Atlanta Silverbacks vs. San Antonio Scorpions (NASL Spring Season | Match Day 10 | June 6)
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TM 1 Steward Ceus GK 2 Rauwshan McKenzie D 3 Paul Black D 4 Simon Mensing D 5 Fabrice Gautrat D 6 Josh Hughes D 7 Jon Okafor MF 8 Dominic Oppong MF 9 Jaime Chavez F 10 Hans Denissen MF 11 Bryce Billington GK 12 Shaka Bangura F 13 Chris Christian D 14 Alex Harlley F 17 Michael Reed MF 18 Matt Horth F 19 Kyle Porter F 21 C.J. Cochran GK 22 Kevin Sawchak D 23 Michal Mravec MF 25 Ferrety Sousa MF 27 Kyle Miller D ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks (1-5-2, 8 points) will host defending champion San Antonio Scorpions (2-2-4, 8 points) this Saturday, June 6th. The game mark the one and only time the two teams will face each other during the Spring Season, and it’s an important one for both of them. Being level in the table with eight points, both San Antonio and Atlanta need wins if they don’t want to end up last by the end of the season. San Antonio may have won the 2014 Soccer Bowl, though the success of last year has faded and the Scorpions are struggling to hold their own in the new season. The Scorpions have been plagued by an awful defense. They are tied for second in goals conceded with 15 over eight matches. Nine of those goals have come on the road, which bodes well for the Silverbacks. While their defense may be a little shaky, their offense is legitimately scary. The Scorpions’ attack is filled with former MLSers and NASL standouts. Omar Cummings has been on the team’s best additions as he is now tied for the league goal-scoring title with four goals. Coincidentally, Cummings has a connection with Atlanta in the form of current Silverbacks Head Coach Gary Smith. Smith coached Cummings during his time with the Colorado Rapids. San Antonio also has another Atlanta connection in midfielder Pablo Cruz. Cruz was an integral part of Atlanta’s team last year, but has yet to really make his mark for the Scorpions’ squad. On the other side of the pitch, Atlanta has it’s own relationship with the Scorpions. Aside from Smith and Cummings, Silverbacks attacking midfielder Hans Denissen has his own familiarity with San Antonio. In fact, he had his best season in the NASL -- so far --with them in 2013. Statistically, Atlanta has a bit of advantage in that they’re playing Saturday’s game at Silverbacks Park. The Silverbacks have yet to lose a game at home during the Smith era and will look to continue that trend against one of the league’s worst defenses. If the Silverbacks are able to pull out a win on Saturday, it will mark the first time they’ve defeated the Scorpions since September 14th, 2013. june 6 | 7:30 PM Atlanta Silverbacks park ATLANTA, GA REF: Jaime Herrera AR1: Nick uranga AR2: TBD 4TH: Guido Gonzales JR. P Team Pld Pts 1 New York Cosmos 9 19 2 Carolina RailHawks 9 13 3 Minnesota United FC 8 13 4 Tampa Bay Rowdies 8 13 5 Jacksonville Armada FC 8 10 6 FC Edmonton 8 9 7 Ottawa Fury FC 8 9 8 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 8 8 9 Atlanta Silverbacks 8 8 10 San Antonio Scorpions 8 8 11 Indy Eleven 8 7 1 Daryl Sattler G 2 Brad Rusin D 3 Julius James D 4 Adrian Cann D 6 Nana Attakora D 7 Billy Forbes F 8 Tyler Gibson M 9 Pablo Cruz M 10 César Elizondo F 11 Cristian Palomeque F 12 Bright Dike F 14 Omar Cummings F 15 Julio Garcia M 16 Rafael Castillo M 17 Saad Abdul-Salaam D 18 Marvin Chavez M 19 Josué Soto M 21 Stephen DeRoux D 29 Eric Hassli F 30 Eduar Zea D 42 Joseph Nane M 80 Matt Cardone G 88 Zourab Tsiskaridze M nasl spring standings game preview No. Name. Pos. No. Name. Pos. WATCH: U.S. (National) – ESPN3 Europe – ESPN Player Middle East – ESPN Player North Africa – ESPN Player Brazil – WatchESPN Latin America and the Caribbean – ESPN Play Oceania – ESPN3.com READ: www.AtlantaSilverbacksFC.com www.NASL.com MULTIMEDIA www.Public.NASL.com WHERE TO FIND IT TM
