It wasn't a dominant weekend, but at least something was accomplished on this road trip. The Silverbacks come out of last weekends road trip with a win this time. Unlike the previous trip in which Atlanta didn't manage to score a goal and tied lowly Connecticut 0-0. The Silverbacks accomplished something this weekend, and they now find themselves much closer to clinching a playoff spot.
The Silverbacks started out last weekend's road trip with a devastating double overtime loss to the Hampton Roads Mariners. After getting on the board with a Brian Piesner goal in the 16th minute, the Mariners' Seamus Donnely struck back in the 61st and then in OT to give Roads the win. It was the second straight game the Silverbacks blew a 1 goal lead and ended up losing in overtime. The next night, Coach Nuno Pitiera went with Josh Henderson and Ze Rodrigues up front. Demoting Iggy Moleka to the bench for the first time this year. Once again, the Silverbacks got on the board first as Danny Care who has recently moved up to Midfielder, scored his second goal in three games. But Richmond equalized just before halftime when Dwayne DeRosario scored. The Silverbacks fought as if their lives depended on it. And in a sense, they were. A loss would have put Atlanta only one point ahead of Raleigh in the eighth and final spot from the Eastern Conference. Iggy Moleka (substituted into the game in the 79th minute), and Josh Henderson took care of that as Moleka set up a Henderson goal with only 5 or 10 seconds of injury time remaining. It was Henderson's 6th goal in 23 games. Keeper David Winner made 7 saves in the match and looks like a solid addition to to the team. Meanwhile, rookie Brian Piesner has caught fire for Atlanta scoring 4 goals in the last 4 matches.
As for the playoffs, Atlanta sits in the 7th seed at the time and would play the Charleston Battery in Charleston if the playoffs started today. It seems likely they will make the playoffs as they sit 2 points ahead of Hampton Roads, and 4 ahead of Raleigh and have a game in hand. The chances of catching Hershey have become minimal after Hershey's 5 point match this weekend. Atlanta plays both Hershey and Hampton Roads at home in the final few matches of the year at home.
So as we reach the 2000 A-League's homestretch in the regular season, the Silverbacks look to be in the playoffs. A good streak heading into the playoffs, thus, raising their confidence. And a rematch in the playoffs against the Charleston Battery (arch rivals) in the first round is possible. And with these Silverbacks, just about anything is.
