1 2 F
Richmond Kickers 0 0 0
Atlanta Silverbacks 1 2 3
Scoring:
Atl-Beech (Valcourt) 25
Atl-Henderson (Beech) 72
Atl-Henderson (Moleka) 78
Shots: Ric 5, Atl 10; Saves: Ric-McGinty 3, Atl-Roberts 1
Att: 2,452
This is Atlanta Silverbacks Soccer, this is what I've waited for for over one year now. This is a soccer team at their best, this is championship soccer, this is: The Atlanta Silverbacks.
It was a beautiful warm night for soccer. And Atlanta made the most of it. They suprised everyone by coming out in a 4-3-3 playing rookie Patrick Beech, leading scorer (coming into the game) Iggy Moleka and Josh Henderson up front. Amazing Midfielder Ze Rodrigues was not 100% and did not start (although he did dress for the game and would later come on as a substitute). Coach Nuno Pitiera also suprised some people by dressing Shane Stamps and Matt Elliot instead of Chris Samuels and Ramon Luna. The Silverbacks controlled the first half of the game, playing an exciting, quick, and rough style of soccer. It all paid off in the 25th minute when Haitian National Team Player and starting Midfielder Guy Valcourt served a beautiful through ball to rookie Patrick Beech who broke inside the 18 and nailed a left footer past Richmond Kicker Keeper McGinty and into the corner. The Kickers were clearly frustrated and began kicking and pushing the Silverbacks. Three yellow cards were issued, infact two were issued to the Silverbacks' Iggy Moleka and Jacenir Silva who both lost their tempers at Richmond's constant shots. Moleka was lucky not to get his second yellow immediately after getting his first as he yelled and screamed at the ref before Sylvan Bednar held him back.
And then came the second half, the Silverbacks played even better. For the second straight week, the Silverbacks' opponents played a man down as Lekin got a red card for a hard tackle. After that, it was over. Only one minute after the red, Patrick Beech found a streaking Josh Henderson and played him over the top, but as Henderson approached the 18 he saw a defender coming towards him cutting off his angle, Henderson then cut back and beat the defender and drilled the ball into the top netting to make it 2-0. 6 minutes later in the 78th minute, Iggy Moleka dribbled unmarked inside the left side of the 18, he used his left foot to shoot and keeper McGinty pushed it away, and it rolled inside the 6 yard box and Josh Henderson barely had to touch the ball to put it into the net. 3-0. Final score.
Once again, the Silverbacks defense shined, forcing their second clean sheet in as many games. During their two game homestand, the Silverbacks have outscored their opponents 6-0. And have also outscored their opponents 5-0 in the last 20 minutes. Tony Roberts has only had to make 3 saves in the last two games and the Silverbacks look great. This is soccer, this is Atlanta Silverbacks soccer.
