Atlanta and Orlando City Clash in a High-Octane Battle of Finishing Prowess
On Saturday night, Orlando City SC will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Only one point separates the two teams regarding the Eastern Conference playoff scenario in this meeting. This year’s first meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 tie at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City (9-6-7, 34 points) just suffered its worst loss of the year, a 4-0 defeat against Real Salt Lake. Despite the lopsided result, the Lions continued to create opportunities; they took 11 shots and only missed the target four times. Orlando City entered the game on a four-game winning run, including two recent home victories.
“Today, we ran into a team that was very effective going forward when they had their chances,” coach Oscar Pareja remarked following the game. Salt Lake was considerably more effective, and clearly, the score reflects that. “I thought we had our chance too, but we couldn’t finish our opportunities,” Pareja said.
Pareja’s starting lineup stayed the same from the group that began Tuesday’s 4-0 victory against Toronto FC, despite playing a third game in eight days and traveling across the country to play at altitude. Kyle Smith, Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Pedro Gallese made up the starting back line. Ivan Angulo, Maurcio Pereyra, Facundo Torres, and Duncan McGuire formed the offensive line, with Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena manning the middle midfield position.
Right after the first kickoff, Orlando City had a chance, thanks to their strong start. When the ball was sent forward to McGuire, he briefly lost possession of it but soon recovered it. Twelve seconds later, he fired a shot fizzed just inches wide of the left post.
Later, Torres cut over the top of the box and slammed a shot with his left foot that Zac MacMath successfully parried. A Smith shot was on target when the rebound came out to the right, but MacMatch booted it away.
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Cristian Arango and Justen Glad scored a set-piece goal in the first half against the Lions (9-6-7, 34 points). Real Salt Lake (9-7-6, 33 points), a team historically struggling at home, secured a comfortable victory with late insurance from Jefferson Savarino and Anderson Julio. Orlando City’s four-match winning streak was ended with the defeat, which also negated their chance to advance in the Eastern Conference Standings.
With seven goals to lead the Lions in scoring, Duncan McGuire and Facundo Torres were held without a point on Saturday. Being more clinical in front of the goal by one of them—or better still, both—will help people forget about losing despite the odds.
Atlanta (9-6-8, 35 points), who lost 2-1 to the New England Revolution on the road on Wednesday night, is one point ahead of Orlando City with one game remaining. The Revolution scored twice within the first nine minutes, the second-fastest multiple-goal span Atlanta has ever allowed. With his second MLS goal of his career, forward Machop Chol pulled one back for the opposition in the second half of extra time.
“I think we came back in the game,” stated Atlanta coach Gonzalo Pineda following the contest. “Even in the first half, after those first minutes, I think once we started switching tactically, we started to be better.”
Atlanta did create opportunities and outshot the Revolution in field goal percentage, 11-6. Except for Chol’s late solace, they could not complete it.
Giorgos Giakoumakis, a forward who has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury, is still doubtful to play on Saturday. Miles Robinson, a United States Men’s National Team defender at the Gold Cup, is also questionable as he is returning from international service.
Midfielder Franco Ibarra was earlier this week lent by Atlanta to Toronto FC for the remainder of the 2023 campaign in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money.
