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Atlanta Silverbacks U23s

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Charleston Battery win 12th straight USOC opener, 2-1 over Atlanta Silverbacks

May 19, 2017 by Haris Kruskic

The Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Dave Williamson | Atlanta Silverbacks
The Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Dave Williamson | Atlanta Silverbacks
The Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the Second Round of the 2017 US Open Cup. Photo: Dave Williamson | Atlanta Silverbacks

A steamy day in Atlanta gave way to a barn burner of a match, as the traveling Charleston Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Battery took the lead in the 19th minute, as Ryan Arambula’s perfect free kick found a towering Forrest Lasso for a point blank header. Arambula made it painfully obvious that he was aiming for Lasso, pointing and talking to him before the ref called for the kick to be taken. However, even with the entire stadium knowing Charleston’s plan, the Silverbacks had no answer for the 6’5 center back.

A lack of shots made for a pretty dull rest of the half, until the 44th minute when Jeffrey Otoo, on loan from Atlanta United of MLS, tapped in a Ricky Garbanzo cross for his first professional goal and a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Silverbacks didn’t have their first shot on target until the 55th minute, when Abraham Lansana’s header fell safely into the hands of Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper.

Atlanta finally found a breakthrough in the 73rd minute, as Lansana was brought down in the box for a penalty. Alex Nyarko-Harlley converted from the spot to bring the Silverbacks within one.

They nearly found the equalizer just three minutes later, as Joao Johanning hit the crossbar from 20 yards out. That was ultimately Atlanta’s last opportunity to tie the match, as the NPSL side’s comeback attempt fell short.

The Battery have now won 12 straight tournament openers, the second longest streak of the Modern Era (Rochester Rhinos have 15, which is still an active streak).

This is not the same Atlanta Silverbacks team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Open Cup, beating Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids in the process. The NASL’s inability to find new ownership for the club before the 2016 season kept them out of the league this year. This resulted in the NASL suspending the Atlanta franchise, forcing the Silverbacks to drop down to the NPSL and lose sources of revenue in the process.

The Battery will take on the NASL’s Jacksonville Armada in the Third Round on May 31. The winner of that game will travel to Atlanta to take on Major League Soccer’s newest franchise, Atlanta United in Round 4.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2017 US Open Cup, Atlanta Silverbacks U23s, Charleston Battery

2016 US Open Cup Round 1: Reading United AC kicks off season with cup win over Atlanta Silverbacks

May 12, 2016 by Michael Berton

Reading United AC and the Atlanta Silverbacks square off in a FIrst Round match in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Reading United AC (PennImages.com)
Reading United AC and the Atlanta Silverbacks square off in a FIrst Round match in the 2016 US Open Cup. Photo: Reading United AC (PennImages.com)

The US Open Cup tends to catch many amateur teams at the wrong time, with the First Round usually also serving as the first competitive game for those teams.

Such was the case on Wednesday in West Lawn, Pa., Reading United of the Premier Development League (PDL) hosted the Atlanta Silverbacks of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in the first game of the season for both sides.

It ended up being Reading that was the more prepared team, winning 2-0 in a comfortable fashion to advance to the Second Round. For United, it was the fifth straight year that the PDL club had won its opening round game, the second-longest streak among amateur teams in the Modern Era (1995-present).

After an even first 15 minutes, United began to assert control of the game. Both teams struggled to earn clear chances, but much of the game was being played in the Silverbacks end. This sustained period of dominance culminated in a 31st minute goal for Reading.

William Picoux hit an in-swinging corner kick that bypassed all but one player in the box. That player was his teammate Khori Bennett, who kicked it into the bottom left corner of the net from two yards out. Bennett, a soon-to-be sophomore at Northeastern, made no mistake on the easy chance.

Atlanta, which formerly was the development team of the now-defunct pro team, put much more pressure on Reading in the second half. Two early substitutions and a focus on offense led to some Silverbacks chances. The away side was forced to make an early third substitution when Kemar Brown went down with an injury in the 66th minute.

The Silverbacks could not capitalize on their sustained pressure, however, and Reading grabbed an insurance goal in the 86th minute.

Ismael Noumansana of Lenoir-Rhyne University shot in a laser of a cross that found Frantzdy Pierrot of Coastal Carolina on the back post. Pierrot bypassed the Atlanta goalie and slotted the ball into the net.

Reading United, which is making a Modern Era record eighth straight US Open Cup appearance as an amateur side, will travel to Tennessee to take on Chattanooga FC of the NPSL at 7:30 p.m. on May 18 in the Second Round.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2016 US Open Cup, Atlanta Silverbacks, Atlanta Silverbacks U23s, Reading United AC

2011 US Open Cup Qualifying: Chattanooga FC wins NPSL Southeast berth on overtime strike

May 27, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

Photo: Frank Mattia

Six clubs representing five states meet at Finley Stadium  in Chattanooga, Tennessee this weekend for the National Premier Soccer League’s Southeast Division tournament for one of the league’s four Lamar Hunt US Open Cup berths. First Round games will be held Friday with the winners joining two others in the semifinals Saturday. The Open Cup berth will be determined Sunday.

