After the jubilation, and relief, of beating Columbus Crew 3-2, Orlando City SC now visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face rivals Atlanta United.
With Oscar Pareja now officially the Lions’ all-time wins leader (23 wins), City visit Georgia after recording their longest unbeaten streak of the season (7 games).
There is much to feel content about at Orlando City SC right now.
Despite New England Revolution hurtling towards the Supporters’ Shield, Orlando City SC have stuck to their task well.
Second in the Eastern Conference for much of 2021, the Lions have only lost four of 22 regular season fixtures.
With two games in hand on Revs, Oscar Pareja will want to keep the Lions’ unbeaten streak running.
After Daryl Dike and Silvester van der Water goals saw Orlando City SC race into a 2-0 lead against Columbus Crew, City looked back to their dominating best.
That’s why it was so uncharacteristic for the Lions to surrender a two-goal lead.
After an Antônio Carlos own goal and a Miguel Berry strike within just 120 seconds of each other, Orlando City SC could’ve panicked.
But they steadied themselves well. This was before Júnior Urso scored a crucial game winner on the edge of Crew’s 18-yard box on 69 minutes.
As for our next opponents Atlanta United, The Five Stripes are facing Orlando City SC for a third time with a third different head coach in charge.
After Gabriel Heinze’s ill-fated tenure, and Rob Valentino‘s interim spell, Gonzalo Pineda is now the full-time Atlanta United head coach.
Losing 0-2 on MLS Rivalry Week to Nashville SC, there is early pressure on Pineda to achieve a positive result.
Finally achieving a victory in Atlanta at the fifth attempt last season, Orlando City SC will now want to win in front of a packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd for the first ever time.
Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 2017/21 head-to-head stats
Arguably the most satisfying Orlando City SC victory all season, City defeated Atlanta United 3-2 in the rivals’ most recent meeting.
Firstly, goalscoring nemesis Josef Martínez scored in just 48 seconds. It was easy to fear the worst.
But Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are made of different stuff!
After that, Kyle Smith scored a key equaliser on 43 minutes. However, Orlando City SC were wasteful with their second-half opportunities and this came back to bite us.
With Marcelino Moreno ripping an unstoppable strike past debutant Mason Stajduhar on 66 minutes (1-2), it didn’t seem our night.
But substitute Silvester van der Water was inspirational, equalising on 79 minutes before assisting Nani for a crucial 87th minute game winner.
Stealing all three points from City club legend Rob Valentino, cue scenes of Josef Martínez looking less than impressed on the Atlanta United subs bench.
Pure jubilation!
Orlando City SC 3 Atlanta United 2 – Highlights – July 30, 2021 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
Ever since Oscar Pareja arrived at Orlando City SC, he’s rewritten the script in games against rivals Atlanta United.
Managing the Lions SIX times against The Five Stripes, Papi is unbeaten in all SIX, winning THREE and drawing THREE.
This positive streak means that Atlanta United now only lead Orlando City SC by THREE victories.
The gap is closing all the time under Pareja’s leadership.
On our last visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it was a 0-0 draw back in October 2020.
In truth, this was a game Orlando City SC dominated and looking back, we could, and probably should’ve made it a sweep that year.
SIX consecutive MLS head-to-heads unbeaten!
It’s sweet, especially considering how The Five Stripes bullied City throughout 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In our 2021 opener, Orlando City SC drew 0-0 with Atlanta United on April 17.
Both sides looked leggy as they acclimatised to competitive MLS action again.
Orlando City SC had the best chances to win the game with Alexandre Pato going close twice before a long-term injury.
Orlando City SC 0 Atlanta United 0 – Highlights – April 17, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Atlanta United form
Ironically, prior to Gonzalo Pineda’s first Atlanta United game, interim head coach Rob Valentino had actually built up a head of steam.
Throughout August, The Five Stripes won four consecutive MLS games – all under Valentino’s guidance.
Interestingly, Atlanta United home games in July and August largely followed the same theme.
This theme was that results either ended in a 1-0 Atlanta United victory or a 0-1 Atlanta United defeat.
Besides Gonzalo Pineda’s debut (0-2 to Nashville SC), recent games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium have been settled by the narrowest margin.
Atlanta United 1 Toronto FC 0 – Highlights – August 18, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
The formula for a successful MLS regular season is simple right?
Win most games at home and avoid defeat on the road.
For the most part, this is what Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC have executed having only lost THREE of TEN road games.
Winning THREE and drawing FOUR away games so far, the Lions have only conceded 17 goals away from Exploria Stadium.
If Orlando City SC continue in this vein, a home game seeding in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs seems likely.
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Don’t forget, Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports in the early hours of Saturday morning at 00:20 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
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