Early Red Card Plagues Silverbacks in Loss

Nasco’s first-half red card forces Silverbacks to play 68 minutes with 10 men

The Atlanta Silverbacks suffered their first road loss of the 2013 season on Sunday afternoon, falling to FC Edmonton, 3-0, at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. Silverbacks Head Coach Brian Haynes named a similar lineup to the ones that have been producing plenty of goals early in the season. Forward Jahbari Willis started in place of forward Ruben Luna, while goalkeeper Joe Nasco returned to the starting lineup after sitting out last game. The Silverbacks (2-1-2) dominated possession early on, and created numerous scoring opportunities. Forwards Pedro Mendes and Jahbari Willis each missed glorious chances from close range, with midfielder Danny Barrera also testing FC Edmonton goalkeeper Lance Parker in the opening minutes. The …

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Silverbacks, Scorpions Play to 2-2 Draw

The Silverbacks earned a tough point on the road.

The Atlanta Silverbacks and the San Antonio Scorpions played to a 2-2 draw at Toyota Field Saturday night. The Atlanta Silverbacks started off the game fast with some fluid passing and a lot of possession. It would not take long for them to get on the board as Silverbacks midfielder Danny Barrera found Richie Menjivar in space behind the defense. Menjivar was able to slot it past Scorpions goalkeeper Pat Hannigan for his first goal of the season in the 5th minute. After the goal, the Scorpions’ play picked up as they started to threaten. Scorpions forward Hans Denissen would equalize minutes later in the 20th minute, cutting in on a corner kick. He was able to flick it past Silverbacks goalkeeper Eric Ati to level the score.  The Scorpions…

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Silverbacks Suffer First Loss of Season, Falling 3-2

Two second-half goals by Minnesota United FC handed the Silverbacks a tough home loss Saturday.

The Atlanta Silverbacks fell for the first time this season, coming up short against Minnesota United FC, 3-2, Saturday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Silverbacks Head Coach Brian Haynes named an unchanged side from the team’s 4-3 road win over the defending champions, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, last weekend. The Silverbacks (2-0-1) were looking to pick up right where they left off, but it was the visitors that created the game’s first major scoring chance. United (2-1-0) midfielder Miguel Ibarra found space at the top of the penalty area in the 10th minute, and launched a shot over the hands of Silverbacks goalkeeper Joe Nasco and off the top of the crossbar. Seven minutes later, it was the Silverbacks threatening the United goal, and …

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Silverbacks Top Defending Champions, 4-3

Luna, Mendes each score two to bring Atlanta back from 3-1 halftime deficit

In the wildest game of the 2013 NASL season, the Atlanta Silverbacks came back from a 3-1 halftime deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 4-3, Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. Midfielder Pedro Mendes and forward Ruben Luna each bagged a pair of goals to give the Silverbacks an improbable comeback win against the league’s defending champions. Head Coach Brian Haynes only made one change from the lineup he fielded in the club’s 2-0 season-opening win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, starting defender Mike Randolph in place of defender Shane Moroney. The lineup produced a quality scoring opportunity almost immediately, with defender Mark Bloom’s glancing header forcing a huge diving save from Rowdies goalkeeper …

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Silverbacks Blank Strikers In Front of Sellout Crowd

Two goals in the final four minutes give the Silverbacks a bright start to the 2013 season.

In their 2013 season opener, the Atlanta Silverbacks shut out the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 2-0, Saturday night in front of 5,402 fans at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Coming out of the gate, the Silverbacks played like a side looking to find their feet in their first game of the season. Both teams traded possession during the opening minutes before Strikers midfielder Jemal Johnson tested Silverbacks goalkeeper Joe Nasco for the first time in the eighth minute. After a slow start, the Silverbacks put pressure on the visiting defense. The Strikers committed several fouls in dangerous areas, giving the Silverbacks a few free kicks from just outside the penalty area. Midfielder Danny Barrera was the kick-taker, curling a pair of efforts just …

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Silverbacks Host Strikers in Opener

The Atlanta Silverbacks will kick off their third season in the North American Soccer League on Saturday night.

Silverbacks Announce Five Player Signings

The Atlanta team adds depth to three positions and brings the roster count to 27 players.

With a little more than two weeks to go until the team opens up its 2013 season, the Atlanta Silverbacks are adding the final pieces to the puzzle. The Silverbacks added five players to the roster on Thursday, announcing the signings of forward Brad Stisser, midfielders Mario Uribe, Scott Rojo and Rury Alvarez and defender Eduardo Liza, pending USSF approval. Stisser, 26, comes to the Silverbacks from USL Pro side Charlotte Eagles where he played alongside current Silverbacks teammates Mark Bloom and Milton Blanco. The 5-foot-10 forward played his collegiate soccer at Loyola Marymount before making his professional debut with AC St. Louis in 2010. After a strong season in St. Louis, Stisser caught the eye of the Rochester Rhinos and signed…

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Gulley Joins Silverbacks on Loan from Chicago Fire

The 18-year-old forward is the MLS side’s second Homegrown Player in franchise history.

Loan agreements between MLS and NASL teams have become more and more common with each new season, and now it's the Atlanta Silverbacks’ turn to dip into the first-division ranks. The Silverbacks have signed forward Kellen Gulley on a season-long loan from the Chicago Fire, the club said Monday. A native of Clinton, Miss., Gulley comes to Atlanta as a promising young prospect. The 18-year-old forward signed a Homegrown contract with the Fire in 2011 after coming up through the club’s youth system. Gulley was a member of the Chicago Fire Juniors in Mississippi and since 2006 has spent part of every summer training at the club’s professional facilities in Chicago. “Kellen is a young player with tons of potential, and someone who could end up …

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Silverbacks Add Pair of Midfielders

Former Villareal product Brandon Manzonelli and former Silverbacks Reserves player Mark Withers add midfield depth.

The Atlanta Silverbacks have been busy adding players to their 2013 roster this week, and that continued on Thursday when the team announced the signings of midfielders Brandon Mazonelli and Mark Withers, pending USSF approval. The pair of midfielders joins the Silverbacks after successful preseason training stints. Manzonelli, 23, brings extensive international experience with him, having signed for Spanish giants Villareal CF at the age of 16. The St. Louis native has also represented the U.S. at the international level, appearing in games for the U-18 and U-20 national teams. He was in the U.S. squad for the 2008 Milk Cup, and played against the likes of Belgium, Northern Ireland, and Wales. While with Villareal from 2006-2007, …

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Silverbacks Sign Defender Reiss

The former Cal State Fullerton standout has inked his first professional contract in Atlanta.

Atlanta Silverbacks Head Coach Brian Haynes has been using this preseason to evaluate several promising trialists, and in defender Bobby Reiss' case, Haynes has seen enough to be convinced. The Silverbacks signed the young defender to his first professional contract on Wednesday, adding depth to the club’s backline going into the 2013 season. Reiss, 22, played youth soccer in California alongside Silverbacks teammate and El Salvador international Richie Menjivar. The two then played a season together at the University of Evansville before they each decided to transfer. Reiss ended up at Cal State Fullerton, where he would serve as team captain. The Palmdale, Calif., native played three seasons for the Titans, primarily playing center back…

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