After the first five games of the young 2001 season, talent was evident on the Atlanta Silverbacks. But so were problems, particularly in the back where things looked un-organized. Fortunately, the problems on defense did not hurt Atlanta, until now, when the Nashville Metros stormed into Atlanta and gave the Silverbacks a 3-1 beating that could have been worse.
It was an overcast and warm night in Atlanta, and rain had been falling from the sky off and on for the past twelve hours before the match. The Silverbacks' Super Y-League teams' match before the Metros-Silverbacks match didn't bode well for the field, small patches of torn up grass were all around.
After an inconsistent showing in the back last night, Coach John Dugan, sporting a stylish goatee for the match, inserted Sylvan Bednar into the starting lineup and demoted Edmundo Rodriguez too the bench. Ian Checcio also got his second consecutive start in the back. After playing in last night's match as a substitute, Randy Merkel's hamstring would not allow him to dress for a second consecutive match. Captain Steve Armas didn't dress either, and Keith Beach took his place in the midfield. Alongside Beach in the midfield were Pablo Peirano, Sean Finn and Rivers Guthrie. Ryan Walker andd Iggy Moleka started at striker.
The Silverbacks started the match with Ryan Walker playing back in the midfield and Iggy Moleka playing up as the lone striker. The Metros controlled a good amount of the play in the first 10 minutes. 15 minutes went by and there were still no major chances for a goal. Then in minute 20, the Metros struck. A defensive breakdown lead to newly signed goalkeeper Billy Andracki (playing his first home match) to push the ball over the crossbar.
On the insuing corner, defender Ben Fisher got his head onto the ball and the ball deflected off the outstretched hands of a diving Andracki and into the net. In the 21st, Metros Midfielder Gabe Valencia and Beach had a nasty collision in the box, as they knocked heads in the air on a Silverbacks cross. Valencia clearly got the worst of it as blood oozed out from his head and spilled down onto his neck. After being tended to on the bench for a few minutes, he was forced to come out and Jeff Houser entered in his place.
In the 25th, Sean Finn was brought down just outside the left half of the 18 yard box, Pablo Peirano sent the free kick just over the net. Finn really seemed to be mixing it up with the Nashville players in the first half and he received a yellow in the 29th.
The Metros stretched their lead to 2-0 in the 32nd when defender Danny Care failed to clear the ball to a teammate and turned the ball over to Jeff Houser. Houser dribbled into the 6 yard box and buried a shot past Andracki and into the net. Pablo Peirano almost got the 'Backs on the board in the 43rd, but his shot from nearly 25 yards out hit the post.
Dugan made signifigant changes for the second half after a sloppy opening 45. Forward Peter Byaruhanga entered in place of Ryan Walker, midfielder Sean Michael-Callahan in place of Rivers Guthrie and defender Seth Marks for Ian Checcio. Marks quickly moved up to play the left flank for the final 45 minutes, this left only three men on defense for Atlanta. A Jason Annichero header off a Keith Beach free kick sailed over the cross-bar 5 minutes into the second half and yet another long Peirano shot missed the goal by inches.
As the half wore on, Sean Finn moved up front to add a third striker to the attack. The Silverbacks made their 4th sub in the 66th when Edmundo Rodriguez entered in Sylvan Bednar's place. Rodriguez played in the back while Jason Annichero moved up. Peter Byaruhanga's dribbling skills were evident in the second half, and they almost rewarded Atlanta with a goal in the 68th minute of play.
Byaruhanga beat a Metro into right side of the 18 and dribbled into the corner of the 6 yard box and beat Metro keeper Cole Burgman on a shot to the near post, the ball careened off the post and across the goal where no one was able to get a touch on. Iggy Moleka beat the defense in the 70th and missed a one-on-one shot with Burgman wide right.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Atlanta defense gave the ball away and Brandon Wright pounced on the ball and found a wide open Jaymie Bailey inside the 18. Bailey finished the shot into the right corner to finish off Atlanta and give his team a much needed bonus point in the US Open Qualifying Standings.
The match wore on with the Silverbacks frustration evident. It was apparent they weren't going to win the match. In the 87th minute of play, some nice dribbling by Peter Byaruhanga beat the Metros defense, the former Kansas City Wizard cooly tapped the ball around a charging Burgman and cooly rolled the ball into the corner. Atlanta continued to push forward, but wasn't able to generate any kind of chances in the final 3 minutes (plus 4 minutes of stoppage time) and the ref blew the final whistle with the final score, Metros 3, Silverbacks 1.
The Metros celebrated their victory and claimed the 2001 Willie Bee Cup as their own in front of the Atlanta crowd. They also drew closer to Atlanta in the US Open Cup Qualifying standings as they drew to within 3 points of Atlanta after being down 12 coming into the weekend.
Although the match was embarrassing and humiliating by all aspects of the game, maybe the Silverbacks can learn from this. They can learn that they are talented, but they are not unbeatable, that they have great skills, but also must perfect the fundamentals of the game to get a sufficient win total in 2001. Although Atlanta has been humiliated for the time being, the 'Backs will be furious after the loss, and should be playing with foam coming from their mouths next week in Richmond.
Man of the Match: Billy Andracki
If anyone had a good night in Atlanta, it was Andracki. Despite giving up three goals (none of which were his fault), Andracki made some nice saves to save Atlanta from even more embarrassment. He looks like a great edition to the team and has done a bang up job so far.