Transcript
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1 Steward Ceus GK
2 Rauwshan McKenzie D
3 Paul Black D
4 Simon Mensing D
5 Fabrice Gautrat D
6 Josh Hughes D
7 Jon Okafor MF
8 Dominic Oppong MF
9 Jaime Chavez F
10 Hans Denissen MF
11 Bryce Billington GK
12 Shaka Bangura F
13 Chris Christian D
14 Alex Harlley F
17 Michael Reed MF
18 Matt Horth F
19 Kyle Porter F
21 C.J. Cochran GK
22 Kevin Sawchak D
23 Michal Mravec MF
25 Ferrety Sousa MF
27 Kyle Miller D
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks (1-5-2, 8 points) will host defending champion San Antonio Scorpions (2-2-4, 8 points) this Saturday, June 6th.
The game mark the one and only time the two teams will face each other during the Spring Season, and it’s an important one for both of them. Being level in the table with eight points, both San Antonio and Atlanta need wins if they don’t want to end up last by the end of the season.
San Antonio may have won the 2014 Soccer Bowl, though the success of last year has faded and the Scorpions are struggling to hold their own in the new season.
The Scorpions have been plagued by an awful defense. They are tied for second in goals conceded with 15 over eight matches. Nine of those goals have come on the road, which bodes well for the Silverbacks.
While their defense may be a little shaky, their offense is legitimately scary. The Scorpions’ attack is filled with former MLSers and NASL standouts. Omar Cummings has been on the team’s best additions as he is now tied for the league goal-scoring title with four goals. Coincidentally, Cummings has a connection with Atlanta in the form of current Silverbacks Head Coach Gary Smith. Smith coached Cummings during his time with the Colorado Rapids.
San Antonio also has another Atlanta connection in midfielder Pablo Cruz. Cruz was an integral part of Atlanta’s team last year, but has yet to really make his mark for the Scorpions’ squad.
On the other side of the pitch, Atlanta has it’s own relationship with the Scorpions. Aside from Smith and Cummings, Silverbacks attacking midfielder Hans Denissen has his own familiarity with San Antonio. In fact, he had his best season in the NASL -- so far --with them in 2013.
Statistically, Atlanta has a bit of advantage in that they’re playing Saturday’s game at Silverbacks Park. The Silverbacks have yet to lose a game at home during the Smith era and will look to continue that trend against one of the league’s worst defenses. If the Silverbacks are able to pull out a win on Saturday, it will mark the first time they’ve defeated the Scorpions since September 14th, 2013.
june 6 | 7:30 PMAtlanta Silverbacks park
ATLANTA, GA
REF: Jaime HerreraAR1: Nick uranga
AR2: TBD4TH: Guido Gonzales JR.
P Team Pld Pts
1 New York Cosmos 9 192 Carolina RailHawks 9 133 Minnesota United FC 8 134 Tampa Bay Rowdies 8 135 Jacksonville Armada FC 8 106 FC Edmonton 8 97 Ottawa Fury FC 8 98 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 8 89 Atlanta Silverbacks 8 8
10 San Antonio Scorpions 8 811 Indy Eleven 8 7
1 Daryl Sattler G
2 Brad Rusin D
3 Julius James D
4 Adrian Cann D
6 Nana Attakora D
7 Billy Forbes F
8 Tyler Gibson M
9 Pablo Cruz M
10 César Elizondo F
11 Cristian Palomeque F
12 Bright Dike F
14 Omar Cummings F
15 Julio Garcia M
16 Rafael Castillo M
17 Saad Abdul-Salaam D
18 Marvin Chavez M
19 Josué Soto M
21 Stephen DeRoux D
29 Eric Hassli F
30 Eduar Zea D
42 Joseph Nane M
80 Matt Cardone G
88 Zourab Tsiskaridze M
nasl spring standings
game preview
No. Name. Pos.
