Tonight was the first Silverbacks game of the season for me due to a class trip in Europe, and as much as I hate to say, I was a bit disappointed in their play. The 'Back's defense has been rather unstable in the early stages of the season, suffering from momentary lapses of concentration. In the past, this has come dangerously close to costing us a game, and tonight we finally saw how dangerous these transient slips could be. However, after a loss like this one cannot fully put the blame on the defense. The team is too blame.
Coach John Dugan, understandably frustrated from the performances in the back offered what was intended to be a more secure starting line up. Starting at the back was goalkeeper Billy Andracki, debuting in Atlanta, Jason Annichero, Sylvan Bednar, (with his first start of the season) Ian Checcio, and Danny Care. Starting at midfield, Keith Beach, Pablo Peirano, Sean Finn, and Rivers Guthrie. And at Forward, Iggy Moleka, and Ryan Walker started, only Walker moved back to midfield, leaving Iggy alone up front.
Both teams started strong seeming unaffected by their match the night before. The Metros mostly dominated the game for the first 15-20 minutes, but the 'Backs managed to keep their net untouched until the 20th minute when a rupture in the defense allowed the Metros to come dangerously close to netting one. Keeper Billy Andracki is forced to drive the ball over the crossbar on a beautiful save. On the following corner the damage is dealt. Defender Billy Fisher sent a strong header towards the goal. Andracki makes a valiant effort to save it, but the ball deflects off his diving hands and into the net.
The next minute, the Silverbacks attacked with a soaring a cross into the Metros box. Keith Beach and Metro middie Gabe Valencia both go up for the head. They ram heads and both end up on the ground. Midfielder Valencia surely got the worst of it as he walked off the pitch, blood flowing from his head. He later receives 3 stitches. Midfielder Jeff Houser replaced him.
Sean Finn was sparring a bit against the metros and in the 25th minute was awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Pablo Peirano sent the ball flying over the crossbar. In the 29th minute, Sean sought his revenge and received a yellow card.
Shortly after Sean's carding, the Metros attacked again in the 32nd minute bringing them closer to the win. Jeff Houser intercepted Danny Care's miss-hit and cracked the ball into the Silverback's goal. Pablo Peirano replied with a shot from about 30 yards out minutes later, but it clanked it off the post. The first 45 minutes end with the Metros ahead 2 to the Silverback's 0.
Three changes were made for the following half. Up front forward Peter Byaruhanga replaced Ryan Walker, at midfield Rivers Guthrie came out for Sean Michael-Callahan, and at defense Seth Marks in for Ian Checcio. The formation was changed also. Only 3 men stayed back at defense for the second half. Coach Dugan, heeding the fact that the Silverbacks needed a couple of goals, put the concentration on the offense.
Two near misses for the Silverbacks opened the second half. One, a header off a free kick sailing over the crossbar and the other Pablo Peirano's long shot just missing the post.
Play was back and forth, both teams fighting for the win. The Silverbacks made several adjustments to help get those two badly needed goals. They made their 4th substitution in the 66th minute replacing Sylvan Bednar for Edmundo Rodriguez. Jason Annichero moved up to mid leaving Edmundo in the back alongside Care. The Silverbacks didn't let up the pressure. Peter Byaruhanga displaying beautiful dribbling skills, carried the ball to the right corner and clanked a shot off the post. The ball ricocheted into the sixth yard box where no one was there to follow it up. Iggy Moleka broke through the Metro's defense in a desperate 1-on-1 attempt to score, and sent the ball flying wide to the right minutes after Byuruhanga's chance went begging.
In the 75th, Metros substitute Brandon Wright pounced on a defensive turnover and passed it to Jaymie Bailey inside the 18. As the ball soared into the upper right corner of the net, the Silverbakcs fans lost nearly all hope of catching up. At the same time the Metros gained the much needed bonus point in the U.S open qualifier.
The match lingered on. Hope for the win was lost in the Silverbacks, but they refused to go home without a goal. Peter Byaruhanga dribbled past the defense and beat oncoming a charging Cole Burgman and patiently passed the ball into the net in the 87th. Four minutes of stoppage time wasn't enough to spawn any chances of scoring for the 'Backs and the closing whistle was blown.
This game brought about two accomplishments for the Metro's. Claiming the 2001 Willie Bee Cup trophy and coming back from 12 points behind the Silverbacks to a mere 3 in the US Open Qualifying Standings with back-to-back wins this weekend.
The Silverbacks still control their destiny in making the US Open Cup, but they must win on the road in Richmond to do so. That will be extremely difficult, but after this game, they should be fired up to win. In this game, the Silverbacks definitely didn't play the soccer they are capable of, and the Metro's seemed to just want the win more than the Silverbacks. They had the momentum of determination. And it worked to their advantage.
