Atlanta Silverbacks News Release - www.atlantasilverbacks.com

Friday, May 9, 2008

ATLANTA, GA -- The Silverbacks Under-23 squad twice fought its way out of a two-goal deficit to play the Cary RailHawks Under-23 to a 3-3 draw at Silverbacks Park Friday afternoon.

“It's our first game of the year. There wasn't a lot of continuity,” said Silverback coach Steve Muccillo. “Normally I wouldn't say that I'm happy with a draw, but tonight I am.”

The Silverbacks found themselves playing catch-up early, conceding a penalty kick in the 15th minute off a called handball in the penalty area. The RailHawks Michael Callahan cooly slotted the ball into the lower left corner as Silverback goalkeeper Patrick Mitrovich guessed the other way.

The RailHawks doubled their lead two minutes later when Michael Videira found himself with space at the top of the penalty area. With time for two controling touches he picked out his spot in the lower right corner of the goal past a diving Mitrovich.

Having spent much of the first half on the defensive, the Silverbacks did not have a true scoring opportunity until the 34th minute when Scannella beat his marker with a clever step over, giving him time to tee up a shot which was easily held by the RailHawks Nicholas Tsipis.

The second half was quite a different story for the Silverbacks. Needing to maintain its seven-game unbeaten streak at Silverbacks Park, the home side came out after the interval much more determined. Twice Tsipis was up to the test, diving spectacularly to his left off a Pascal Millien drive in the 50th minute, and again denying Millien five minutes later, again conceding a corner kick to the Silverbacks.

After the RailHawks failed to clear the resulting corner kick, again it was Millien who beat two defenders and found Roushandel inside the penalty area. Roushandel took one controlling touch and slotted the ball past a charging Tsipis to level the game at two in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later the RailHawks took back the lead when Ronnie Bouemboue got in behind the Silverback back line and calmly slipped the ball in past a stranded Mitrovich.

The Silverbacks clawed back to within in one in the 76th minute when Roushandel slammed the ball home from close range after the RailHawks failed to clear the ball on two previous missed Silverbacks attempts.

With a draw in their sights, the Silverbacks continued to put pressure on the RailHawk back line. Cox missed a sitter just outside the six-yard box, and Millien put a 20 yard freekick well over the crossbar.

With little time left the Silverbacks threw everything forward. The gamble paid off with one minute to play when the RailHawks failed to clear a deflected Millien shot. Scannella pounced on the rebound and slammed home the leveling goal.

The Silverbacks take to the road for a pair of games: May 15 at Central Florida and May 17 at Panama City before returning to Silverbacks Park May 22 to host the Palm Beach Pumas.