Sports stats

Thunder falls to Atlanta

July 3, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ATLANTA, Georgia (July 3, 2008)- The Minnesota Thunder fell to the Atlanta Silverbacks Thursday night 3-2. After a frustrating first half, the Thunder managed to come back from a three goal deficit and hold off the Silverbacks in the second. The Thunder couldn't seem to score the three goals they needed to even the game, and the Silverbacks prevailed in the end.

Tonight both teams were looking for their fifth win of the season, after playing each other twice already in 2008. Atlanta put the pressure on very quickly in the first half, dominating the play the first 45 minutes. Former Thunder player Ansu Toure put up the first shot for the Silverbacks, shooting just wide in the 2nd minute of play. Blake Camp was next in the 3rd, hitting just over Thunder keeper Nic Platter and the goal.

In the 10th minute, the Silverbacks remained attack-minded. Toure anticipated a through ball passed from Kevin Taylor meant for Platter. Toure collected the ball but couldn't get a solid shot off, making it easy for Platter to save. In the 20th minute, John Greenfield saved an important attack for the Silverbacks. Camp slid a ball through Taylor to Silverback striker Macoumba Kandji who was picked up defensively by Greenfield. Greenfield ran across the field and cut Kandji off, who was one on one with Platter.

After all the pressure early in the game, the Silverbacks found their first goal in the 19th minute. Rodrigo Rios slid a ball through Taylor to Kandji who slid the ball past Platter who was left alone. Atlanta had the early goal advantage and the solid offensive pressure to keep up their scoring to finish the half.

In the 29th minute, the Silverbacks struck again. Jason McLaughlin received a ball from Toure and cut in right above the box. McLaughlin ripped a shot into the upper left corner that bent right underneath the bar, that was impossible for Platter to get. The Silverbacks were on a roll and couldn't seem to be stopped.

The Thunder's best opportunity in the first half didn't come until the 35th minute. Greenfield sent a perfectly played chip in over the Atlanta defense to find the head of Freddy Moojen. His header was on target, but the play was called offside.

In the 40th minute, the Thunder tried to step up their game. Ricardo Sanchez took a corner kick that was redirected by Jeremiah Bass. Bass' shot hit the underside of the post, but was cleared out by the Atlanta defense.

History repeated itself in the 45th minute when Kandji earned his second goal of the game. An Atlanta defender sent a ball through Taylor once again and Kandji went one on one with Platter. Kandji's fired a shot past Platter putting Atlanta up 3-0 at half, a confident lead in their home stadium.

After some substitutions at half, the Thunder came out ready to fight and get back from a difficult three goal deficit. In the 48th minute, the Thunder got on the board. Dale Weiler,who came in for Sanchez in the first half, cut the ball around his defender and sent a bending ball in to Tighe Dombrowski who was unmarked. Dombrowski headed the ball easily into the back of the net, providing the Thunder with some much needed confidence.

Kyle Altman and Andres Arango were substituted in to play defense, and stepped up their game in the second half. Altman was earning his first minutes as a Thunder player, and proved he deserved a spot on the field. Both players had the tough job of stopping Kandji, who had been a powerful force up top. The two defenders held him off in the last 45, keeping the Thunder's records clean in second half play.

Weiler and Stephen deRoux did a good job offensively, working well off each other on the left side. In the 64th minute, deRoux made an attacking run down the line and Weiler was there to overlap and cross the ball in for the attackers. Although no one was there to finish the cross, it was the pressure the Thunder needed to keep them in the game.

In the 89th minute, the Thunder came back again, making the score 3-2. Luchi Gonzalez took a free kick from outside the penalty area, finding the head of Melvin Tarley. Silverback goalkeeper Felipe Quintero saved the shot at first, but was unable to hold on to it. Tarley was there to finish the ball, putting the Thunder right back in the game.

The Thunder wasn't about to give up. In the 91st minute, deRoux took a shot that caused Quintero to step back into the net, almost sliding in over his head. The Silverbacks were not about to tie the game and put the pressure on as well. In the same minute, Jerson Montiero collected the ball and came down the field, only to be defended heavily by Kevin Friedland. Montiero couldn't get past Friedland and was forced over to the right sideline and out of bounds. The game ended in a 3-2 loss for the Thunder, dropping them to 4-7-4 and keeping them at 7th in the First Division standings.

"I was incredibly disappointed with our start which was without intensity or emotion. I loved the way our guys responded in the second half. While we are disappointed to lose, I hope and expect we can build on the second half of tonight's game," said Thunder head coach Amos Magee.



USL First Division Stories from July 3, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Minnesota Thunder Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central