Silverbacks Storm Back to Split Points with Indy

Published on August 22, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - In a match that saw two ejections, the Atlanta Silverbacks (5-8-7, 23 points) battled back from a goal deficit to draw even with the Indy Eleven (5-7-7, 22 points) on Saturday at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

"I can't say enough about our boys attitude coming into this match," Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. "It showed throughout the match with the chances that were created. The only shortcoming was the final edge in the attacking third. But overall, there were times that the match could have been decided by the players, but other factors came into play."

Things got off to a rough start for the Silverbacks as Indy was handed a penalty kick in the 6th minute for an Atlanta handball inside the 18-yard-box. Indy Eleven forward Dane Richards stepped up and slotted in the right side of the net to put the Eleven up a goal.

Things remained tense on the field for the next 20 minutes with both teams displaying a scrappiness. The Silverbacks almost snuck a ball past Nicht after Junior Burgos took a long shot from midfield in the 23rd minute. Nicht made a diving save to deflect it wide. Dane Richards continued to be a nuisance through the first half.

In the 39th minute, Richards used his speed to get himself down the sideline and send a dangerous cross into the box. Rauwshan McKenzie, luckily, was able to get in front of the ball and head it out of bounds. Clearly not happy about the prospect of going into the locker room down a goal, Jaime Chavez did his best to get Atlanta on the scoreboard in the 44th minute. Chavez leapt high and headed the ball toward the post, missing by a foot or so.

Unable to get an equalizer in the last seconds of the game, Atlanta left for the locker rooms down a goal. The second half would start out a little more in Atlanta's favor as a last-defender tackle from Erick Norales would earn the defender a red card. Forced to play a man down, Indy would absorb pressure for the ensuing minutes.

Undeterred from their lack of players, the Eleven picked their attacking chances carefully but effectively. A long-distance strike in the 74th minute almost found the top corner, but Steward Ceus was able to tip it over the bar. A tumultuous two minutes for the Silverbacks would see a goal and an ejection starting in the 76th minute. After using the outside of his boot to send a looping ball over the keeper, Chavez's shot was bandied about and eventually knocked in by Indy defender Greg Janicki.

Two minutes later, Atlanta saw it's one-man advantaged erased as Silverbacks captain Simon Mensing was ejected from the match.

Encouraged and feeling as if the game had become a little more fair, both Atlanta and Indy continued to push forward. Neither team was able to grab a late winner, though. The game ended in a 1-1 draw at the final whistle.

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