photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan/Carolina RailHawks/Atlanta Silverbacks
By FRANCO PANIZO
In just his second game in charge, Eric Wynalda helped the Altanta Silverbacks do something they had done just once all season: Win.
The Silverbacks picked up their second victory of the season by pulling off a 2-0 upset win on the road over defending champions Minnesota Stars FC. The goals in the Silverbacks' first shutout since the season opener came on each side of halftime, with Matt Horth scoring 10 minutes in while Borfor Carr netted in the 75th minute to secure a triumph that left the 1,728 fans at NSC Stadium in disbelief.
Wynalda now has one win and one loss in his two matches as manager of the Silverbacks. He saw Atlanta lose to the Carolina RailHawks, 2-1, in his debut as interim coach last Tuesday.
Here is a look back at the rest of the Week 14 action in NASL:
STRIKERS UNRAVEL LATE TO DRAW WITH RAILHAWKS
The Ft. Lauderdale Strikers were on the verge of picking up a big road victory against the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night, but two late goals changed all of that. The Strikers surrendered a two-goal lead in the final four minutes of the match to settle for a 3-3 draw, as former Ft. Lauderdale midfielder Mike Palacio burned them by netting his second of the day in the 87th before assisting on Ty Shipalane's equalizer in stoppage time. The draw, which came as 2,713 spectators watched at WakeMed Soccer Park, was the latest setback for the Strikers, who are now in sixth place in the league standings.
ISLANDERS CAN'T HOLD ONTO LEAD, SETTLE FOR DRAW WITH EDDIES
FC Edmonton are proving a tough test for the Puerto Rico Islanders. The second-place Islanders were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Eddies in front of 1,502 fans at Bayamon Soccer Complex on Saturday night after Kyle Porter found the back of the net shortly after halftime. Porter's equalizer for Edmonton gave the club its third draw in as many matches against Puerto Rico this season.
NASL Standings
1. San Antonio Scorpions (8-2-4, 28 points, +10 GD)
2. Puerto Rico Islanders (7-4-4, 25 points, +7 GD)
3. Tampa Bay Rowdies (7-5-3, 24 points, +2 GD)
4. Minnesota Stars FC (6-4-5, 23 points,+2 GD)
5. Carolina RailHawks (5-5-6, 21 points, +2 GD)
6. Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (5-6-5, 20 points, -4 GD)
7. FC Edmonton (3-8-4, 13 points, -4 GD)
8. Atlanta Silverbacks (2-9-5, 8 points, -15 GD)
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What do you think of this weekend's NASL action? Expecting more results like that from Wynalda's Silverbacks? Impressed by the RailHawks' resolve?
Share your thoughts below.
In Horth and Wynalda we trust! I keep telling you, Matty Horth is the real deal for Atlanta. This kid will be in MLS one day. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wynalda sees a little bit of himself in Matty. Wouldn’t be surprised if they roll together to the Velvet Room on Sunday nights. Get this kid an MLS contract now before we loose him to an overseas league!
Wynalda to Portland! What do you have to lose?