In sports,

anything can happen - and that is what the Atlanta

Classics are counting on.

The

Classics (7-4-1) were thought to be out of the playoff

hunt, but a big win over the Tampa Bay Extreme last

Saturday has given Atlanta's W-League soccer team a

glimmer of hope.

The

Classics played their final home game of the season at

Pickneyville Park in Norcross and the 500-plus fans in

attendance got a show.

It began in

the third minute of the game when an Extreme player was

ejected for taking down Deliah Arrington. The Extreme was

forced to play the rest of the game with a defender

missing and the Classics took advantage of this.

Janet Davis

scored in the 30th minute of the game and again in the

77th minute. Tampa Bay scored a goal in the opening

minutes of the second half and then tied the game in the

85th minute of the game, forcing an overtime.

The

overtime period was slightly delayed as there were

problems with lighting on the field. When play started up

again, Arrington scored the golden goal for the Classics

and the team's playoff hopes came alive.

The team is

off this weekend and is waiting to see the results of the

Charlotte Eagles, who must lose both of their remaining

games for the Classics to qualify for the W-2 Final Four.

The Atlanta

Silverbacks (8-7-2) have a big weekend ahead of

themselves as well. The Silverbacks will play their next

three games on the road, two of which will be played this

weekend. On Saturday, Atlanta will face the Long Island

Rough Riders and then will take on the Connecticut Wolves

on Sunday.