Atlanta United defeated Orlando City 3-2 on Wednesday night. The match kept the flame of rivalry lit between the two southeastern teams. Jamal Thiare’s goal in extra time sealed the deal.
The last time Atlanta United faced hated rival Orlando City FC, there wasn’t much positivity to share about the Five Stripes’ 3-0 loss in the Sunshine State. The game took place a month ago, and much has changed since then. For one thing, Atlanta is playing better, including during a 4-2 victory over FC Cincinnati on Sunday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For another, the game is being played in Atlanta.
On Wednesday night, the “We can’t hear you” chants started early in the match following a goal from Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo in the fifth minute of the match.
After scoring, Araujo ran over to the camera well at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and made the heart sign with his hands, and immediately after, cupped his right hand to his ear. He wanted to check if the boos he and his teammates received during pre-match introductions were getting louder.
Earlier this season, that 1-0 deficit would have sent the team reeling, but this was a different Atlanta United side. This was a different energy.
Alexey Miranchuk, whose play has been improving week after week, highlighted by his assist during Sunday’s victory over Cincinnati, would tie the match in the 19th minute. Atlanta would keep up the pressure, getting another decent look at Orlando’s goal in the 25th minute when Saba Lobjanidze took and missed a shot-on-goal.
Orlando regained the lead, 2-1, in the 32nd minute on a goal from forward Ramiro Enrique. The goal was registered as unassisted, but in actuality, it didn’t happen without poor play in the back from Atlanta. The backline has been the team’s Achilles’ heel all season. It looked much better against Cincinnati, but showed signs of those old bad habits early on against Orlando.
Atlanta United did manage to make it back into its locker room without giving up another goal, but barely. Orlando City nearly scored again on a cross that slid across the goalmouth and right past goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Orlando City began the second half with a pair of solid scoring opportunities. Only the brilliance of Guzan’s play in goal kept the Atlanta deficit from growing.
Pedro Amador subbed into the match in the 68th minute and immediately had an opportunity to tie the match. His shot sailed over the Orlando goal, but not without eliciting oohs and aahs from the home crowd of 39,000-plus.
Even with Orlando City down to 10 men after Araujo was sent off with a red card in the 77th minute, Atlanta seemed to have problems finding that second goal until Bartosz Slisz scored for a consecutive week. His shot hit the post and went past Orlando’s goalkeeper to tie the match at two in the 83rd minute.
What’s Next:
Atlanta United will spend the month of June on the road. Matches at NYCFC on June 12, Columbus on Wednesday, June 25, and on Saturday, June 28 in Fort Lauderdale against Inter Miami will keep the Five Stripes busy while the first-ever Club World Cup takes place in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
