The Atlanta Silverbacks were off during the past week after a tough 1-0 loss to Rochester on Saturday, Aug. 30. The team will be back in action this Saturday at Seattle. Atlanta has lost both matches against the Sounders this year, which were played in May. Seattle has won their last two and currently holds fifth-place in the USL with 36 points.
The Silverbacks now stand at 8-11-8 with 32 points at press time. They would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, as they currently stand seventh. The playoffs include the top eight teams in the league. Atlanta is only one point ahead of eighth-place Minnesota in the standings and three points ahead of Miami and Portland, who are tied for ninth.
The Silverbacks are looking to get back on the winning track, as they have not won since winning three in a row during the first week of August. The slide has coincided with the loss of Mac Kandji, who suffered a high ankle sprain on Aug. 16 against Charleston.
KANDJI COMING BACK
Superstar forward Mac Kandji will return to action for Saturday’s game at Seattle. The Dakar, Senegal native will be back practicing with the team on Wednesday. Kandji was thought to have been back by last Saturday’s game against Rochester, but was held out as a precaution.
“It was kind of a 50/50 thing,” Kandji explained. “Coach [Jason] Smith wanted me to be ready for the upcoming games. We wanted to avoid (reinjuring it) and missing the rest of the season. I should be good to go by Seattle.”
The talented 21-year-old is excited to get back out on the pitch with his teammates.
“I am very, very excited (to return), you know? Yesterday was three weeks since my injury and my feet are itching to play,” Kandji said. “So I am very excited to join [my teammates].”
Kandji has been the center of some controversy lately, as the New York Red Bulls attempted to sign him from Atlanta but were reportedly blocked by the MLS. The Red Bulls were ready to pay Atlanta $200,000 for the Kandji transfer, a hefty amount for a USL player. The MLS was said to block the transfer because it would have set a bad precedent for the league. MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos have come out since and denied the reports, however.
Southern Derby rival Charleston was defeated 2-1 by MLS franchise D.C. United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final last Wednesday. The Cup is a competition between all United States Soccer Federation teams, which include both amateur and professional clubs.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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