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Match Preview: Rowdies at Atlanta Silverbacks
Posted on Fri, May 18, 2012

The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies at Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Atlanta, Georgia

The match can be seen live online at www.RowdiesSoccer.com - click here.

Records (W-T-L)
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 2-2-3, 8 points
Atlanta Silverbacks: 0-4-3, 4 points

Series History
Tampa Bay leads the all-time series, 2-2-1 (W-T-L).

Match Preview
The Tampa Bay Rowdies travel to Atlanta this Saturday, May 19 to face the Silverbacks for the second time this season. Following a season-long four-match unbeaten streak, the Rowdies have lost two straight, both to the San Antonio Scorpions. The Silverbacks are on a three-game losing streak after opening the season with four consecutive draws.

Last Meeting
The Rowdies and Silverbacks played to a 1-1 tie on April 21 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Rowdies forward Daniel Antoniuk, who entered the game in the 67th minute, one-timed a perfect cross from forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake to give the Rowdies a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute. Antoniuk ran onto the pass at the far post for his first goal as a member of the Rowdies. Atlanta rallied to earn a point when forward Reinaldo Navia scored the tying goal after a ball over the top from Lucas Paulini in the 87th minute.

Rowdies Notes
Rowdies forward Mike Ambersley is tied for third in the league with two assists thus far. Last season he tied for third in the NASL with a team-high 11 goals and also was third with seven assists.

Starting goalkeeper Jeff Attinella has allowed one goal or less in all but two games, including a shutout in the home opener against FC Edmonton (4/14). Attinella ranks third in the NASL with a 1.14 goals against average.

Tampa Bay has continued a few positive trends from last year in the first quarter of the season. The Rowdies have yet to allow a first half goal in 2012 and have also scored first in three of their last six matches.

Scouting Atlanta
Atlanta has been led by forward Reinaldo Navia, who is tied with Puerto Rico's David Foley for the league lead with five goals. Midfielder Danilo Turcios ranks tied for third in the NASL with two assists.

Quotable
Rowdies Head Coach Ricky Hill
"From my perspective the goal for this week must be to go there with an open mind. Yes, we need to get back to winning ways; yes we need to start our winning run all over again. We’ve now lost two in a row, which is the first time we’ve done so this season. So the only thing that we need to do is to go to Atlanta and put on a real first class performance. We need to be sure that we defend better as a unit when we’re called upon, but maintain what we do as an offensive force by passing and moving the ball as well as we’ve have done."

Up Next
The Rowdies begin U.S. Open Cup play this Tuesday, May 22 when they travel to face Jacksonville United at Patton Park at 7:00 p.m. in the second round. With a victory, Tampa Bay would host Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids on Tuesday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in the third round.

Tampa Bay returns to NASL action on Friday, May 25 when it hosts Minnesota on Military Appreciation Night at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.

For ticket information, call 813-287-1539 or click here.

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