Silverbacks host Thunder on Sunday

Published on June 1, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


The Atlanta Silverbacks are looking to get back into the win column when they face the Minnesota Thunder this Sunday, June 5 with a 5:30 p.m. kick-off at DeKalb Memorial Stadium. Atlanta (3 wins - 2 draws - 4 losses) has lost two straight and sits in fifth place in the USL First Division standings with 9 points from 11 matches while Minnesota (1-3-1) got its first win of the season last weekend against the Vancouver Whitecaps to reach 6 points on 5 matches for 11th place.

The Silverbacks are coming off two poor performances against the Whitecaps and the Charleston Battery, the former a 4-1 loss in Vancouver and the latter a 2-1 defeat this past weekend at Blackbaud Stadium. The Red-and-Black started the season on a scoring tear, with nine goals in the first six games this year, but have tallied only two scores in the last three matches. Team scoring leader Fabian Dawkins was injured in training last week and was unable to make the trip to Charleston. The Jamaican international's status for Sunday is uncertain. Fellow countryman Gary Brooks has stepped into the role, scoring the gorillas' lone tally in Charleston last Saturday. Atlanta will also need better production from team captain Alex Pineda and Chilean forward Rodrigo Ríos up front, while the apes' defense will certainly have to stiffen up, having allowed six goals in the last two games.

Minnesota started the season with three ties and a loss, but bounced back last weekend at home to give Vancouver its first loss of the year with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Godfrey Tenoff's 24th minute goal. The Thunder have played four less matches than the Silverbacks and will have a tough schedule this weekend, with trips to the Puerto Rico Islanders on Thursday and Charleston on Saturday before they arrive in Atlanta for Sunday's showdown. The white-and-blue attack is spearheaded by forward Johnny Menyongar, who leads his team with 4 goals, while goalkeeper Joe Warren was instrumental in keeping the Whitecaps off the scoreboard to preserve the Thunder win with his first shutout of the season.

For tickets and information on the Atlanta Silverbacks, please visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.

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USL First Division Stories from June 1, 2005


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