No. Name. Pos.
WATCH:
U.S. (National) – ESPN3Europe – ESPN PlayerMiddle East – ESPN PlayerNorth Africa – ESPN PlayerBrazil – WatchESPNLatin America and the Caribbean – ESPN PlayOceania – ESPN3.com
READ:
www.AtlantaSilverbacksFC.comwww.NASL.com
MULTIMEDIA
www.Public.NASL.com
WHERE TO FIND IT
TM
EDMONTON, Alberta — A pair of point-blank strikes in the 4th minute set the tone for Sunday afternoon’s meeting between FC Edmonton and the Atlanta Silverbacks at Clarke Field. The Silverbacks were the aggressors throughout the majority of the match, but Edmonton and goalkeeper John Smits made the necessary saves to survive, 4-2.
Just four minutes into the match, Atlanta fullback and free kick specialist Paul Black sent a bending ball just across the 6-yard box. Atlanta’s center backs — first Simon Mensing with a header and then Rauwshan McKenzie on the rebound — rifled back-to-back shots on goal. But Smits saved both.
The Eddies and Lance Laing broke the silence in the 41st minute, scorching a free kick from the right side past the wall and beyond a diving Steward Ceus. It was his third goal of 2015.
The home side doubled its lead just nine minutes into the second half when Tomi Ameobi connected with Ritchie Jones. Edmonton tripled the tally in the 66th minute when Daryl Fordyce pushed the ball beyond Ceus again.
Atlanta pulled a goal back when 66th-minute substitute Jaime Chavez scored after just 10 minutes on the pitch. Jonathan Okafor sliced down the touchline and into the penalty area, dropping a ball back to fullback Kyle Miller. Miller lifted a cross onto Chavez’s outstreched forehead from inside the 6-yard box. It was Chavez’s first goal of 2015 after leading Atlanta in 2014.
The Eddies took the goal back with one more of their own in the 85th minute. Kareem Moses finished off a Laing assist — good for his fourth of the campaign to lead the NASL — to make it 4-1.
Black, who could have opened the match with an assist, instead closed with one. The Englishman’s 88th minute cross into a congested 18-yard box deflected off second-half substitute Chris Christian’s head and into the net to slice FC Edmonton’s lead in half.
Four minutes of added time failed to produce a Silverbacks comeback, completing just the second loss under Smith.
The Silverbacks begin play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday with a visit to Chattanooga FC (NPSL) at 7:30 p.m. The Silverbacks defeated Chattanooga FC, 5-0, in the third round of the 2014 Open Cup before advancing past two Major League Soccer clubs en route to the quarterfinals of the domestic tournament.
Atlanta will next host the defending NASL champion San Antonio Scorpions on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, presented by Reto.
MATCH REPORT: Starting XI (Substitution): Atlanta Silverbacks: Ceus, Black, Mensing (C), McKenzie, Miller (Christian - 84’), Oppong, Reed, Okafor, Denissen (Bangu-ra - 57’), Porter, Horth (Chavez - 66’)FC Edmonton: Smits; Edward (Moses - 30’), Roberts, Watson, Zebie; Raudales, Jones, Nyassi, Laing; Fordyce, Ameobi (Jonke - 66’)
Steward Ceus, a 27-year-old goalkeep-er with international appearances for the Haitian national team, was signed on Jan. 14, 2015. He reunites
with head coach Gary Smith, who drafted him as the 37th overall selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Smith and Ceus were together with the Colorado Rapids from 2009-11. Ceus’ MLS debut came late in 2012 when he started the final three matches of the season. He made one regular season appearance for the Rapids in 2013 before moving to Finland to play with Närpes Kraft Fotbollsförening in 2014. Ceus has earned seven caps for the Haitian national team.
