MATCH PREVIEW: ATLANTA (HOME)
Richmond Kickers @ Atlanta Silverbacks
(win 1 - draw 0 - loss 1) (win 0 - draw 2 - loss 0 )
Sun May 4 6:00pm Kick-Off @ The DeKalb Memorial Stadium.
The Atlanta Silverbacks return home with a great comeback tie at Rochester, after being 2 - 0 down the Silverbacks showed some great character and produced a 2 - 2 score line with one of the better teams in the league on there own turf.
John-Barry Nusum is currently on red hot form, scoring 3 goals in the first 2 games of the season. If Nusum can keep up this goal rate then he will prove to be a real threat against the Richmond Kickers in this up and coming encounter of the sides.
The last time these two sides met was in last years A-league playoffs first round, the “Backs” will be out to settle the score on this one as they were eventually knocked out of the play-offs by the Kickers.
Much has changed since the last time these two sides met, with a new coach for the Silverbacks and many new faces on and off the field.
Jordy Broder must now after his come back game from injury against Rochester be inline for a spot in the “Backs” starting 11.
His performance as sub against the above mentioned seemed to turn the game and hopefully the young local will add this type of performance again, against another of the better teams in the league.
Shakar Asad will be suspended for this game after his 2 yellow cards picked up on the first day of the season, Velko Iotov may also be a doubt with a niggling calf injury.
If Iotov is to return to the team it would bolster a line-up that must be on a high from coming back from the dead to grab a point.
Broder, Iotov and Nusum all on the same field once again should give us that little edge that we are missing and hopefully allow the “Backs” to snatch there first 3 points home win.
If dead ball and set play situations are anything to go by the Silverbacks seem to be very deadly at these at the moment and with Nusum scoring 2 goals from corner kicks it goes to highlight this point more greatly.
Richmond will need to see off the “Backs” on set plays if the want to take the points.
Weather Check:
Day :: Mostly Cloudy with a High of 26c, Max. Humidity: 59 %
Night :: Cloudy with a Low of 16c, Max. Humidity 73%
Expected Line up for the Backs.
Atlanta: Anthony Tokpah, Carl Fletcher, Joard Odera, Alan Woods, Byron Mitchell, David Moore, Ramon Luna, Eric Ozimek, Mac Cozier, Martin Klinger, John Barry Nusum. *?* Jordy Broder *?*
Suspended: Shakar Asad
Injuried: Velko Iotov
