Orlando City (0-2-1, 1 point) at Atlanta United (1-1-0, 3 points)
When: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedez-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Sunday, when Orlando City SC play at Atlanta United:
7,541 Miles More
Sunday’s matchup will be between two rivals that have seen vastly different schedules to start their 2024 campaigns. Orlando City has played seven matches across all competitions entering the weekend’s slate of games, while The Five Stripes have played only two to start the year, having their bye week just one weekend into MLS action. Since starting their campaign, the Lions will have travelled 8,413.83 miles round trip for matches from their home at INTER&Co Stadium, while Atlanta will have traveled only 872.2 miles round trip, just over 10% of the traveling that Lions have faced to start the year.
30 From 10
Forward Facundo Torres scored his 30th all-time goal for the Lions, converting a penalty kick in the 20th minute of the Club’s last match against Liga MX’s Tigres UANL. With the strike, the Lions’ No. 10 becomes just the third player to ever tally more than 30 goals for the Club, joining former Lions Nani and Cyle Larin. Torres’ next goal will tie him for second all-time with Nani at 31, while Larin sits atop the list with 44 for the Club.
Pushing 50
Midfielder Martín Ojeda’s next appearance will be his 50th in purple since joining the Lions ahead of the 2023 campaign from Argentina’s Godoy Cruz. Since then, the Gualeguaychú, Argentina native has made 49 appearances to date, including 22 starts, and has scored seven goals and provided 12 assists. Six of his tallies and 11 of his helpers have come in MLS play, including one game-winning goal and two game-winning helpers.
Bounce Back at The Benz
For the second straight year, the Lions will head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a matchup with Atlanta United FC following a loss on the road, having played the Georgia-based side in July last season following a 4-0 road defeat to Real Salt Lake. The Lions won that matchup 2-1, with Duncan McGuire and Antonio Carlos scoring against The Five Stripes, before going on an 11-3-3 run through the regular season and playoffs to end their 2023 campaign.
Ramadan Mubarak
Beginning on Sunday, March 10 through Tuesday, April 9, many players around Major League Soccer, and the world, will celebrate and observe Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. Throughout this month, those observing Ramadan will fast from before dawn until sunset each day, forgoing food and drink during that time. Orlando City’s first team will see two players fast for Islam’s holy month, with defender Abdi Salim and midfielder Shak Mohammed both training and playing while fasting for Ramadan.
Milestone Tracker:
- Facundo Torres is one goal away from tying Nani (31) for second all-time in Orlando City history. His next appearance will be his 85th for the Lions
- Duncan McGuire’s next goal will be his 19th for Orlando City, tying him with former Lions Daryl Dike and Benji Michel for eighth all-time in Club history
- Kyle Smith is two appearances away from 150 all-time for the Lions
