Following the sheer agony of conceding a stoppage time equaliser to Minnesota United (1-1), Orlando City SC have to pick themselves up quickly for a huge MLS Rivalry Week fixture against Atlanta United.
Facing the Georgia side for a third time this season, James O’Connor‘s side must now do everything in the power to finally overcome a side they’ve failed to beat in eight separate meetings – an unbearable truth for Lions fans to suffer.
With Frank de Boer’s side dumping Orlando City SC out of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the semi-final stage earlier this month, revenge will be on City players’ minds.
Despite the lift of top scoring talisman Josef Martínez missing the last four clash, goals from Eric Remedi and AFC Bournemouth loanee Emerson Hyndman secured an all too comfortable 0-2 victory for The Five Stripes on August 6.
With this result following a 1-0 Atlanta United victory over the Lions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium back on May 12, The Five Stripes’ transition from Tata Martino to Frank de Boer hasn’t altered the one-sided outcome to this rivalry fixture.
As for Orlando City SC themselves, there was so much to be proud of in the way the Lions soaked up pressure before hurting a second-placed (West) Minnesota United side on the counter last Saturday.
Sadly however, James O’Connor‘s Lions surrendered a late away lead for the fifth time this season as Abu Danladi’s 92nd minute equaliser cruelly cancelled out Nani‘s 70th minute opener from the penalty spot.
Agonisingly throwing away valuable leads at Chicago Fire (1-1), Philadelphia Union (2-2), Portland Timbers (1-1), Toronto FC (1-1) and now Minnesota United, the Lions would be above the red line right now had it not been for these costly lapses in concentration.
Fortunately, last Saturday’s results also saw Eastern Conference rivals Montreal Impact and Toronto FC dropping points by drawing 3-3 with FC Dallas and 2-2 with Columbus Crew respectively.
With those two Canadian sides and Orlando City SC all currently tied on 34 points heading into MLS Rivalry Week, there’s everything to play for in the race to reach the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Nevertheless, Orlando City SC head coach James O’Connor really needs to get his tactics absolutely spot on to thwart an Atlanta United side looking ominously good as they hunt down a second MLS Cup in as many seasons.
The Lions are now buoyed by the arrival of new Designated Player Mauricio Pereyra however with the Uruguayan making a classy 45 minute cameo in his City debut at Minnesota United last weekend.
2015/19 head-to-head stats
As discussed at the outset, Atlanta United’s passage to the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was far too easy from Orlando City SC‘s point of view.
Despite missing Josef Martínez on the night, there was still a huge gulf in class between both sides with Atlanta United bossing possession and taking their chances when they presented themselves.
In all competitions, Atlanta United are now undefeated against Orlando City SC in EIGHT separate meetings, winning FIVE of those in Major League Soccer and tying just TWICE.
James O’Connor and his coaching staff really need to dig deep to root out any possible inferiority complex against The Five Stripes whose cocksure swagger, arrogance and dominance over the Lions is becoming excruciating for City supporters to stomach.
Orlando City SC players simply cannot afford for emotions to get the better of them in this one, especially since Justin Meram may well feature again with the Lions misfit involved in verbal animosity with the Exploria Stadium crowd earlier this month.
Orlando City SC 0 Atlanta United 2 – Highlights – August 6, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
It’s only a true rivalry if it’s competitive.
Seven MLS fixtures and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-final deep into this Florida-Georgia rivalry and Atlanta United are absolutely dominating it.
The most difficult pill of all to swallow for Orlando City SC fans, The Five Stripes have painfully been too good for the Lions to live with in recent years.
One of, if not the most dynamic side in all of Major League Soccer, James O’Connor and his coaching staff need to review past match footage to formulate a special plan to thwart the likes of Ezequiel Barco, Pity Martínez, Josef Martínez and a fired up Justin Meram.
Handing Atlanta United way too much respect – and freedom to operate – in the U.S. Open Cup semi-final earlier this month, the Lions need to be far more aggressive and channel their own supporters’ hate and loathing of The Five Stripes in a courageous, fearless manner out on the pitch.
Atlanta United 1 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – May 12, 2019 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
Talking of too much respect, this stat tells you everything you need to know about this lopsided rivalry so far.
Failing to score against Atlanta United in THREE of the last FOUR head-to-heads (league and cup), The Five Stripes’ dominance of City is so one-sided that Josef Martínez openly mocked the Lions on social media after our cup exit on August 6.
Sure, this kind of arrogance and baiting has whipped up Orlando City SC supporters’ hate of Atlanta United to unscaled heights but the only way to hurt Frank de Boer’s side is out on the pitch.
It’ll be James O’Connor‘s job to totally remove the fact that it’s Atlanta United from Orlando City SC players’ heads. Why?
Because qualification to the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs is well within Orlando City SC‘s grasp right now so what’s required is poise, extreme focus and cool heads in an emotive fixture such as this.
Preventing Atlanta United the satisfaction of destroying another Orlando City SC season should be all the motivation the Lions players need to put in a determined performance here.
Orlando City SC form
Without his goals, Orlando City SC wouldn’t be in with a fighting chance of making the MLS Cup Playoffs right now.
Indeed, Tesho Akindele has been a superb addition to the Lions’ roster in 2019 with the Canadian international currently on TEN goals in all competitions, NINE of these scored in MLS.
Scoring in Orlando City SC‘s last TWO home fixtures – crucial victories over his former side FC Dallas (2-0) plus Sporting Kansas City (1-0) – he’s effectively compensated for Dom Dwyer who sadly looks a shadow of the player who earned USMNT recognition in 2017.
Luiz Muzzi‘s first signing of a hugely impressive debut transfer window in Central Florida, Tesho Akindele can be extremely proud of his contributions in his most prolific Major League Soccer campaign to date.
Orlando City SC 1 Sporting Kansas City 0 – Highlights – August 14, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Atlanta United form
What was a hugely encouraging stat for Orlando City SC just got complicated by the fact Atlanta United won their most recent away game at Portland Timbers (0-2) last Sunday.
Prior to this however, Frank de Boer’s side endured a barren spell away from home with SIX consecutive road losses between May and July.
Defeated by a single goal on FIVE of those SIX occasions with the exception being a surprise 5-1 thrashing at Chicago Fire on July 3, The Five Stripes are far more susceptible away from their cavernous Mercedes-Benz Stadium home.
…
Don’t forget, Orlando City SC versus Atlanta United will be shown live on FreeSports in the early hours of Saturday morning (01:05 GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
— FreeSports 📺 (@FreeSports_TV) August 21, 2019