round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 28, but the team was only able to put away one of its countless scoring chances against Minnesota last Saturday.

Finishing hasn't been the only problem for the Silverbacks. In fact, both the Silverbacks and Indy Eleven have had defensive issues all season long, conceding a league-high 17 goals apiece. The Silverbacks have sorely missed versatile defender Edgar Espinoza since he picked up an injury in Carolina, while Indy Eleven will be without a key defender of their own this Saturday. Center back Erick Norales picked up his fifth yellow card of the Spring Season against San Antonio last weekend, meaning he will have to sit out the game in Atlanta due to yellow card accumulation.

The Silverbacks may be playing Indy Eleven for the first time ever this Saturday, but that doesn't mean Wynalda's club doesn't know a thing or two about some of the players on the visitors' roster. Forward Pedro Mendes played two seasons for the Silverbacks before signing with Indy Eleven in the offseason. Mendes scored 12 league goals during his time in Atlanta, but has yet to score for his new club. Midfielder Walter Ramirez, formerly of the San Antonio Scorpions, and forward Mike Ambersley, ex-Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota United FC man, are both familiar foes from the Silverbacks' point of view.

Saturday's game will give both teams the opportunity to go into their fourth-round Cup matches with some momentum next week. The Silverbacks host Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake on June 14, while Indy Eleven travels to play another MLS opponent, the Columbus Crew, on June 17. Indy Eleven clinched that date with the Crew after trouncing USL Pro side Dayton Dutch Lions, 5-2, for their first ever franchise victory.

Tickets are still available for this Saturday's game at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Purchase them by calling 404-969-4900.

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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.

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