Atlanta Silverbacks fall to Mexico's Pachuca in friendly

ATLANTA - C.F. Pachuca topped the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the second annual Copa Amistad Silverbacks at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

Leobardo Lopez and Jose Cardenas scored for the Tuzos.

The steady rain that started shortly before kickoff did little to deter the vocal pro-Pachuca crowd though the slick artificial surface proved to be a little bit of a challenge to the Tuzcos in the opeing minutes of play.

The Tuzos first chance game in the 11th minute when Paul Aguilar ran onto a Christian Gimenez ball, driving the return ball low across Felipe Quintero's goal. Quintero bravely dove at the feet of the onrushing attackers, taking a boot to the head as he pounced on the loose ball.

In the 17th minute Gimenez found space 35-yards from goal. His dipping shot sent Quintero to ground, falling on the wet ball after it skidded from his grasp.

The Tuzos got on the score sheet in the 27th minute when Lopez out-jumped two Silverback defenders and Quintero and nodded in a Rodriguez corner kick at the near post.

Despite making wholesale changes, the Tuzos picked up where it left off, testing Quintero almost immediately after start of the second half. Quintero batted the wet ball away, and the resulting corner kick was cleared.

The Silverbacks first true chance of the match came in the 50th minute when Ansu Toure made room for himself 20 yards from goal. His left footed blast was tipped over the crossbar by Calero.

The Silverbacks nearly got on the score sheet in the 59th minute when Mac Kandji got enough on a David Hayes cross to push it towards goal, beating substitute goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota before Fausto Pinto could clear the ball off the line.

Pachuca doubled the score in the 85 minute when Jose Cardenas got on the end of a loose ball in the Silverbacks penalty area, slamming the ball past a diving Quintero to put the game away for the Tuzos.

Pachuca now moves on to face Chivas USA in SuperLiga competition Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Silverbacks continue its exhibition schedule Saturday, facing Argentinean first division club Independiente at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. To purchase tickets call 866-GO-BACKS or log onto www.AtlantaSilverbacks.com.