The Atlanta Silverbacks opened their Fall Home Season with a 1-0 victory over the Jacksonville Armada. Michael Reed scored the only goal of the match in the 60thminute. Both clubs entered the match needing a win after starting the Fall Campaign with a loss and sitting at or near the bottom of the combined table. Gary Smith’s roster was given an overhaul with six new faces coming. Of the new arrivals, only Kosuke Kimura was given a start. Pedro Mendes came on in the 54thminute to replace Shaka Bangura, who has played injured and was slow to get up early in the second half. Despite being labeled a defender, Kimura was slotted into the right side of midfield because the Silverbacks opened in a 3-5-2 formation.
With five midfielders, the Silverbacks hoped to do a better job of controlling possession, and at times they accomplished that goal. CJ Cochran started again in goal for the absent Steward Ceus and passed his first test in the 18th minute. The Silverbacks would test the Armada goal keeper twice in the next ten minutes, but could not get on the board.
The Silverbacks did not come out early in the second half and dominate possession or show much more energy, but they did show some more patience. Jaime Chavez played a perfect pass to Michael Reed, who was standing on the edge of the 18 yard box. The resulting shot went in the upper left corner for his first goal in an Atlanta uniform. Jacksonville would not sit back for the remaining 30 minutes. Atlanta seemed content to park the bus, producing few chances in the last half hour. Jacksonville would get the ball in the net twice in the second half and have both goals called off. The first goal was called out for off sides. The second goal was called a handball. A pass into the six-yard box glanced off Silverbacks defender Paul Black and glanced off of Krizanovic and into the goal.
The Armada faithful howled in protest, as did several Armada players, but the referee ruled a handball, apparently judging that the ball came off the bicep. From my point of view standing on the concourse level with the six-yard box, it looked like the correct call.
The match ended 1-0 for the first win of the Fall Season for the Silverbacks. The Armada sink to the bottom of the Fall Table. The Silverbacks rise all the way to fifth place. The Silverbacks are still on the bottom of the Combined Table with 11 points while the Armada are in 10th with 12 points. Jacksonville play two matches next week, travelling to Minnesota on Wednesday and hosting New York on Saturday. Atlanta travels to Ft. Lauderdale to finish three straight matches against Florida NASL clubs.
