The Atlanta Silverbacks defeated the Knoxville Force 2-0 at Silverbacks Park in their fifth match of the 2017 NPSL season.
The first half started slow as the Silverbacks probed the Knoxville defense. The Force brought their numbers back and were poised to strike on the counter. Atlanta struck first in the 39’ when Joao Johanning Mora’s low shot was redirected by Dionysius “DZ” Harmon up and over the Knoxville keeper. The Silverbacks scored again in extra time when captain Mitch Garcia passed the ball to a streaking Martin Cortes down the left wing. Cortes stepped passed the Knoxville defender and squared the ball to forward Avery Shepard who put it in the back of the net.