ORLANDO, FL. – Atlanta United was down 1-0 at halftime, 2-0 minutes into the second half, and was nearly down 3-0 in the 63rd minute if not for a pair of Brad Guzan saves. It would take Orlando City just four more minutes to score that third goal off a strike from Marco Pasalic. The final score from Inter & Co Stadium: home team 3, road team 0.
Coming into the match, Atlanta United had failed to win any of its previous April matches. That winless streak includes a 1-0 loss at home to New England and a 1-1 draw at home against FC Dallas. Neither team is currently among the top eight teams in the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively. Neither is Atlanta, who is now 2-3-5 overall, the worst 10-game start in franchise history.
The Five Stripes were without several starters on Saturday night. Derrick Williams missed a consecutive match with hamstring issues while Tristan Muyumba (abductor), Stian Gregersen (quad), and Emmanuel Latte Lath (yellow card accumulation) were out with other issues. On a good note, Saba Lobzhanidze was back in the starting lineup after not starting in the 3-0 loss at Philadelphia Union last Saturday.
Jamal Thiare, who started at striker in place of Latte Lath, managed to get two quality looks at the Orlando goal during the first half of the match. Both header attempts, one in the 25th minute and the other just before the halftime whistle sailed over the net. A goal would have been his first of the season.
Atlanta United did manage to earn several corner kicks during the first half. Something they had a very hard time doing last Saturday against the Philadelphia Union.
Guzan saved a would-be go-ahead goal for Orlando in the 30th minute. However, he couldn’t stop Orlando City striker Luis Muriel’s penalty kick in the 42nd minute that put the home team ahead 1-0. Referee Marcos de Oliveira didn’t call for a video review of the play that ultimately drew the penalty kick until minutes after it occurred.
Orlando City dominated possession during the first half (60%-40%) and took two more shots at goal (5-3) than Atlanta. The dominance continued after halftime as Orlando City took two shots within the first two minutes of the second half. It felt like Atlanta United was immediately on their toes with their backs against the wall. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman scored the second goal of the match in the 51st minute on a low and straight shot past Guzan.
Chants of “Orlando City” filled the stadium as the lights went out another scoreless loss for Atlanta United. The Five Stripes have been held scoreless in three matches this season. Edwin Mosquera, who subbed into the match for Lobzhanidze in the 65th minute, got the final good look at a goal for Atlanta and missed badly. The Colombian winger threw his hands in the air as the ball flew into the stands.
What’s Next: Atlanta will host rival Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon. First kick is scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
