Cincinnati’s game with Atlanta was one that they needed to win. The Hawks (3-6-0) went up against the Silverbacks (5-6-0) with the help of Adams, Longo and Woan from the Columbus Crew. The first half started out calmly with each team seeming to try and judge what the other team had.
The half went in waves with each team spending measurable time in the other teams half with the play virtually even at the end of the half. Simon Lowey had the best opportunity forcing Clemente to save a couple of shots.
The 2nd half started with the Hawks taking the edge in play. The Hawks put one in the net in the 69th minute when Kazuba shot the ball and then Clemente trying to make the save deflected the shot to Matis who slotted it home! Hawks up 1-0.
The Silverbacks then made a couple of substitutions with Dotsenko coming in for Walker, Merkel for Rodriguez and Care for Marks.
The play changed to the advantage of the Silverbacks with Dotsenko raising some eyebrows. Dotsenko was bringing the Silverbacks back into the game.
Seeing the way the game had changed the Hawks substituted Kaszuba in for Ian Woan. J.T. Roberts went back to the midfield role for Woan and Kaszuba was placed up front. A great move by Nicola Ranieri was this lineup change. Kaszuba with his speed was forcing the Silverbacks to play more defensively giving the Hawks the opportunity to push up on offense.
In the 78th minute with a great pass to Mucino from J.T. Roberts, Mucino took the shot again forcing Clemente to dive for a save. The ball again deflected to a waiting J.T. Roberts who calmly placed the ball into the back of the net giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
The scoring was not done however. The Silverbacks catching a lapse of concentration from the Hawks netted a goal in the 90th minute by Schneider pulling them back to 1 goal down. Not enough time remained however for the Silverbacks as the Hawks earned a well deserved 3 points.
SCORELINE
Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 1
LINEUPS
Cincinnati – 1 Estrada ; 29 Adams; 30 Woan (16 Kaszuba 63’); 4 Descombes; 20 Pickup; 31 Longo; 15 Burlew; 11 Rockey; 7 Lowey (5 Roettker 86’); 9 Matis (32 Mucino 75’); 8 Roberts
Atlanta – 0 Clemente; 5 Checcio; 19 Annicchero; 4 Restrepo; 12 Marks (2 Care 63’); 10 Parra; 15 Peirano (20 Finn 78’); 7 Callahan; 27 Rodriguez (8 Merkel 68’); 11 Schneider; 9 Walker (17 Dotsenko 70’)
STATS CINCINNATI ATLANTA
1st half 2nd half Total 1st half 2nd half Total
Shots 4 9 13 4 3 7
Saves 3 0 3 2 1 3
Fouls 7 12 19 9 9 18
Offside 3 4 7 8 3 11
Corners 5 1 6 2 1 3
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Cincinnati – Caution 3’ Woan
Atlanta - Caution 79’ Dotsenko
SCORING SUMMARY
Cincinnati – 69’ Matis (Assist, Kaszuba)
Cincinnati – 78’ Roberts (Assist, Mucino)
Atlanta – 90’ Schneider (Assist, Finn)
Man of the Match – Kaszuba
Attendance – 650
