The Silverbacks with 55 points entered Saturday's match expecting victory over the A-league leading Richmond kickers. This would be the third time this season these teams would meet, and the Silverbacks were ready to make amends for two road losses suffered earlier this season. Not only was the revenge factor working to Atlanta's advantage, but the hunger to gain ground on second place Charleston and obtain a first round bye in the playoffs. Atlanta gave it their all in a grueling 107 minutes of soccer, but it wasn't enough.
As the whistle blew, you could see the energy pumping on both sides. The first scoring chance of the evening came for Atlanta in the 9th minute. Sean Michael Callahan gives a left-footed pass to Iggy Moleka who secures it in the upper left corner of 18-yard box.
Iggy drives it just wide of the near post upper 90.
Richmond strikes back six minutes later when Atlanta's goalkeeper, Kevin Rueda is caught off his line and out of position. A Richmond attacker controls the cross and blasts a shot on the ground only to find defender Andrew Restrepo in perfect position to save the ball with his foot. The ball is cleared to safety. Four minutes later, in the 19th, the Silverbacks find a chance to score off a corner kick.
Sean Michael Callahan sends a beautiful curving ball to the head of defender Jason Annichero. He redirects it to the goal, but Richmond goalkeeper Mike McGinty is ready and pushes the ball away. Later, in the 38th Kicker's striker Byarahunga receives a low cross and is left one on one with Rueda. Byarahunga sends the ball over the cross bar. After 45 minutes of play, both teams walk off the field yearning for a goal.
Almost ten minutes into the second half, Richmond celebrates the first goal of the game. Josh Mckay sends a cross to Byarahunga who elegantly volleys the ball into the net. Shortly after, in the 55th, the right linesmen fails to call handball in the Kickers' box. Two minutes later, Randy Merkel comes in for Eddie Rodriguez. In the 67th Ihor Dotshenko displays some fancy footwork and gives himself space to shoot.
His shot flies just wide of the post. Minutes later, forward Mario Benjamin (who was the leading scorer in D3 this season) enters for Ryan Walker. Benjamin proves himself worthy after a beautifully executed play results in a Silverbacks goal. Randy Merkel passes the ball up field to Benjamin. He lightly redirects it to leading scorer Iggy Moleka. Moleka takes two or three touches and slams the ball just inside the near post. The crowd and players themselves are rejuvenated.
The game remains tied and goes into two ten minute overtime periods. The Silverbacks attack throughout the first ten minutes with great momentum. But with three minutes remaining in the second overtime, Richmond attacks with a venomous bite. Shaun McSkimming sends a back pass to Restrepo. Tony Williams wins the ball from Restrepo and sends it into the right inside netting.
This was a hard loss for Atlanta. Not only because they had held out so well throughout the entire game, only to have their win ripped away by a defensive slip, but because they had the ability to beat them. There wasn't a better team in this game. The win could have gone either way, and to Atlanta's misfortune, the victory belonged Richmond. If Atlanta is to lose the remaining three games, a satisfactory playoff seed will be lost, but chances are very thin that Atlanta will miss out on the playoffs this season.
