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Less than a week after meeting in South Florida, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers travel a state north to take on the Atlanta Silverbacks in Atlanta, Georgia. Last Friday the Strikers edged out the Silverbacks in an eight-goal thriller at Lockhart Stadium, emerging 5-3 victors in front of 3,160 home fans.

In an attack-heavy lineup, it took all of five minutes for the Strikers to get on the board. On-loan forward Paulo Jr. opened the scoring with his first goal for the Strikers, before the talismanic Mark Anderson doubled the lead lead with his team-high tenth league goal of the season. Atlanta did well to equalize before the halftime interval with goals from Matt Horth and a Pedro Mendes’ penalty.

The Strikers came out of the tunnel the better side in the second half. Walter Restrepo recorded his league-leading seventh and eighth assists, and Aly Hassan found the back of the net for the first time in the league since a hat-trick in April. Paulo Mendes made it a one-goal game with a cool finish with less than a quarter-hour remaining, but Walter Restrepo ensured all three points stayed in Fort Lauderdale, finishing off a swift counterattacking move in the final minutes of the match.

While the game was an exhibition of the sides’ attacking prowess, it also highlighted both teams’ defensive frailties. Together, the Strikers and Silverbacks have conceded 74 goals between them so far this season. Fort Lauderdale is one of just two teams in a playoff spot with a negative goal differential, the only other side is the Carolina RailHawks who lost 8-0 to the San Antonio Scorpions at the weekend.

With the win, the Strikers jumped up to fourth place in the table, ahead of Minnesota Stars FC and Carolina RailHawks. The game could be seen as something of a missed opportunity for the Silverbacks, who had a chance to climb out of the bottom of the table, as FC Edmonton dropped points away to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Saturday, August 4, 2012 — 7:30 P.M. EDT

Silverbacks Park

Atlanta, GA

Webcast: NASL on ustream

TV: Azteca Atlanta CH 4

2012 Series:  Fort Lauderdale, 1-1-0, 4 points

2011 Series:  Tied, 1-2-1, 5 points each

                                            Atlanta                               Fort Lauderdale

Head Coach                      Eric Wynalda                     Daryl Shore        

2012 Records                   8^th: 3-5-11, 14 points       4^th: 7-6-7, 27 points         

Last Five Games               L W W L L                           T T W L W

Goals Leader                     Reinaldo Navia (6)            Mark Anderson (10)

Assists Leader                  Ciaran O’Brien (4)             Walter Restrepo (8)

Atlanta

• Worst home record in NASL: 1-3-5 at Silverbacks Park this season.
• Only home victory: 7/14 against Puerto Rico Islanders.
• Have conceded more goals than any other side (40 in 19 games)

Fort Lauderdale

• 1-3-6 on the road.
• Have scored the second highest number of goals this season (32), but have also conceded the second most (34).
• Andy Herron returns from a one-match suspension.