In the biggest win in franchise history, the Silverbacks defeated MLS side Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Silverbacks Park.
Goals by Junior Burgos in the 33rd minute and Kwadwo Poku in second-half injury time secured Atlanta’s first win over an MLS team in its third attempt since joining the NASL in 2011. Atlanta will face in the fifth round the winner of the game between MLS side Colorado and Orlando City, a USL Pro team.
Poku’s shot from 20 yards out settled into the lower left corner to seal the win.
“That’s what this tournament is all about, that’s what this competition means,” Silverbacks coach Eric Wynalda said. “It’s all about heart.”
Wynalda said earlier in the week that he thought his team would play well against a team that wanted to play soccer, and not just play for a result.
He proved right.
The Silverbacks, which prefer to play technically with short passes, dominated the game for the final 80 minutes. They outshot Real Salt Lake 20-8, and put eight on goal to Real Salt Lake’s two.
“The guys didn’t win by accident, they played really well, dominated a good part of the game,” Silverbacks co-owner Boris Jerkunica said.
“I’m just so proud of them,” Wynalda said. “They embraced it and played some fantastic soccer.”
Atlanta has struggled this year during the NASL’s Spring season in which they finished eighth out of 10 teams. They had trouble finishing and stopping teams, allowing a league-worst 20 goals in nine games.
So when they gifted Real Salt Lake a a comically easy goal in the 10th minute, Wynalda’s first thought was, “Here we go again.”
Atlanta goalkeeper Derby Carrillo came out of the penalty box to volley an incoming long ball. But it took a high bounce and Carrillo whiffed on his kick. Robbie Findley ran onto the loose ball as it trickled toward the goal and tapped it in for the easy finish. It was his first goal this year for the former U.S. national team striker.
The Silverbacks thought they answered with a beautiful goal by Jaime Chavez in the 23rd minute. Left fullback Mike Randolph hit a towering ball into the penalty box that Chavez headed into the corner. However, the assistant referee ruled that Chavez came from an offside position, negating the tying goal.
Junior Sandoval followed with a header in the 30th minute that just missed dropping into the lower left corner of Jeff Attinella’s goal as the Silverbacks continued to use precise passes to open up Real Salt Lake’s defense.
After dominating the game from that opening goal, Atlanta finally cracked open Real Salt Lake’s defense to tie the game at 1 in the 33rd minute. A set of give-and-go passes resulted in a rocket of a left-footed shot by Burgos as he worked his way across the top of the penalty box. The ball glanced off the right post and into the goal.
“I was going for his post,” Burgos said. “I felt if I put it low, he wouldn’t be able to get it.”
Chavez had yet another chance in the 40th minute, but once again his header couldn’t find the mark on another long pass by Burgos.
Poku nearly gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half. After tackling and taking the ball from a Real Salt Lake defender, he slammed a right-footed shot low and just outside of the right post.
Attinella denied Atlanta another goal, tipping over the bar a powerful header by Chavez in the 60th minute.
Real Salt Lake’s John Stertzer headed off the line a header by Alex Harlley in the 73rd minute, again preventing the Silverbacks from scoring a go-ahead goal.
Poku finally put away the game with a battering-ram run through Real Salt Lake’s defense.
“We’ve been training for this and finally we did it,” Poku said. “It’s a good feeling. It’s my first time playing an MLS team. It’s a good feeling for all the fans, for all the teammates, for all the coaches.”
About the Author