Knoxville Force and Jacksonville United FC meet in the first match followed by Rocket City United versus FC Tulsa. The two winners advance to play the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves and host Chattanooga FC Saturday evening. New club Georgia Revolution are the only team in the division not slated to participate. In their place as the sixth team is FC Tulsa, a club that was a member of the league a year ago, but is only playing friendlies in 2011 in preparation of joining the USL Premier Development League in 2012.

Previous NPSL qualification opportunities were primarily held via the regional USASA tournaments. Three clubs participated in the Region III tournament a year ago, but were unable to earn one of the two berths on the line, finishing a combined 2-4-3 in group play.

Both First Round matches will be first-time meetings for 2011. Knoxville, currently 1-2-0, and Jacksonville, 0-4-0, are new to the division and will meet for the first time ever. A year ago Tulsa finished second in the division at 4-2-2 with a win and draw against Rocket City in consecutive matches. They posted a 2-1 win at home and played to a 1-1 draw on the road.

Undefeated a year ago at 6-0-2, Chattanooga enters the tournament still unbeaten with a 2-0-1 record thus far in 2011 league play, making them heavy favorites. They have yet to face either possible semifinal opponent. A year ago Chattanooga drew 1-1 at Rocket City before finishing the season off with a 4-0 victory over them. They swept Tulsa with a 2-1 road win and 5-0 blanking at home.

Winless a year ago as Atlanta FC (0-6-2), the new-look side under the Atlanta Silverbacks banner has made strides early in the season with only one loss in four games at 1-1-2. The club could prove dangerous for Chattanooga having registered the season opening 1-1 result and having handed them one of the two draws a year ago.

Links:  NPSL SE 2011 Results –   Tournament Format

Friday, May 27
Knoxville Force 0:1 Jacksonville United FC – 5:30 pm ET
– JUFC: Tyler Williams (Tommy KKrizanovic) 53rd
Rocket City United 7:1 FC Tulsa – 8:00 pm ET
– RCU: Hyde (Letsholo) 13
– RCU: Hyde 22
– TUL: Jake Cottage 31
– RCU: Hyde 33
– RCU: Nkurunungi 59
– RCU: Hyde 64
– RCU: Nunez pen. 80
– RCU: Omondi 88

Saturday, May 28
Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves 3:1 Jacksonville United FC – 5:30 pm ET
– JU: Tyler Williams 23
– ATL: Juan Carlos Nandi 28
– ATL: Kingsley Morgan 86
– ATL: Duque 90+
Chattanooga FC 2:0 Rocket City United – 8:00 pm ET
– CFC Penalty kick Heredia (saved)
– CFC: James Moore 65
– CFC: Chris Ochieng 74

Sunday, May 29 – FINAL – 7:00 pm ET
Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves 0:1 Chattanooga FC
– CFC: Chris Ochieng 116

About the Teams

Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves: Formerly known as Atlanta FC, the club has been in existence since 2008 as members of the NPSL and previously only qualified for the US Open Cup once. In their lone appearance in 2009, the club was eliminated in the First Round on the road, 2-0, by the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division (pro second division). The new name reflects new ownership and affiliation with the new NASL team of the same name (provisionally sanctioned pro second division). Atlanta won the division in its first season in 2008. Last year, Atlanta finished third in its Region III tournament group. (MORE: Atlanta FC – 2009 Meet the USASA)

Chattanooga FC
: The club from Tennessee is entering its third year in the league and are the defending conference champion. This will be the team’s first attempt at qualifying for the US Open Cup. The team is coached by Brian Crossman, the 21-year coach of local Covenant College.

FC Tulsa
: Members of the NPSL Southeast Division last year, the Oklahoma side finished second in the division a year ago after finishing second in the USASA Region III tournament while trying to qualify for the US Open Cup. The club’s director of coaching is Ali Adibi, who also manages the women’s side and formerly coached the Tulsa Roughnecks for eight years during the USL era in which they never qualified for the US Open Cup. The club is spending 2011 preparing to play in the USL PDL in 2012.

Jacksonville United FC
: The Florida club is a new entry into the NPSL this season, but fans of the US Open Cup will recognize the team. Jacksonville United is a product of a merger of Open Cup regulars Lynch’s FC (Lynch’s Irish Pub / DS United) and the Jacksonville United youth academy. Lynch’s has qualified for the Open Cup three times (2003, 2007, 2009) in the last eight years. The team is coached by Pat Cannon, a recent inductee into the University of West Florida Hall of Fame. (MORE: Lynch’s FC – 2009 Meet the USASA)

Knoxville Force
: Another new club in the NPSL, the Force are led by Derek Broadley, who previously served as head coach of Reading United AC of the Premier Development League from 2005-07. Reading did not qualify for the US Open Cup during his tenure.

Rocket City United
: A member of the NPSL since 2008, the club finished first in the division in 2009, but has not qualified in its attempts to reach the US Open Cup the past two years. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, the club is under its third coach in four years with Gerry Cleary at the helm.

Filed Under: US Open Cup Tagged With: 2011 NPSL qualifying, Atlanta Silverbacks U23s, Chattanooga FC, FC Tulsa, Georgia Revolution, Jacksonville United FC, Knoxville Force, NPSL, Rocket City United

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