RECAP | Silverbacks 1, Eddies 0

FC Edmonton suffered its first road defeat of the NASL Fall Season, dropping a 1-0 decision on August 29 to the Atlanta Silverbacks at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

Silverbacks midfielder Junior Burgos scored the lone goal of the match to guide his team to victory while goalkeeper Stuart Ceus earned the clean sheet for the home side between the woodwork.

Atlanta was aggressive out of the gate. Midfielder Paulo Mendes fired off a powerful shot from 25 yards on four minutes, but Eddies ‘keeper Matt VanOekel thwarted the opportunity.

The Eddies’ first chance came on 25 minutes, when Jamaican midfielder Lance Laing swung in a low cross, but the Eddies’ offense could not connect before the Silverbacks were able to clear.

The Silverbacks created the most dangerous scoring opportunity at the half hour mark. Striker Jaime Chavez got past the Eddies back line before defender Kareem Moses was able to knock the ball away.

Eddies right winger Sainey Nyassi tested Ceus on 38 minutes with a feisty shot from distance, but the ‘keeper parried the ball away from target. Moments later, Laing went for target from 30 yards out with an excellent low shot, but Ceus was able to push the ball out of play once again.

Both teams would head into the dressing room with the score at 0-0.

Atlanta nearly got onto the score sheet on 60 minutes, when striker Pedro Mendes connected on Paul Black’s corner kick with a header and hit VanOekel’s crossbar.

The home side then took the lead in the 81st minute with a set piece from 25 yards out. Burgos curled a right-footed free kick over the Eddies’ wall and into the bottom corner of VanOekel’s net for the final 1-0 scoreline.

“I thought both teams were doing okay in the second half and the difference between FC Edmonton and Atlanta was a free kick,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “We definitely didn’t deserve a loss tonight. I’m very proud of the effort the guys put in, and I’m disappointed for them, I’m gutted for them.”