The Atlanta Silverbacks opened up their 2002 campaign with a red card less than two minutes into the match, three potential starters sitting out due to injury, and a team still trying to get to know each other after only three weeks of preseason.
The result: inconsistent play on the pitch. But the great talent of the Silverbacks was quite apparent and by the end of the night, the 'Backs had left Dekalb Memorial Stadium with a 5-2 victory over the Indiana Blast.
With defenders Jason Annicchero and James Wall out of the lineup due to injuries, the 'Backs showcased a back-line that fans probably won't see much of this season with Judah Cooks, Phillipe Godoy, Byron Mitchell and Alan Woods. The switch in personnel resulted in Mitchell being ejected just two minutes into the match after a hard slide tackle just outside the Silverback 18-yard box.
Referee Brian D'Amato shocked the Atlanta crowd after showing the red card without hesitation. The 'Backs were able to clear the insueing free kick, but they weren't able to manage to keep the Blast from scoring as they found the Atlanta net 15 minutes after Atlanta went down a man when Ihekoronye played an intelligent through ball to Dino Diguardi who beat one 'Backs defender before sending a beautiful curving ball far post just past the reach of outstretched keeper Cole Burgman.
Things seemed to be getting a bit out of hand as Atlanta skipper Ryan Leib received a yellow card soon after the goal and Atlanta's play became increasingly sluggish and direct. But in the 21st minute Iggy Moleka managed to run onto a Nate Heatherington through ball and slot a shot past Spears with a defender draped over his back.
Soon after, D'Amato compensated for Mitchell's ejection by sending off Emanuel Ayim for a tackle from behind on the left touchline in the 25th minute. Many
believed that this was simply a makeup call after Mitchell's sending off as it seemed the tackle deserved no more than a yellow. Nevertheless, the 'Backs had come back from a goal and a man down in a span of three minutes. They would take control from then on.
In the 28th minute of play, Phillipe Godoy sent a hard shot over the cross bar after a Moleka shot was blocked by a Blast defender. Six minutes later, Atlanta took the lead. After a hard tackle from just outside the arc resulted in a free kick, a composed Leib hit a beautiful ball that curled just inside the near post upper 90.
Late in injury time, after a beautiful give and go between Heatherington and striker John Barry Nusum, Nusum found a wide open Steve Kraemer making a run inside the left half of the Indiana box. But Kraemer sacrificed accuracy for power and blasted the ball over the goal.
Indiana made a change at halftime, sending Jeff Dresser in for an injured Dino Diguardi. Atlanta nearly struck in the 55th minute when an Alan Woods header was flicked on by Nusum and found the head of a wide open Leib at the top of the 6. But the oppurtunity sailed just over Spears net. After playing a solid match, Heatherington exited the match in favor of rookie Jordy Broder, playing his first professional match.
Soon after, Nusum broke through the Blast defense and sent a hard shot that Spears got a piece of and came to rest at the goal-line with a Blast defender and Moleka standing over the ball. Moleka got the best of the challenge, as he buried the ball into the net for what might be his easiest goal of the season.
Burgman made a diving save on an Indiana free kick from 25 yards out in the 76th minute of play. Two minutes later, the Blast pulled within one goal after an Indiana attacker was dragged down in the box. Forward Rodrigo Costa took the penalty kick and easily sent the ball inside the right post after Burgman guessed wrong and dove left.
In the 82nd minute, a hardworking Moleka stole the ball from an Indiana defender in the right half of the box and blazed his shot over the goal. The final ten minutes belonged to rookie Jordy Broder.
In the 84th minute, Broder beat two defenders down the left side of the pitch before being dragged down by an Indiana defender, but Broder scrambled to his feet and the ref allowed play to continue due to advantage. Broder then sent a beautiful low cross to Moleka who finished with an easy full volley finish.
Then, after substitute Sean Finn hit the cross-bar for the 'Backs in 89th minute with a curling free kick from 20 yards out and a Rodrigo Costa shot was pushed away by Burgman, Broder again made a nice run down the left touchline, cut in towards the goal, and found Moleka with an excellent pass that he easily touched into the goal.
The 'Backs continued to attack and had a few solid counterattacks in injury time that will likely produce a goal once this team is used to each other. The final whistle sounded with Atlanta winning their first match 5-2, and sending Indiana home having given up 11 goals in their first two matches over the weekend.
After Saturday's opening day clash, it is clear that the Atlanta Silverbacks possess a great amount of talent and composure on the pitch. But their play, although enough to send the Blast home unhappy, will have to improve if they expect to bring some hardware to Atlanta in 2002. But it is clear that the 'Backs are heading in the right direction, and they will hope to continue to make progress next weekend, when they face division rivals Charlotte in what should be an extremely entertaining home-and-home series.
Atlanta - Burgman, Baptiste, Woods, Cooks Mitchell B. (ejected 2nd minute), Kraemer, Godoy, Leib (Finn 70th), Hetherington (Broder 65th), Nusum (Maier 85th), Moleka
Indiana - SpearsK, Rue (Descombes 56th), Allen, Pratt, Ihekoronye, Tennoff (Prosser 90th), Ottesen (Sweet 75th), Vorgen, (Dolisky 51st), DiGuardi (Dresser 45th), Costa, Ayim (Ejected 24th minute)
Scoring
Moleka (Hetherington)-22nd
Leib-35th
Moleka (Nusum)-69th
Moleka (Broder)-85th
Moleka (Broder)-90th
DiGuardi (Ihekoronye)-17th
Costa-78th
Shots Saves Corner Kicks Fouls Offside
Atlanta 10 5 3 14 4
Indiana 9 2 3 21 2
Cards
2nd- Mitchell (RED)
18th- Leib (unsporting behavior)
24th- Ayim (RED)
58th- Dolinsky (unsporting behavior)
78th- Jean-Baptise (unsporting behavior)
78th- Kraemer (unsporting behavior)
