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Silverbacks Surge Back, Advance to Face N.Y. Red Bulls

May 27, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Silverbacks go home with a 2-1 win over NPSL side Chattanooga FC after a hard fought 120 minutes in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, ensuring a trip to Red Bull Arena to take on the New York Red Bulls in the fourth round.

"It was a game that didn't reflect the distance between the two clubs as far as the divisions go," Silverbacks coach Gary Smith said. "I thought Chattanooga showed some great qualities, but at this precise moment I am pleased that we've advanced to the next round. The way we fought back at the death of regulation and into extra time, that showed character."

CJ Cochran, making his first start since the return of Steward Ceus, was tested early on, but not from Chattanooga. An attempted clearance from Rauwshan McKenzie forced Cochran, who played it safe when determining whether it was a pass or not, to throw himself into a group of players and head the ball away.

The Silverbacks dominated the first 30 minutes of the game, continually creating dangerous attacks in Chattanooga's half.

In the 22nd minute, defender Fabrice Gautrat almost got himself a goal as a free kick lofted over the defense, hitting the far post. Unfortunately for Atlanta, the ball ricocheted toward a Chattanooga defender and a clearance followed.

At the end of the first 45 minutes, the two teams walked into the locker rooms with no goals between them.

The first serious attempt on goal in the second half came about 20 minutes in. Cochran, after jumping high to deflect the ball, was knocked over, deflecting the ball right into the oncoming path of a Chattanooga player. McKenzie cleared the ball at the last minute.

The 67th minute held an abundance of action. Jaime Chavez was forced to change shorts after getting blood on them. It wasn't the first time that happened in the match either, as a Chattanooga defender was forced to do the same in the first half. While Chavez was off the field, Gautrat was substituted off of the field with apparent cramping, with Kyle Miller replacing him.

After Miller came on the field, the Silverbacks were forced to handle a barrage of attacks. One came close, but Cochran made a diving tip to force the ball upward. It came down, bounced on the cross bar, and fell just inches onto the other side of the bar.

The action really kicked in in the 87th minute. Chattanooga's Luke Winter, the team's leading scorer, opened the team's account. It wasn't a minute later before Atlanta leveled the match. A penalty called in the box led to a Shaka Bangura penalty. He slotted it to the far right side to level the match, earning his third Open Cup Goal.

"This was a difficult game," Bangura said. "It was a challenge that pushed us as a team, but we won it as a team. To be able to be the one to put away the penalty in the 90th minute was special. That's the type of opportunity every goalscorer wants to face. I'm excited to move on."

Regulation time would end with the two teams tied at one goal apiece.

After heavy attacking from both sides in both halves of extra time, it was Chavez who saved Atlanta's hopes in the 109th minute. A Jonathan Okafor pass to the right side of the 18-yard-box found Chavez alone. The 2014 team-leading goalscorer blasted it to the near-side upper-90, putting Atlanta up a goal for the final 10 minutes.

"I'm happy with the way the goals are starting to come for me," Chavez said, having scored twice in as many games. "Jon found me in great position and the ball sat up beautifully for me. I hit it so pure that I didn't feel it but knew it was on target. It was special and now we can't wait to move on to the next round."

Atlanta finished the game up 2-1, sealing its first trip to Red Bull Arena. The Silverbacks will take on the New York Red Bulls in Round Four of the U.S. Open Cup on June 16.



North American Soccer League Stories from May 27, 2015


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