News

In their late push for postseason action, the Atlanta Silverbacks travel to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Atlanta faces a must-win situation against the Rowdies if they are to control their own destiny.

A win guarantees Atlanta’s playoff chances stay alive for another week; however, the team can still lose or tie, depending on the result of FC Edmonton’s match against Minnesota Stars FC to stay alive. The Silverbacks will fail to reach the playoffs for the second season running if the team does not defeat the Rowdies on Saturday night, except if Edmonton ties or defeats the sixth-place Stars. On August 25, the Stars and Eddies played out a 1-1 draw.

Silverbacks’ leading scorer Matt Horth lifted his side to a first win in just under a month with a two-goal haul versus Edmonton this past weekend, ending Atlanta’s three match streak without a goal. The three points moved the Silverbacks level on 22 points with Edmonton, increasing their chances of making the playoffs.

Their opponents are coming off a big win in South Florida, defeating rivals Fort Lauderdale Strikers by three goals to nil. The Rowdies moved up to second in the table, three points clear of Puerto Rico and just four points behind San Antonio Scorpions.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, September 8, 2012— 7:30 P.M. EDT

Al Lang Stadium

St. Petersburg, FL

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Tampa Bay, 1-2-0, 5 points

2011 Series:  Tampa Bay, 2-1-1, 7 points

                                              Tampa Bay                          Atlanta

Head Coach                       Ricky Hill                               Brian Haynes

2012 Records                    2^nd: 11-6-7, 39 points        8^th: 5-7-12, 22 points      

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

Goals Leader                     Daniel Antoniuk (6),            Matt Horth (8)

                                              Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (6)

Assists Leader                  Mike Ambersley (8)            Ciaran O’Brien (4)

Tampa Bay

• 7-4-1 at home
• Clinched playoff berth last weekend against Fort Lauderdale
• Ended three-match scoreless streak
• Unbeaten at home in last eight matches
• Suspended: Frankie Sanfilippo (accumulation)
• At risk: Andres Arango, Luke Mulholland (four yellows)

Atlanta

• 3-3-6 on the road
• Eliminated with a loss or tie and Edmonton loss to Minnesota
• Remain alive in playoff race if Edmonton defeats Minnesota
• Ended three-match scoreless streak
• Suspended: None
• At risk: Martyn Lancaster, Ciaran O’Brien, Patrick Robertson (four yellows)