The Atlanta Silverbacks won a crucial rivalry showdown with the league-leading Charleston Battery 2-1 on Friday night at Silverbacks Park. The Silverbacks then won a wild contest at Rochester 4-3 on Sunday evening. Atlanta jumped two places in the standings with the victories, passing Miami and Portland.
The win over Charleston was highlighted by aggressive play from both sides. The teams combined to commit 21 fouls, five yellow cards and the red-card ejection of Silverback midfielder Ansu Toure. Despite the ejection in the 72nd minute, Toure was a big part of the Silverbacks’ success. His perfect cross in the 12th minute towards two Silverbacks in the Charleston penalty box prompted a penalty on Charleston. Mac Kandji coolly converted the penalty kick, giving Atlanta the early lead. Toure was again part of a Silverbacks score in the 37th minute. Jerson Monteiro angled a ball in front of the goal from the right side, which Toure booted into the back of the net for a 2-1 Silverback lead. In the second half, Atlanta goalkeeper Felipe Quintero made a brilliant save on a penalty kick by Charleston. The save may have been the biggest play of the game and helped preserve the 2-1 triumph. Despite finishing the game a man down, Atlanta held onto the lead for their sixth win of the season.
Kandji led all scorers with two goals in the Sunday win at Rochester. A boisterous Rhinos crowd of 6,852 watched the Silverbacks take a 3-1 lead and then hold on for an exciting 4-3 victory. As with the Charleston game, the contest was played with much fervor and intensity. The teams combined for three penalties and six cautions.
The first goal did not come until the 42nd minute, as Kandji knocked home a penalty kick to give the Silverbacks the lead. Monteiro scored an unassisted goal for Atlanta in the 50th minute after Rochester had tied the match at one. Kandji again struck in the 52nd minute off an assist from midfielder Matt Buete to give the Silverbacks the lead for good. David Hayes would conclude the scoring for Atlanta with a penalty-kick goal in the 71st minute.
The Silverbacks played Vancouver on Tuesday; results were not available at press time. Their next game is an 8 p.m. home fixture against Miami on Friday night. Visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com for tickets.
WOMEN’S TEAM HONORED
First-year coach Tony Anglin was named Coach of the Year and Sarah Steinmann won the Most Valuable Player award at the W-League Championship Banquet last week. Steinmann also won the Scoring Champion award (for leading the league in points) as well as the Goal Scoring Champion award after tallying 19 goals on the year. Steinmann’s 19 goals are a franchise record for Atlanta. Steinmann and midfielder Lyndsey Patterson were also named to the All-Conference team for the Eastern Conference.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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