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atlanta silverbacks information
#1 steward ceusgoalkeeper
#2 Rauwshan McKenziedefender
The 6-foot-1 center back has appeared in 39 MLS matches since 2008, nailing down defensive duties for the Kansas City Wizards (2008-09), Real Salt Lake (2010-
11), Chivas USA (2012) and the Portland Tim-bers (2013-14). The 28-year-old was originally drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft out of Michigan State – where he earned Freshman All-Big-10 team and 1st Team All-Big-10 honors.
Before signing with Atlanta in January 2015, the English full back played for Cheltenham Town in England’s League Two. Black is seasoned with 132
appearances in the English lower divisions – including 103 matches with League One side Oldham Athletic. The Manchester City youth product joined Oldham after becoming a regular in the starting eleven during the 2006-07 season and serving as captain for the youth squad.
Mensing has featured in both the English League Championship and the Scottish Premier League throughout his 15-year career. Mensing appeared 148 times for
Hamilton Academical, starting with a three-month loan deal in 2007. After netting three goals in five matches, Hamilton signed Mensing permanently, making way for the club’s promo-tion to the Scottish Premier League in 2007-08 as Division One champions. The steady center back served as captain for Scottish club Liv-ingston, appearing in 27 matches with a pair of strikes – including a penalty kick conversion in his debut in 2013.
#3 Paul BlackDefender — Full Back
#4 simon mensingdefender — center back
#10 hans denissenforward
2013 NASL Best XI se-lection Hans Denissen joined Atlanta in Febru-ary 2015 after spending 2014 with the New York Cosmos. Before that, was a member of the
San Antonio Scorpions before that, including an award-winning 2013 campaign during which he tallied 12 league goals. A former Dutch youth international, Denissen started his senior career in 2003 with hometown club Willem II, featuring in both the Eredivisie and Europa League.
On March 17, the Club announced the addition of Christopher Christian after a preseason trial with two appearanc-es in friendlies. With professional experience
in both Europe and Africa after four years as a starting center back with four goals and an assist at Villanova, Christian offers versatility with both athletic and technical ability but also as a seasoned veteran. He played for Polish second-division side Motor Lublin in 2012-13 before joining Ghanaian Premier League side Liberty Professionals in 2013-14
#13 Christopher Christian Defender
#14 Alex Harlley Midfielder
Togo native Harlley joined the Silverbacks after being discovered in California, appearing 14 total times for the Silverbacks in 2014. The 6-foot-2 midfielder, the
nephew of Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor, most recently played with National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) side Santa Clarita Storm FC. In 2012, Harlley led the Storm in assists with 12 and was second on the team in goals with six. A former standout at Yavapai College, Harlley arrived in the U.S. in 2010. The 22-year-old midfielder played three NPSL seasons with the Storm.
#22 Kevin SawchakDefender
Sawchak returned to his native Georgia in 2015 after playing professionally in Europe, most recently at Finnish second-division club FC KTP. Sawchak played collegiately at the
University of Alabama-Birmingham. Having fea-tured in midfield and the attack during presea-son, Sawchak adds depth and versatility to the Atlanta squad.
#23 Michal MravecMidfielder
The University of Alabama-Birmingham alumnus spent the last four seasons patrolling the pitch in Europe. After being drafted by Major League Soccer’s Sporting
Kansas City, he combined for 32 appearances with a trifecta of first-division European clubs: FC Emmen (Holland, 2011-12), MŠK Žilina (Slo-vakia, 2013) and Podbeskidzie (Poland, 2014). Mravec made his Europa League debut in the 2013-14 campaign as MŠK Žilina challenged NK Olimpija Ljubljana.
