One quality defining Atlanta’s playoff run and matchweek before Orlando

When looking back over video of the Game 3 win in Fort Lauderdale against Inter Miami CF in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, one aspect about Atlanta United really stood out to goalkeeper Brad Guzan:

“Our resiliency,” he said. “In terms of continuing to push and fight. The character that we showed. To concede, to go 2-2, then to continue to fight and push and ultimately get the third – that part was fantastic.”

Resiliency is a great way to describe this group for Atlanta United. The team had a 10 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs entering Decision Day. A month later, No. 9 seed Atlanta is on the other side of completing the biggest upset in MLS history and is just two wins away from an appearance in the MLS Cup Finals.

Up next: The Eastern Conference Semifinals against Orlando City SC

Atlanta United next plays in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against 4-seed Orlando City SC on Sunday, Nov. 24. According to Mike Conti on 92.9 The Game, Atlanta United and Orlando City have played 21 times in MLS play, but Sunday’s meeting will be the first the two clubs have faced each other in the MLS playoffs.

The two teams have a storied history – a history that many call a rivalry. Of those 21 meetings, Atlanta United has won 10 times, six on the road.

Atlanta United is unbeaten against Orlando in 2024. The first meeting back in March, Atlanta United won 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium behind an opening goal in the ninth minute from Saba Lobjanidze.

“It’s such a bizarre game when we’ve played them before,” interim head coach Rob Valentino said. “Every game with them has opened up and been end-to-end at times.”

Of course, the most recent matchup between Atlanta United and Orlando City SC was just about a month ago on October 19. On that fateful Decision Day, Atlanta United needed a win to secure a playoff berth. The team rose to the challenge and beat Orlando 2-1 at Inter&Co Stadium – the same site as next week’s playoff meeting.

That result essentially kicked off Atlanta’s miraculous postseason run. The team went on to the Eastern Conference Wild Card Game and defeated CF Montréal on the road in penalties, a team Atlanta United was not able to beat during the regular season.

Then, of course, Atlanta United evened the series with No. 1 seed Inter Miami in the Round One matches with an incredible win in Game 2 at home. In the decisive Game 3, Atlanta United stunned the Supporters’ Shield winners with a three-goal performance – a first-half brace from Jamal Thiaré, the game-winner from Bartosz Slisz and another heroic stand from goalkeeper Brad Guzan – to pull off one of the biggest upsets in MLS history and knock out the heavy favorites to win MLS Cup.

“It’s a good run, for sure, we know that, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Guzan said.

Handling the international break and an extra week of preparation

Just over two weeks separate the high point of Atlanta’s Game 3 win in Fort Lauderdale from the Eastern Conference Semifinals. An international break scheduled right in the middle of the MLS Cup Playoffs produced an extra week in between matches. (Quite a difference from when Atlanta United played three matches in seven days on Decision Day and at the beginning of their playoff run.)

Seven Atlanta United players were called away from the club to represent their home countries. It’s always good to see players represent the 5-Stripes on the global stage, but the break has also built anticipation to continue the momentum of Atlanta’s playoff run thus far.

“You just want to keep it going, right?” Guzan said. “Similar to the regular season when you’re in a good moment and a good run of form, you want to keep the games coming.”

Valentino said extra time like the team had last week can be tricky. Some players can be pushed a little more and get more fitness. Other guys might need more attention and recovery to get back to the rhythm of a regular matchweek. There’s a plan for every player, including the veteran goalkeeper who has shown incredible durability during this playoff run.

“He’s 40 going on 21,” Valentino said of Guzan. “But he’s somebody that we have to manage like the rest of them.”

How Atlanta United matches up against Orlando City SC

As for the matchup against Orlando, there is a lot on the line, and it’s bound to be tightly contested. Unlike the previous stage that was a best-of-three, this round is single elimination, so November 24 is all-or-nothing.

Different from the Wild Card and Round One matches, the semifinal round will introduce extra time periods. If the match is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of those two extra periods, the result will be determined by a penalty kick shootout.

This round also features two of the best goalkeepers in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Guzan is coming off making nine saves in Game 3 against Miami, a new club postseason record, and a total of 19 saves in the series. (He’s been one of the best goalkeepers in MLS since Leagues Cup.) On the other side, Pedro Gallese has been massive for the Lions. He made a total of seven saves in the Round One series against Charlotte FC and came up with two enormous saves in the PK shootout in Game 3 to send Orlando through to the next round.

For Guzan, he just wants to keep it about Atlanta’s attack, which has also been on a good run, scoring two goals or more in all but one of its playoff matches.

“I hope it’s about our strikers, our attacking players, scoring 3, 4, 5, 6 goals, I hope that’s the storyline and the headlines,” he said. “As a goalkeeper, it’s our job to try and save the ball and give the guys an opportunity to go and win. That doesn’t change from here on out.”