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No matter which way you look at it, Orlando City SC are in a hole right now with a 0-2 home loss to Montreal Impact consigning the Lions to a seventh straight loss in Major League Soccer.
While it would be counterproductive to slate the team too much in our current state, it’s safe to say Orlando City SC‘s performance left a lot to be desired with Evan Bush untroubled in a hugely forgettable game at Orlando City Stadium.
Our next test? Atlanta United away at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Whether we like it or not, The Five Stripes boast arguably the strongest roster in all of MLS. Currently leading the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games played, Gerardo Martino’s side are the team to beat right now.
What looks for the world a home banker for Atlanta United, Orlando City SC need to use all of their might to upset the form guide and turnaround what is turning out to be a horror season.
Given the fact this is a rivalry fixture with both sets of fans loathing each other, there will be added spice but it looks a tough ask to shutout a rampant Atlanta United side who’ve scored the most amount of goals (34) in all of MLS this season.
With the Lions staying on the road to face Los Angeles FC away after this game, the fixture list is getting tougher but Orlando City SC must try everything in their power to avoid sliding towards a league worst streak of consecutive losses.
Still searching for a new head coach after Jason Kreis’ exit earlier this month, things are far from ideal right now but the players need to take full responsibility for their performances, especially at an unforgiving away venue like Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
2017/18 head-to-head stats
Two trips to Orlando City Stadium. Two victories for Atlanta United.
A real sickener for myself and fellow Orlando City SC supporters, The Five Stripes grabbed their second victory (1-2) in Central Florida last month.
On the back foot early on through a penalty from Josef Martínez and a stunner from Ezequiel Barco, Orlando City SC gave themselves too much to do and how many times have we said that so far this season?
As the game played out, the Lions showed plenty of heart in the second-half with Justin Meram scoring his first ever Lions goal at a great time (57 minutes) to make a game of it.
But we just couldn’t force an equaliser and ever since this loss on May 13th, Orlando City SC have been winless in Major League Soccer.
Orlando City SC 1 Atlanta United 2 – Highlights – May 13, 2018 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
The cold hard facts state that Orlando City SC are still yet to defeat their rivals Atlanta United in MLS.
A new rivalry with just FOUR games having been played since the start of last season, the two draws actually came when Orlando City SC travelled upstate to face Atlanta United first at Bobby Dodd Stadium (1-1) then Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3-3).
Atlanta United 3 Orlando City SC 3 – Highlights – September 16, 2017 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
While there has been a lot of chatter surrounding the fact Atlanta United versus Orlando City SC is a manufactured rivalry, we are starting to see some added spice on the field in this game series.
After all, PRO Referees have produced FOUR OR MORE yellow cards in THREE of the FOUR head-to-heads contested so far.
Our 1-2 loss to The Five Stripes earlier this season was a particularly feisty affair with Cristian Higuita, Joe Bendik, Yoshimar Yotún, Uri Rosell, Hector Villalba and Will Johnson all booked on a frustrating evening at Orlando City Stadium.
Atlanta United form
After seven straight defeats, the last place you want to visit is Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United are undefeated in SEVEN of their NINE home fixtures so far this season, winning FIVE of these games.
Orlando City SC supporters loathe Atlanta United fans but they do attend home games on mass, drawing over 44,000 in all nine of their games played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium so far this season.
Not only are Atlanta United a talented team, this large crowd can put a huge amount of pressure on PRO Referees so keeping our discipline will be imperative in this huge arena.
Atlanta United 1 Portland Timbers 1 – Highlights – June 24, 2018 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
Orlando City SC form
Conceding the first goal has been the bane of our entire season so far.
Giving ourselves way too much to do by surrendering the early advantage to the opposition, Orlando City SC have been losing at half-time in our last FOUR fixtures.
Interim head coach Bobby Murphy did set Orlando City SC up to be harder to beat by implementing three centre backs at D.C. United away in the U.S. Open Cup, repeating this against Montreal Impact.
However, it looks as if the players weren’t so comfortable in this shape against Montreal Impact with Lamine Sané caught out of position on multiple occasions against the Canadian side.
Conceding first and early against Atlanta United could prove fatal so digging in and hitting The Five Stripes on the counter needs to be the plan of action here.