This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Silverbacks Win First Game of the Season 2-1
It was a bit of a sloppy start for both sides on Sunday as the Atlanta Silverbacks came to town to take on FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium.
It was another enthusiastic crowd of 2,521 and the players seemed to embrace the atmosphere as the first half rolled on.
May’s NASL Player of the Month, Shaun Saiko, had the first real chance for the Eddies in the 13th minute but the striker couldn’t get the ball to settle at his feet and the Silverbacks’ defense was able to shut him down in time to send the ball wide of the target.
The Silverbacks won a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the middle of the field. Ciaran O’Brien stepped up and bent in into the top corner, capitalizing on the Silverbacks’ first shot on net. Lance Parker, in just his second start of the season, didn’t have a chance and Atlanta led 1-0.
In the 34th minute Saiko sent a long ball into the box, over the defender’s head. Yashir Pinto ran onto the ball and slammed it against the near post.
The Silverbacks doubled their lead in the 40th minute thanks to a glancing header in the box by Shane Moroney off a cross from David Santa Maria.
The Eddies came out of the break the better squad and it resulted in an early goal to cut the Silverbacks’ lead in half.
Off a set piece in the 52nd minute, Saiko cross the ball low into the box and defender Kévin Hatchi deflected it into the net for his first tally of the season.
Coach Harry Sinkgraven made his first sub right after the goal, bringing Kyle Porter on for Matt Lam in the midfield.
Sinkgraven made his second sub in the 71st bringing Dominic Oppong on for Fabien Vorbe at the back.
The Silverbacks went down to 10 men in the 78th minute when Martyn Lancaster took Paul Craig down from behind while he had a chance to shoot on net.
Craig had another great chance in the 81st to tie the game up but his header, which beat Daniel Illyes, was called offside.
Although the Eddies had chance after chance in the dying minutes of the game, and outshot Atlanta 10-2 in the second half, they were unable to find that goal to tie the game.
FC Edmonton suffers its first defeat at home since the home opener on April 22 and Atlanta have earned themselves their first win of the season.
The Eddies take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers next Sunday June 10. Kick-off is 2 p.m. at Clarke Stadium.
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