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Silverbacks Stay Unbeaten, Steal Points from Strikers

May 2, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Entering level on six points at the midway point of the NASL Spring Season, the Atlanta Silverbacks rode a five-match unbeaten run into Lockhart Stadium against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. After 90 minutes without a goal, both Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale remain tied for third places - behind the front-running New York Cosmos (3-2-0, 11 points) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (2-2-1, 8 points).

"Fort Lauderdale is always a team that's difficult to pick up points against," Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. "Both sides created some good looks at scoring chances, but our back five - led by (goalkeeper) Steward Ceus - played well. They stayed compact and organized, something that was crucial against an attack like Fort Lauderdale's."

The scoreless draw was the second consecutive for Atlanta (1-3-0, 7 points) - with both coming against the league's most intimidating offenses. In his two matches in goal since returning from injury, Ceus has constructed the team's only two clean sheets. Opponents haven't scored against the Silverbacks in 188 minutes - dating back to Match Day 3 in Carolina.

Fort Lauderdale, one of the league's most prolific attacks, asked questions of the 6-foot-6 Ceus early and often with four shots on frame, 10 corner kicks and another five threats resulting in either blocked shots or offside flags. The Strikers earned their first corner in just the 3rd minute and send Ceus sprawling into the post after an acrobatic deflection of a shot from distance in the 14th minute.

"We expected Fort Lauderdale to take their chances with their attacks," Smith said. "They are a strong, technical side that can create something from nothing quite often."

Ceus made four saves in total after last week's NASL Team of the Week seven-save performance against New York.

Jaime Chavez, starting for just the second time in 2015, placed two audacious shots in dangerous positions in the first 20 minutes. In the 9th minute, Jonathan Okafor steamed a low cross into the 6-yard box, but Chavez's clever backheel missed the mark by inches. Nearly 10 minutes later, Chavez nodded a straight shot at goal but Fort Lauderdale's David Meves made easy work of it.

Attacks from both sides were scattered throughout the second half without a breakthrough.

With the draw, Atlanta is now six matches unbeaten dating back to the 2014 Fall finale - and 11 matches unbeaten including the team's five-game preseason.

"Getting the result on the road and staying in line in the table is critical," Smith said. "We've had two difficult matches against two of the league's top teams and we didn't allow either to score. At the end of the day, we took points from the matches and that's kept us in a promising position."

The Silverbacks next travel to face Minnesota United on May 9 before returning to Atlanta Silverbacks Park on May 16 to host Jacksonville Armada FC, presented by the Georgia State Soccer Association.

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