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Silverbacks Knock off Rowdies, 3-1

April 26, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


St. Petersburg, Fla. (April 26, 2014) - The Atlanta Silverbacks earned a much-needed road win on Saturday night, topping the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 3-1, at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Goals from midfielder Junior Sandoval and forwards Jaime Chavez and Deon McCaulay put the Silverbacks well on their way to a convincing win - one that puts them back into the NASL Spring Season title race.

Following the Silverbacks' 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Scorpions last Saturday, technical director Eric Wynalda made several changes to the lineup. Goalkeeper Derby Carrillo, midfielders Blair Gavin and Pablo Cruz, and Chavez were drafted into the starting lineup, leaving Eric Ati, Janny Rivera, David Estrada, and Kwadwo Poku on the bench.

The changes seemed to have an immediate effect on the team, with the Silverbacks coming out as the more aggressive side on Saturday night. Sandoval, who scored last weekend against the Scorpions, gave the Silverbacks a dream start, putting his team on top inside seven minutes. Gavin was the catalyst, playing a looping ball over the top of the Rowdies' back line. Sandoval ran onto it and fired a vicious half-volley past Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The game got even better for the Silverbacks in the 12^th minute when the Rowdies were whistled for a handball in the penalty area. Sandoval stepped up to the penalty spot to take the kick, but Pickens was up to the task, beating the Honduran's shot away to his left. It was a big missed opportunity for the Silverbacks, who could have gone 2-0 up.

Three minutes after Pickens' penalty save, the Rowdies evened the score. Last year's NASL Golden Ball winner Georgi Hristov did well to settle the ball down in the Silverbacks' penalty area and fire past Carrillo to make the score 1-1.

Wynalda's attack-minded side grabbed the lead back in the 27^th minute, though. Gavin notched his second assist of the first half, playing a 40-yard ball to Chavez, who headed it past a helpless Pickens for a 2-1 lead.

Pickens was tested two more times before halftime, having to come up with big saves on efforts from Sandoval and Cruz to keep the score at 2-1.

The Silverbacks picked up where they left off after halftime, and didn't waste any time doubling their lead. In the 51^st minute, Cruz capped off a perfect counter-attack, flipping the ball up to forward Deon McCaulay, who calmly finished past Pickens to make it 3-1.

Ati, who replaced an injured Carrillo midway through the first half, was called into action on several occasions by the Rowdies. Hristov forced Ati into a big save in the 56^th minute, nearly bringing the Rowdies back within a goal.

The next chance belonged to the Silverbacks, who came inches away from making it 4-1. Defender Edgar Espinoza directed a header off the post, and his back line teammate Ryan Roushandel's follow-up effort wasn't far off either, as the Rowdies had to clear it off the line.

The night belonged to the Silverbacks, though. The Rowdies forced Ati into a few more saves late in the second half, but couldn't find a way past the Cameroon-born goalkeeper. The Silverbacks would end up successfully killing off the game, and posted a convincing 3-1 victory that puts them out of the cellar of the NASL standings and back into the chase for a Spring Season title.

Wynalda's club returns home next Saturday to host Ottawa Fury FC at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. To purchase tickets, call the ticket office at 404-969-4900 or visit atlantasilverbacksfc.com.

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