Friday, August 10, 2007

TAMPA, FL – The final stretch of the season is kicking into high gear with only five weekends of action remaining in the USL First Division and teams between fourth and tenth all within eight points of one another as they compete to finish in the top eight for a playoff berth. Atlanta and Puerto Rico are among that pack trying to find the hot streak that will lock up a playoff spot and a run to the championship.

The Silverbacks met the Islanders once already this season when Atlanta came from behind to beat the Islanders 3-2 on the road. After falling 2-1 in the second half, Atlanta notched an equalizer and finally a game-winner in the 88th minute to earn an important road win in a thrilling game which saw Dayton O’Brien put away the game winner after Rafique Hassim scored two goals for Atlanta.

It is the second of four meetings on the year for the two clubs, who battled to three 1-1 draws last season after opening the season in Puerto Rico with the Islanders registering a 3-1 victory. That win would give them the season series and the final playoff berth, finishing three points ahead of eighth place Atlanta in sixth. The Silverbacks currently have a one-game advantage in the all-time series at 3-2-4.

The Islanders currently sit tied for fourth at 7-5-9 and trail the third place Montreal Impact by four points and leaders Portland by nine. Atlanta sits mid-table tied for sixth with a record of 8-7-5, but are only one point behind Puerto Rico.

The Silverbacks are coming off a 2-1 defeat over rival Charleston Battery this past Saturday. Puerto Rico is coming off a 1-0 road loss to the red hot Seattle Sounders, but it was their first loss in eight games and came in the middle of their five-game road stretch, the final match of their three-match west coast swing.