The Silverbacks lost three games last week without star forward Mac Kandji, who is out with a high ankle sprain. The team has now gone winless in five games and has not won since Aug. 5.
Kandji was injured against Charleston on Aug. 16 and the team has scored only two goals in the three games since his injury. In a recent interview, Kandji said that he hopes to be back for the home finale against Rochester on Aug. 30.
“(It) is getting better right now,” Kandji explained. “The physical therapy is helping a lot. I should be back by the next home game. I can’t standing sitting (on the bench) and not able to help my team.”
ROAD TRIP NOT KIND
On Wednesday, the Silverbacks lost at Montreal 3-1 in front of a crowd of 13,034. The good news for the Silverbacks was that recent acquisition Brent Sancho saw his first action during the game. He was substituted for Martyn Lancaster in the 76th minute. Sancho’s debut had been held up due to pending USL approval of the transfer that sent Sancho to Atlanta.
In addition to Kandji, team captain Rodrigo Rios was unavailable for the game.
After trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Silverbacks managed to claw back into the game. The team controlled possession early in the second half and was able to score on a goal by Tony McManus who was assisted by David Hayes.
On Saturday, the team travelled to Rochester to face the Raging Rhinos. It would be another tough night for the Silverbacks as they were shut out 2-0. Sancho made his first start for Atlanta. The teams were separated in the standings by only one point going into the match with the Silverbacks ahead. However, Atlanta fell to sixth in the standings with the loss.
ANOTHER DEFEAT
The next day, Atlanta again travelled to Montreal for a fixture. It would be the team’s third road game in a span of only five days. Unfortunately for Atlanta, this match did not end any better than the previous two. The injury-plagued team dropped a 3-1 result to a resurgent Montreal team. The Impact have now won four of five matches and only trail Atlanta by one point in the standings.
Atlanta played without five starters as Justin Moore, Tony McManus and Scott Buete joined Mac Kandji and Rodrigo Rios in missing the match. The three were injured the night before in Rochester.
Atlanta only trailed 1-0 at halftime but were undone by two Felix Brillant goals in the second half. Matt Bobo scored for Atlanta in the 90th minute to get the Silverbacks on the board.
The Silverbacks hit the road on Wednesday to face the Vancouver Whitecaps at 10 p.m. and then return to Atlanta for their final home game of the regular season on Saturday to host the Rochester Raging Rhinos at 7:55 p.m.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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