The Atlanta Silverbacks lost two more games this week, extending their losing streak to five. The team has not won since Aug. 5, going 0-6-2 since then.
Star forward Mac Kandji was held out of both games and the team felt his absence, being shut out in both games this past week. The team has scored only two goals in the five games since his injury on Aug. 16.
Besides Kandji, the team was missing Rodrigo Rios, Justin Moore, Scott Buete and Sean Cameron for Thursday’s game at Vancouver. The Whitecaps put the pressure on early by winning six corner kicks in the first 13 minutes of the match. Goalkeeper Felipe Quintero and the Silverbacks kept Vancouver off the scoreboard, however, using some solid defensive play to repel the early barrage.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Whitecaps would get on the board in the 35th minute on a dazzling goal by Vancouver midfielder Lyle Martin. After making several moves to get open at the top of the 18-yard box, Martin let loose with a shot that sailed past Quintero and into the upper left corner of the net.
The Whitecaps dominated corner kicks and shots-on-goal, with nine more corners and five more shots. Vancouver clinched the match when they broke through the Atlanta defense yet again for a 2-0 lead. Eduardo Sebrango received a pass from Vincente Arza and shot it off of Quintero. The ball then ricocheted off the Silverbacks’ keeper to the post and into the net.
‘BACKS RETURN HOME
After a four-game road trip, the Silverbacks returned home Saturday night for a date with the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The Silverbacks and Rhinos were already quite familiar with each other, as the teams had already played twice in the month of August.
Like last Saturday’s 2-0 Rochester victory, the Silverbacks could not get on the scoreboard. Rochester went ahead in the 29th minute on a goal by Johnny Menyongar, which ended up being the game-winning goal.
On a positive note, recent acquisitions Sean Cameron and Duke Hashimoto saw their first action with the team. Cameron, a midfielder, is now fully recovered from a jaw injury that occurred while he was with Miami and had kept him out of games for his first two weeks with Atlanta. Hashimoto, a striker, was picked up from Real Salt Lake of the MLS.
Atlanta still is in place to reach the playoffs, as they are holding onto seventh place. With the imminent return of Kandji and the fresh energy from Hashimoto, Cameron, Aaron Paye and Brent Sancho, the Silverbacks look like they are in position to make a late run just in time for the postseason.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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