Silverbacks Open 2014 Season in New York on Sunday

Published on April 11, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


Atlanta, Ga. (April 11, 2014) - Just over five months after meeting in NASL Soccer Bowl 2013, the league's championship game, the Atlanta Silverbacks and the New York Cosmos will face off again - this time in the 2014 NASL season opener. The rematch of last year's championship game will kick off at 5 p.m. on Sunday at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.

Sunday's matchup will mark the third straight game the Silverbacks and Cosmos have met, as the two sides played each other exactly one week prior to the Soccer Bowl in the final regular season game last year. The Cosmos were one goal better on each occasion, topping the Silverbacks, 1-0, at Atlanta Silverbacks Park on November 2 and again by the same score line in the title game on November 9.

While the two clubs may be relatively familiar with each other after last season, there will be a lot of new faces taking part in Sunday's proceedings - mostly on the Silverbacks side. Technical Director Eric Wynalda, who will now manage the team from the sidelines as well, has a new-look roster after a busy offseason.

Goalkeeper Joe Nasco, who was fantastic for the Silverbacks the last time they visited New York, departed for Major League Soccer. Midfield regulars Milton Blanco, Danny Barrera, Pedro Mendes, and Richie Menjivar signed with other NASL clubs, and forwards Brad Stisser and Ruben Luna moved on as well.

Wynalda reloaded with several promising talents, including a trio of internationals from the CONCACAF region. Goalkeeper Derby Carrillo and midfielder Junior Burgos have been involved in the El Salvador National Team setup, while forward Deon McCaulay is Belize's all-time leading goalscorer. The latter scored 11 goals in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying - a mark that tied him with Uruguay's Luis Suarez and the Netherlands' Robin Van Persie for most goals in this past qualifying cycle.

In addition to those three new faces, the Silverbacks signed forward David Estrada on loan from Seattle Sounders FC, midfielder Junior Sandoval from CD Marathon in Honduras, and Ghanaian forward Kwadwo Poku, who had an impressive preseason after joining from local NPSL side Georgia Revolution.

On the Cosmos side, their roster looks very similar to the one that earned the club a championship trophy last season. Veteran leaders like Marcos Senna, Carlos Mendes, and Danny Szetela will continue to lead the way for head coach Giovanni Savarese's side, and they are again joined on the roster by many of last year's key players such as Ayoze, Hunter Freeman, Sebastian Guenzatti, Diomar Diaz, and Roversio.

Two former Silverbacks players are expected to fill big roles for the Cosmos this season, with Georgia native Jimmy Maurer set to occupy the club's starting goalkeeper role and midfielder Paulo Mendes ready to build on his late-season goal-scoring form from last year.

The Cosmos did make three notable additions to their roster this offseason, signing former San Antonio Scorpions marksman Hans Denissen, promising Norwegian prospect Mads Stokkelien, and defender Jimmy Ockford on loan from Sounders FC.

The last time these two teams met in New York, a second-half header from Silverbacks defender Shane Moroney cancelled out an earlier penalty from Senna to earn a share of the points in a 1-1 draw.

Some key players will be missing out on Sunday's game due to injuries. For the Cosmos, Denissen won't feature due to a knee injury, while defender Abdul Bangura and midfielders Borfor Carr and Alex Harlley won't be in action for the Silverbacks as they recover from their respective injuries.

Wynalda and his team will depart from Atlanta on Saturday morning and return on Monday morning ahead of the club's home opener on April 19 against the Scorpions. To purchase tickets for the home opener, visit atlantasilverbacksfc.com or call the ticket office at 404-969-4900.

To watch Sunday's season opener live, visit www.NASLlive.com.

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North American Soccer League Stories from April 11, 2014


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