Edmonton earn much needed win in Atlanta

It has been sometime since FC Edmonton had tasted sweet victory and it tasted pretty darn good on Saturday night against the Silverbacks, earning a 2-1 win in front of more than 4,000 fans in Atlanta.

PHOTO CREDIT - FCEdmonton.com

Edmonton - July 21, 2012 - It’s been a while since the Eddies have tasted sweet victory and it tasted pretty good on Saturday night in Atlanta against the Silverbacks in front of more than 4,000 fans.

Yashir Pinto got the Eddies’ first chance just two minutes in but Joe Nasco came out well to challenge the striker in the box and won the ball. It looked like it was going to be a half full of chances but they seemed to dry up along with the rain as neither team was able to challenge the goalkeepers in the first 30 minutes.

Atlanta’s Matt Horth got the Silverbacks’ first real chance in the 28th minute but his long range effort sailed well high.

Pinto got his second chance of the half in the 32nd but Nasco made another good save to keep it tied.

The young Chilean had yet another chance just a minute later from nearly the same spot but this time Pinto’s shot went just wide of the far post.

Horth got his team’s second chance, and the last of the half, when he got a close-range shot off which somehow eluded John Smits in the FCE net but the ball struck the post and was cleared away harmlessly.

The game was scoreless at the half.

“We played well, we won most of the balls in the midfield,” said FCE head coach Harry Sinkgraven at halftime. “All I can say to them is 'finish it', because we’ve had the chances but we have not found the back of the net.”

That would change in the second half however.

In the 64th minute, Saiko orchestrated a beautiful through ball for Sérisay Barthélémy and the Frenchman made no mistake, giving the Eddies a much needed lead.

Seconds later Nasco made a crucial mistake. The ‘keeper’s clearance went straight to a prowling Pinto who easily slotted it home to make the score 2-0.

Defender David Proctor made his debut for FC Edmonton, coming on for Fabien Vorbe in the 68th minute.

After the substitution the game really started to open up and in the 71st minute, Horth was taken down in the box by Jonathan Joseph-Augustin and the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Ciaran O’Brien took the penalty and converted it, getting the Silverbacks right back into the game against a 10-men FCE.

Atlanta kept the pressure on after the PK but Smits made some important saves and FCE’s defense kept the ‘Backs at bay, securing the 2-1 victory.

The Eddies will stay in Atlanta before heading on to Tampa for a showdown with the Rowdies next Saturday.