PREVIEW | Silverbacks Look To Continue Push For Postseason Against The Scorpions

The Atlanta Silverbacks begin a two-game road trip with their final match against the San Antonio Scorpions on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Toyota Field in a vital push for points.

Head coach Gary Smith’s Silverbacks side completed their first come-from-behind victory in league play against the Carolina RailHawks last Saturday night. After giving up an early goal, Atlanta dug deep and buried away two excellent goals from Pedro Mendes and Kyle Porter. With confidence brimming, Atlanta now travels to Toyota Field to battle a Scorpions side that they have been unable to beat in 2015.

Saturday’s match against Carolina pushed Atlanta up the leaderboard in more ways than one. The Silverbacks now sit only four points away from a postseason position. Not only that, but Pedro Mendes is now tied for fifth in the league with seven goals and Jaime Chavez — seven assists — is tied for third in assists. 

This weekend should mark the return of Rauwshan McKenzie, who was absent during the RailHawks match with a red card suspension. While Abdul Bangura filled in nicely when called upon, McKenzie will be a welcome addition into the starting lineup.

San Antonio, sitting ninth in the Combined Standings, won’t be a pushover by any means. Atlanta lost to the Scorpions at Atlanta Silverbacks Park during the Spring Season and drew, 3-3, at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in their lone meeting during the Fall. In fact, the Scorpions really have done well at home. They’ve only lost two games against two of the best teams in the league at the moment: New York Cosmos and Ottawa Fury FC.

The Scorpions’ attack will be led by Omar Cummings. Cummings has notched 10 goals this season, only bested by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ Stefano Pinho. Cummings has scored three goals in his two games against Atlanta this year and will undoubtedly cause concern amongst Smith’s back line.

With the fifth-place Strikers facing Minnesota United and sixth-place FC Edmonton facing the Cosmos, three points from Toyota Field could possibly push Atlanta within one point of a place in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.

As the Silverbacks enter the grueling, demanding part of their season, Saturday’s road match will be one of the most important.