RECAP | Silverbacks 1, Armada FC 1

Atlanta Silverbacks' back line held off the high-octane Jacksonville Armada FC, battling the team to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. It got off to an exhilarating start, as Hans Denissen scored less than 30 seconds into the match.

"This is an evlolving team," Silverbacks head coach Gary Smith said. "We tried some newer looks tonight, and I don't think the decision to start Hans — and his debut in the Starting XI— could have gone any better. I think we should have put away and finished Jacksonville after the first 20 minutes. But the hardest thing to do in this game is to score goals."

Smith took a chance against the three man back line of Jacksonville and changed up the Silverbacks (1W-5D-1L, 8 points) formation for the first time this season. Denissen started his first match of the season, replacing Kyle Porter in the starting lineup. Up front, Jaime Chavez was given the nod over Matt Horth as well. 

The Silverbacks' game plan worked almost to perfection for the first 20 minutes of the game. Aside from one or two non-threatening shots on goal, the defense held their ground. Offensively, the counter attack was clicking, including a shot that hit the post from Chavez. 

The wrath of Alhassane Keita reared it's head in the 20th minute, though, as he fired the equalizer past goalkeeper Steward Ceus and into the far corner. 

Both sides had a couple more shots before the end of half, but nothing dangerous. The two teams headed to the locker room with a goal a piece at the whistle.

The Silverbacks kept the pressure on early in the second half. Jonathan Okafor dribbled into the box in the 48th minute, toe-poking it into the side netting. Okafor would get another opportunity to rip off a shot in the 61st minute. From outside of the box, the left midfielder fired a rocket to the far corner, missing only by about a foot. 

Denissen was replaced in the 62nd minute by 2015 NASL Young Player to Watch and season debutant, Alex Harlley. After battling injury through the first part of the season, Harlley brought much needed energy in the second half.

Jacksonville (3-1-2, 10) was forced to play a man down in the last couple minutes, as their goalscorer had to be helped off the field after falling down on his own inside the Atlanta 18-yard box. Atlanta took the chance to press into the attack, but Jacksonville was able to hold them off until the final whistle. 

The much anticipated game between Atlanta's stout defense and Jacksonville's prolific attack ended in a 1-1 draw.