In the Websters' Dictionary, the word menace is defined as: Something or someone who threatens; an annoying person. After last night's US Open Cup third round game at DeKalb Memorial Stadium (James Hallford Stadium) between the host Atlanta Silverbacks and the visiting Des Moines Menace, Back fans must replace the last word person for team.
The Des Moines Menace, who advanced last night to the next round of the cup, blasted the Silverbacks 5-1, and proved to the doubting Backs fans, they are for real in this tournament. From the opening qualifying round, they have now turned back two USL First Division teams, the Charleston Battery being the first.
Action started off slow as both teams played the feel out game with each other. In the 8th, the Menace broke the ice when midfielder Tomas Boltnar fired the game's first shot high over the goal. On the follow-up goalkick, after a short pass was played out, Michael Kraus intercepted a misplayed ball, sent a cross to Matthew Kriekemeier, who tried to chip a shot over keeper Joe Barton. Barton made a great diving save to set up a corner kick. Boltnar's corner found an unmarked Kreikemeier, and he placed his 2nd shot in the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, a penalty kick was awarded to Des Moines when Backs defender Adilson DeLima was called for taking down a Menace player in the penalty area. Boltnar, the Menace's leading scorer, put it in for a 2-0 lead.
The Silverbacks woke up after that and started pressing. In the 15th, midfielder Rodrigo Rios blasted a shot just wide right of the goal. However the Menace, showing they were not going to sit on a 2-0 lead had a nice chance in the 21st on a pass over the defense had Menace forward Michael Kraus one on one with Barton, but his shot was off Barton's chest from close range.
The Menace made it 3-0 in the 27th, when Boltnar made a run down the right side and passed back to Kraus, after he made his way behind the Backs defenders unmarked, and sliped it in.
The Backs, in the 33rd, showed they had fight still left in them when forward Machel Millwood, was tripped about 30 yards out. Alex Pineda-Chacon and David Hayes both lined up to take the kick, and Hayes ripped a scorcher on the ground that hit the right bottom corner of the net, making it 3-1.
The Silverbacks continued the attack. In the 39th, Antonio de la Torre hit a long pass to Millwood, who beat keeper Andrew Gruenebaum to it, and hit the top right corner post. In the 44th off a corner, DeLima's header beat Gruenebaum to the far post, but a Menace defender was there to save it off the line.
Halftime came, but for the second time this season, action wasn't stopped. David Hayes was issued a yellow for expressing his displeasure with the refs, and before the yellow was put away, Hayes continued and was shown the red.
In the 50th minute of the second half, the Menace again lived up to their name, and determined to take the life out of the Backs, Kreikemeier found forward Edwin Desang, who beat defender Zachary Peoples, dribbled around a charging Barton, and placed it in the open net, to make it 4-1.
The icing on the cake was done a minute later when Kreikemeier found Kraus on the right outside of the penalty area, and he placed it in the far left bottom corner, upping the score 5-1.
Fustration on the Backs continued as Coach Jason Smith was ejected in the 72nd.
Before the match would end, the Backs had a flurry of chances to put one in. In the 42nd, Delima ripped a freekick just high of the goal. In the 43rd, Joe Afful blasted one wide right. In the 44th, Greg Chavalier shot one just high. the last attempt before the final whistle had Ico Ilarinov heading a shot just wide to the left.
The win advances Des Moines to the 4th round, where they will travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards of MLS August 8th. The Silverbacks resume USL play this Friday, traveling to Puerto Rico to take on the 6th place, tough at home Islanders. After that they play at Toronto on July 20th, against a last place Lynx team that has started to show some promise in their last two games.(2-1 win at Minnesota, 2-2 draw with Charleston)
Game notes; Silverback forward Gary Brooks was out due to a red card in last years Open Cup game against the Wizards,,,,Good to see former Silverback Jody Broder in the crowd. Hard to believe with the hustle and heart this guy brings to a game, any USL team needing a midfielder, hasn't picked him up for the season. After last night, I overheard some comments about how he would look good in a Silverback uniform again,,,,,Noticed the team being called into the locker room after the game. Hope they get it right before it's too late. With 12 games and a possible 36 points still out there, nothing is too late yet. Just look at the standings and do the math. Especially after talking with some regular fans after the game and seeing the discouragement,,,,One more note, since my son is a volunteer, I found myself helping set up again before the game. Those staff members running around in the white and red stripe shirts work hard before the game. Some get paid(probably not much, who know's, this isn't the Braves or Falcons), some don't. Next game, no matter win or lose, try saying thanks to some of them for their work. Without them, it wouldn't be the same.
Line-ups:
DM- Gruenebaum, Kother, Oliveria, Kreikemeier(Frieburg), Disang(Baker), Hamburger, Siberz, Kraus(Mujdzic, Odorisio, Boltnar(Farabi), Wieland
ATL-Barton, Afful, DeLima, Plute, Peoples(Chevalier), de la Torre(Murriagui), Hayes, Pineda-Chacon(Ilarionov), Rios, Dawkins(Iniguez), Millwood
Cautions:
DM-One was issued, by the time it happened, I was fustrated myself.(Does it matter?)
ATL-Hayes, Plute, Ilarionov, Afful, Rios, de la toore
Ejections:
DM-None
Atl-Hayes, Coach Jason Smith
