The Silverbacks continued their resurgence under coach Eric Wynalda with a 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday at Silverbacks Park.
Goals by Nico Colaluca in the first half and a superb piece of skill in the second half by Matt Horth pushed the Silverbacks to their second consecutive win and third this season. The Silverbacks are 2-1 since Wynalda was hired as interim coach last week. The victory gave the Silverbacks 14 points this season, moving them out of last place in the NASL.
"The guys are starting to believe in themselves," Wynalda said. "Sometimes at this level and this league it's not going to be pretty, but you can't give up on your teammates and plays, and tonight we didn't do that."
The Silverbacks opened the game in an unconventional formation that featured three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. While the formation was different, it included 10 of the 11 starters who defeated Minnesota 2-0 last week.
The Silverbacks took a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute on a dangerous ball by Ciaran O'Brien. Trying to clear the cross, Puerto Rico goalkeeper Richard Martin collided with one of his defenders and Horth at the far post. The ball fell to Colaluca, who calmly slotted it into the opposite corner. It was the midfielder's first goal this season. He fell out of favor with the previous coaching staff after getting into a fight in the season opener, but has started the past three games under Wynalda.
"Hopefully, it's the first of many to come," Colaluca said. "I think we are just going to get better. In the past two weeks you've seen a lot of differences, and the product shows up on the field."
The Silverbacks scored their second goal in the 63rd minute, when Jose Burciaga Jr. hit a long cross to Horth, who chested the ball to his left while holding off a defender, pivoted and fired a half-volley low toward the left corner with his weaker foot. The shot bounced off Martin's hand and rolled into the goal. It was Horth's third goal in three games since Wynalda took charge.
"He's given the guys a buzz to play," Horth said. "It's amazing in terms of that thing between your ears, how much that can change with one coaching change."
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