Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture

Silverbacks Host Rowdies Saturday Night

Posted on Thu, May 17, 2012

The Atlanta Silverbacks will look to get back on track this Saturday when they host the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
After opening the season with four consecutive draws, the Silverbacks (0-4-3) have dropped three straight contests, and red cards have played a big part in the team’s recent slide. The Silverbacks have seen at least one player sent off in the last three games, meaning they haven’t played a full game with all 11 players since their 3-3 draw against Minnesota Stars FC on April 28.
The Rowdies (2-2-3) come into Saturday’s game with a losing streak of their own after dropping two straight games to the San Antonio Scorpions. After falling to the Scorpions, 2-0, at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio on May 5, the Rowdies were defeated again by the Scorpions on May 12, dropping a 2-1 decision at home
In the last game, Rowdies forward and former Silverbacks player Daniel Antoniuk scored his second goal of the season to tie the game in the second half, but a stoppage time goal from Scorpions forward Pablo Campos prevented the Rowdies from collecting any points.
While both teams will be looking to bounce back from consecutive losses, the Silverbacks are the team that needs the three points the most. Head Coach Alex Pineda Chacón’s team is still in search of their first win of the season, and getting that win in front of the home fans would give the Silverbacks some momentum going into Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match against NPSL side Georgia Revolution.
The Silverbacks will be without defender and team captain Martyn Lancaster, who was sent off in the team’s midweek loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders, while the Rowdies could still be missing one of their key defenders, Andres Arango, due to injury.
Each team has had an Achilles heel this season. The Rowdies have struggled offensively, only managing a league-low seven goals in their first seven games. On the other side of the coin, the Silverbacks have conceded 15 goals in their first seven games, which is the second most in the league.
Saturday’s meeting is the second between these two teams this season, with the first game ending in a 1-1 draw at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Silverbacks forward Reinaldo Navia scored an equalizer in the 87^th minute, earning the Silverbacks a late point after Antoniuk had put the Rowdies ahead earlier in the game. 
Stadium gates will open early this Saturday due to a day full of soccer events at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The DeKalb County High School Boys and Girls All-Star Games will be played on the stadium field starting at 11 a.m. Following the games, the Silverbacks will be hosting a Champions League Final Viewing Party, which will start at 2:30 p.m. and feature raffles, contests, drink specials, and more. The Silverbacks and Rowdies will kick off at 7:30 p.m.