After losing at Inter Miami 2-1, Orlando City SC return to Exploria Stadium to face their other rival Atlanta United for the fourth and final time this regular season.
It’s been all change this year with The Five Stripes languishing in twelfth place while Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC qualified for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs with five games to spare.
Now, Orlando City SC will attempt to do something they’ve never done before – finally defeat Atlanta United at home.
They will never have a better chance to do so with Atlanta United’s 2020 season being a total train wreck – see what we did there!
Indeed, interim head coach Stephen Glass still remains in charge despite Frank de Boer being sacked way back on July 24.
With Josef Martínez absent all season through injury, the once mighty Atlanta United are now a shadow of the 2018 MLS Cup winning side.
Nevertheless, for all Atlanta United’s 2020 failings, Orlando City SC‘s campaign is in need of a jolt too.
Sure, the 2-1 defeat at Inter Miami was only City’s first MLS loss in 13 games but the Lions’ last victory came five games ago.
It’s been a mark of how much Oscar Pareja has improved Orlando City SC that we currently feel disappointed, despite finally reaching the post-season.
While there’s no need to hit the panic button, City will want to earn a few victories from our final four games to boost morale for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Desperately missing creative linchpin Mauricio Pereyra recently, the good news is that Matheus Aiás and Alexander Alvarado are now fit and available.
With just 360 regular season minutes separating Orlando City SC from the post-season, the time to pick up form and hit top gear is right now.
What better motivation to start a new streak than defeating rivals Atlanta United?
Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 2017/20 head-to-head stats
Only facing Atlanta United 21 days ago, Orlando City SC played out a 0-0 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Outshooting the hosts 15 to 6, both Brad Guzan and Brian Rowe had standout evenings in goal.
With Guzan bailing out The Five Stripes’ defence on multiple occasions, Orlando City SC also hit the woodwork twice.
With Robinho hitting the post and Nani‘s deflected strike hitting the bar, the Lions could’ve easily stole all three points on another night.
The biggest chance of the night fell to Júnior Urso in the 86th minute though.
After Nani laid a perfect square ball across the Atlanta United 18-yard box, Urso had the goal at his mercy but hit a weak shot straight at Guzan.
Disappointing not to beat our fierce rivals for a second time this year, the result did stretch Orlando City SC‘s unbeaten run to 10 games however.
Atlanta United 0 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – October 7, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
In three league meetings this year, Orlando City SC have stopped Atlanta United having the satisfaction of extending their win tally to seven games.
Achieving a landmark 1-3 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 29, Orlando City SC followed this with a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium on September 5.
Outshooting Atlanta United 15 to 9, City only got four shots on target in a game they dominated in large spells.
Wasting so many glorious chances, this came back to bite us in the 92nd minute.
Adam Jahn headed home a stoppage time Jake Mulraney cross to cancel out Benji Michel‘s first-half opener – just gutting!
Orlando City SC 1 Atlanta United 1 – Highlights – September 5, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Now ELEVEN MLS games into this Florida vs Georgia rivalry, we know Orlando City SC and Atlanta United despise each other.
Not only a rivalry in the terraces and on social media, the ill-feeling has definitely manifested itself on the field again this season.
Indeed, there have been FIVE yellow cards produced in each of the last THREE head-to-heads this season.
In the clubs’ most recent meeting, Atlanta United’s Franco Escobar was extremely lucky to avoid a red card.
With Escobar committing blatant fouls on Robinho, Júnior Urso and Robin Jansson, the Argentine only received a yellow all night.
Referee Rubiel Vazquez’s performance left a lot to be desired.
Orlando City SC form
On the back of Orlando City SC‘s Bring The Noise jersey are the words “Defend The Fortress”.
And that’s exactly what Oscar Pareja‘s side have done in this one-of-a-kind 2020 season.
Sure, we’ve only played SEVEN games at Exploria Stadium but still, the Lions have won FOUR and drawn THREE of these games, losing ZERO.
Only tallying SIX home wins in 2019, Oscar Pareja deserves immense credit for raising the club’s expectations and giving the city of Orlando a team we can all be proud of.
Atlanta United form
As we just stated, the good news is that Orlando City SC are undefeated at Exploria Stadium this season.
More good news is the fact that Atlanta United’s recent away form is very poor.
Stephen Glass’ side have failed to win SIX of their last SEVEN road games in MLS, losing FOUR and drawing TWO in this streak.
The only exception was a 0-4 win at D.C. United on October 3.
In their last away game, Pablo Piatti’s 89th minute winner for Toronto FC consigned Atlanta United to their TENTH loss of the season.
As the story goes, this result helped Orlando City SC achieve qualification to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history.
Toronto FC 1 Atlanta United 0 – Highlights – October 18, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)