Silverbacks Strike First, Settle for Draw

Published on May 16, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks defense held off the high-octane of Jacksonville Armada FC, battling the team to a 1-all draw on Saturday at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. It got off to an exhilarating start as Silverbacks debutant Hans Denissen scored less than 30 seconds into the match.

"This is an evlolving team," Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. "We tried some newer looks tonight, and I don't think the decision to start Hans - and his debut in the starting XI - could have gone any better. I think we should have put away and finished Jacksonville after the first 20 minutes. But the hardest thing to do in this game is to score goals."

Smith took a chance against the three man backline of Jacksonville and changed up the Silverbacks formation for the first time this season. Denissen made his first Starting XI debut of the season, replacing Kyle Porter in the starting lineup. Up front, Jaime Chavez was given the nod over Matt Horth as well.

The Silverbacks' game plan worked almost to perfection for the first 20 minutes of the game. Aside from a one or two non-threatening shots on goal, the defense held their ground. Offensively, the counter-attack was clicking, including a shot that hit the post from Chavez.

The wrath of Alhassane Keita reared it's head in the 20th minute, though, as he slotted the equalizer past goalkeeper Steward Ceus and into the far corner.

Fabricio Ortiz's tackle into Shaka Bangura resulted in the first caution of the night, with Ortiz receiving a yellow card. After taking a second, Bangura shook himself off and continued his game.

Both sides had a couple more shots before the end of half, but nothing dangerous. The two teams headed to the locker room with a goal a piece at the whistle.

The Silverbacks kept the pressure on early in the second half. Jonathan Okafor dribbled into the box in the 48th minute, toe-poking it into the side netting. Okafor would get another opportunity to rip off a shot in the 61st minute. From outside of the box, the left midfielder fired a rocket to the far corner, missing only by about a foot.

Denissen was replaced in the 62nd minute by 2015 NASL Young Player to Watch and season debutant, Alex Harlley. After battling injury through the first part of the season, Harlley brought much needed energy in the second half.

Jacksonville was forced to play a man down in the last couple minutes, as their goal-scorer had to be helped off the field after falling down on his own inside the Atlanta 18-yard-box. Atlanta took the chance to press into the attack, but Jacksonville was able to hold them off until the final whistle.

The much anticipated game between Atlanta's stout defense and Jacksonville's prolific attack ended in a 1-all draw.

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 16, 2015


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