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atlanta silverbacks information
#7 Jon OkaFORmidfielder
Okafor signed with Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2015, after 28 appearances with Arizona United in 2014. The 5-foot-11 wide midfielder was drafted by Chivas USA
in 2011 but never signed. Instead, he played at Finland’s MYPA with 30 appearances and a pair of goals. In 2014, he featured in 28 matches for Arizona United with three goals.
#8 Dominic Oppongmidfielder
A fresh face at defensive midfielder, the 29-year-old Ghanaian-born Oppong featured for FC Edmonton in 37 match-es in 2011-12 before joining AC Oulu in the
Finnish second division last year. He made 23 appearances in Finland’s Ykkönen, finishing 13-8-6 in fourth place and just three points off a promotion into the first division. He debuted for the Canadian Under-20 Men’s National Team in 2005, appearing in all three group-stage match-es at the Francophone Games in Niamey, Niger.
#9 jaime chavezforward
Chavez, 27, joined the Club in April 2015 and scored 12 goals in all competitions in his first NASL season. He led the team with 31 total appearances, scoring
nine goals in 27 league matches and three goals in four U.S. Open Cup games. Before signing for Atlanta, Chavez played at Cal FC of the USASA. Chavez started his senior career with PDL side Hollywood United Hitmen in 2009, standing as the club’s leading scorer in its inaugural season with 10 goals. He remained with the Hitmen the following year, and again led the team in scoring with 11 goals.
#5 Fabrice Gautrat Defender
Gautrat signed with Atlanta before the 2015 Spring Season after appearing 20 times in 2014 for the USL’s Orange County Blues. The 27-year-old defender began his professional ca-
reer in 2011, playing for the Southern California Seahorses in PDL before moving onto French club UJA Maccabi. At 6-foot-2, the left-footed defender is capable of playing center back and left back.
#17 Michael Reed Midfielder
Box-to-box central midfielder and NASL veteran Michael Reed signed for the Silver-backs in February 2015. Reed, a 27-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., na-
tive, featured for Minnesota in 31 appearances after debuting in 2012. He scored his only goal with Minnesota in Week 7 of the 2013 Spring Season, equalizing against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Reed played collegiate soccer at the University of New Mexico, finishing his NCAA
#18 Matt HorthForward
The Silverbacks’ first-ev-er NASL goalscorer, forward Matt Horth was the club’s leading scorer in 2011 and 2012 and re-signed with the team on Jan. 14, 2015. Horth,
who has previously been recognized as NASL Player of the Month for his scoring efforts, re-turns to the Silverbacks after runs with the New England Revolution, Rochester Rhinos, and Icelandic club Leiknir Reykjavík. The 25-year-old forward led the Silverbacks in scoring in both 2011 and 2012 with 18 goals in 49 appearances.
#19 kyle porterForward
Canadian international and 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup cham-pion Kyle Porter joined the Atlanta Silverbacks after signing on for the 2015 campaign. Porter
spent the past two seasons playing for D.C. United, including their Open Cup run, and a loan spell with the Richmond Kickers. Porter, a Canadian international at the Under-17, U-20 and senior level, made his debut for Canada’s National Team on Jan. 26, 2013, in a, 4-0, loss to Denmark as a 70th minute substitute.
#21 Carl Cochran Jr. (CJ)Goalkeeper
Metro Atlanta goal-keeping product C.J. Cochran made the most of his Silverbacks preseason trial, signing his first professional contract with the Club in
March 2015. The 6-foot-4 keeper and Alpharet-ta native constructed an impressive career at Georgia State, earning Sun Belt and College Sports Madness Independent Defensive Player of the Week honors, TopDrawerSoccer.com Mid-season Top 100 Freshmen to Watch honors and two CAA Rookie of the Week honors. Cochran played more than 4,345 minutes with a 23-22-2 record in 48 career starts.
