Atlanta United (15-4-6) kick off their four-match road stretch with a trip to sunny Florida for the third and final match of the regular season against their neighbors to the South, Orlando City (7-5-12) Friday. It’s a match that always makes sparks fly on the field, but the Five Stripes will be fully focused on getting all three points as they look to start the final stretch of the regular season on a high note. Meanwhile, Orlando City would love to throw a wrench in the playoff run as they fight to keep their own postseason hopes alive.
Ahead of this weekend’s match, we broke down the Tools to the Match presented by The Home Depot:
Manage the midfield
Orlando City’s biggest question mark coming into the match is the fitness of midfield creator Sacha Kljestan, who is listed as questionable for the match as he continues his return from an ankle injury. If he’s on the field, he will be the primary threat for Atlanta United’s defensive players to shut down. His passing and creativity made him an MVP candidate in the past, and he still has enough quality to break down any defense in this league. Whether or not the U.S. international is in the match, winning the midfield battle will be a determining factor –– not only will it disrupt Orlando City’s flow, it will cut off the service Dom Dwyer needs to score. Eric Remedi, Jeff Larentowicz, or whoever else lines up in the Atlanta United midfield will have a major role in dominating the center of the field and turning the momentum back toward Orlando City’s main weakness: their back line.
Attack the back
Scoring goals has not been a problem for Orlando City this year, but conceding them has been. Their 57 goals allowed is the worst in MLS so far this year, and with starting center backs Lamine Sané and Jonathan Spector both expected to be out of the lineup again this week with injury, there will be holes for the Five Stripes to exploit. Atlanta United have 11 goals in 5 matches against Orlando City –– including 6 in their two meetings this year –– and have never been shut out by the Lions defense. And with Josef Martinez not only the single-season scoring record but also the longest streak of consecutive matches with a goal, you know he will be hungry for goal number 28 in 2018. Getting on the front foot and scoring an early goal would derail Orlando’s defensive gameplan and prevent them from gaining any confidence as the match goes on.
Keep the Clean Sheet
Atlanta United’s back line has once again gelled into one of the top defensive units in MLS. That’s particularly true over the past few months, where their 13 goals conceded in their last 13 matches is tied for fewest in Major League Soccer in that stretch. But Dom Dwyer is in a good run of form, with three goals in his last three matches, and has two in four against Atlanta United in his career. He’s a scrappy, persistent forward, always ready to pounce on loose balls or take advantage on any misstep. With Atlanta United’s attacking threat going forward, they can feel confident they can create chances in the attack. If they can keep Orlando out of the net on the other end, they can feel confident of coming out of Orlando City Stadium with a win.
Follow the Match:
Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday, with the match set to be broadcast on ESPN and streamed on the Watch ESPN app. You can listen to the game on the Atlanta United app or through one of our radio partners: 92.9 The Game or, for Spanish-speaking listeners, La Mejor Atlanta. Click here for a full rundown of how to follow along with the game.
