Atlanta Silverbacks Press Release - www.atlantasilverbacks.com

Thursday, May 8

ATLANTA—A makeshift Silverbacks Under 23 side topped a visiting Liverpool Academy side in an international friendly in front of more than 3,000 boisterous fans Wednesday night at Silverbacks Park. Tony Madegwa and Shawn Bateau tallied second half goals for the Silverbacks both off set pieces.

“Really, I think we were fortunate to come away with a 2-0 score,” said Silverbacks coach Steve Muccillo. “We absorbed a lot in the first half, got a goal and held on.”

For many on the Silverbacks, it was first time playing together, which was evident in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Red’s Marvin Pourie nearly put the visitors on the score sheet in the 19th minute, beating two Silverback defenders before shooting just wide from close range. Five minutes later Liverpool’s Steve Irwin had a golden chance, getting in past two defenders, but missed wide right.

“I thought we played very well the first half,” said Liverpool Academy coach Hugh McAuley. “We had some chances. But I have to give credit to them. Their defense was well organized, and didn’t allow us many chances. Unfortunately we didn’t take the chances they did give us.”

As the first half wore on and the largest crowd to witness a Silverbacks Under 23 match became more anxious, the Silverbacks began to swing the momentum of the game. In the 32nd minute Kareem Youngwood turned two defenders with some skillful dribbling down the right flank and beat the Liverpool’s Danish goalkeeper Martin Hansen, only to have the ball cleared off the line to safety. Two minutes later it was Yearwood again at work on the right flank, finding team captain Ryan Roushandel unmarked in the center of the park 25 yards from goal. Roushandel’s drive was on frame, but held neatly by the Hansen.

With wholesale changes in the second half, the Silverbacks fought to win control of the run of play. Two minutes in Yearwood nearly put the Silverbacks in front, clanging a ball off the post from a tight angle.

The Silverbacks showed their usefulness on set pieces on the resulting corner kick. Bateau controlled a loose ball inside the penalty area and forced Hanses to save to his right.

After two close calls, Liverpool came right back at the Silverbacks.

Twice Poure threatened the Silverback back line, forcing second half substitute goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer into action in the 57th and 62nd minutes.

But the resilient Silverbacks came right back at the Reds. In the 63rd minute Blake Brettschneider made a galloping run with the ball from midfield, pushing the resulting shot just wide.

In the 68th minute the Silverbacks put a mark on the score sheet off a nicely taken corner kick to Bateau on the back post. Bateu played ball powerfully back with his head to the far post for Madegwa to tap in uncontested.

Five minutes later the Silverbacks nearly gave the goal back. A miscommunication between a defender and Mauer found Mauer flatfooted on a headed back pass inside the penalty area. Only Mauer’s diving effort kept the shut out for the Silverbacks.

But it wasn’t until added time that the Silverbacks sealed the game.

Bateau got on the end of another set piece and drilled the ball just inside the back post.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the result,” Muccillo said. “We played hard and chased the ball a lot. They were a fantastic team, and it gave our players a once in-a life time opportunity to play against one of the best clubs in the world, which I think is the most important thing tonight.”

The Silverbacks Under-23s kick off the PDL season Friday at Silverbacks Park versus the Cary RailHawks Under-23s. The match is set for 5:00 p.m.

Box Score: Atlanta Silverbacks Under-23s 2 - Liverpool Football Club Academy 0

Starting Lineups
Atlanta Silverbacks: Patrick Mitrovich, Felipe Nogueria, Mark Bloom, Karl Haggon, Joe Derito, Pat Mury, Jordan Davis, Jeff Scannella, Chad Burt, Ryan Roushandel, Nader Jarun.

Substitutes: Kareem Yearwood, Jimmy Maurer, Tate Parrish, Sam Arthur, Daniel English, Blake Brettschneider, Tony Madegwa, Mamadou Danso.

Liverpool Academy: Martin Hansen, Michael Scott, Gary Macky-Steven, Jack Metcalf, Joe Kennedy, Shane O’Conner, David Amoo, Steven Irwin, Astrit Ajdarevic, Nathan Eccleston, Marvin Poure.

Substitutes: Pajtim Kasami, Chris Oldfield, Adam Pepper, Alex Kacaniklic, Lauri Dalla Valle

Goals
ATL—Madegwa 68
ATL—Bateau 90

Misconduct
ATL—Davis (caution) 38

Attendance: 3,139