#12 Shaka BanguraForward
Sierra Leonean forward Shaka Bangura was re-signed by the Atlanta Silverbacks on Feb. 12, 2015. Bangura appeared in six matches – starting five – with At-
lanta in 2014. Bangura offers a wealth of football experience across the globe, boasting a resume featuring runs in the Indonesia Super League, Cypriot First Division, Thai Premier League and U.S. Soccer’s third-tier USL.
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atlanta silverbacks information
#25 Ferrety SousaMidfielder
Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sousa grew up in Raleigh, N.C. The 5-foot-6 midfielder played for the Carolina RailHawks U-23 team
when they won the USASA national champi-onship in 2011. Before joining the Silverbacks, Sousa most recently played with French side FCM Aubervilliers before participating in the NASL Combine in 2013.
#27 Kyle MillerDefender - Full Back
The 25-year-old full back joined the Silver-backs before the 2015 Spring Season after time in MLS and USL. Miller was drafted by Sporting Kansas City
in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and spent two years with the club, scoring in a friendly. In 2014, Miller appeared 23 times for the Oklaho-ma City Energy in USL, scoring once.
Atlanta Silverbacks FC is a men's professional soccer club that competes in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The club was founded in 1998, and competed in the A-League until 2004 when they joined the USL First Division. The Silverbacks reached the USL Championship Game in 2007, but fell to the Seattle Sounders.
After going on hiatus in 2009-2010, the Silverbacks returned to the professional field as members of the NASL in 2011. The club earned its first championship in 2013, capturing the NASL Spring Season Championship. By winning the title, the Silverbacks earned the right to host the league's championship game, NASL Soccer Bowl 2013, in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the Silverbacks came up short in the final, dropping a 1-0 decision to the New York Cosmos.
On joining the NASL, the team was still owned by Boris Jerkunica and John Latham. Brothers Henry and John Hardin joined the ownership group in late 2013. In December 2014, the NASL announced that it would operate the club for the 2015 season while they seek a local ownership group.
The team plays its home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, which houses a 5000-seat stadium.
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1 Daryl Sattler GK 6-2 190 Memphis, TN
2 Brad Rusin D 6-4 210 Crown Point, IN
3 Julius James D 6-0 170 Maloney Gardens, TRI
4 Adrian Cann D 6-3 190 Thornhill, Alberta, CAN
6 Nana Attakora D 6-1 185 North York, Ontario, CAN
7 Billy Forbes F 5-9 190 Providenciales, TCI
8 Tyler Gibson M 5-8 145 Knoxville, TN
9 Pablo Cruz M 5-7 134 Pasadena, CA
10 César Elizondo F 5-8 170 San Jose, CRI
11 Cristian Palomeque F 5-7 154 Carepa, COL
12 Bright Dike F 6-1 213 Edmond, OK
14 Omar Cummings F 5-10 165 Old Harbor, JAM
15 Julio Garcia M 5-8 185 Ocotlan, MX
16 Rafael Castillo M 5-6 143 Pererira, COL
17 Saad Abdul-Salaam D 6-4 185 Gahanna, OH
18 Marvin Chavez M 5-5 145 La Ceiba, HON
19 Josué Soto M 5-9 160 Fort Worth, TX
21 Stephen DeRoux D 5-9 168 St. Mary, JAM
29 Eric Hassli F 6-3 212 Sarreguemines, FRA
30 Eduar Zea D 6-0 159 Qibidó, COL
42 Joseph Nane M 6-2 185 Yaoundé, CAM
80 Matt Cardone GK 6-3 215 San Antonio, TX
88 Zourab Tsiskaridze M 6-1 185 Tbilisi, GEO
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San antonio scorpions Roster
Head Coach: Alen MarcinaAssistant Coach: Nick EvansAssistant Coach: Oscar MuñozAssistant Coach: Dr. Michael CzarGoalkeeper Coach: Juan LamadridNutrition/physiology: Dr. Donovan FogtStrength Coach: Thomas Novak
