ORLANDO, Fla. (July 21, 2017) – In the first ever meeting between the two clubs, Orlando City SC (8-8-5, 29 points) fell 1-0 to Atlanta United FC (10-7-3, 33 points) Friday at Orlando City Stadium. Héctor Villalba scored in the 86th minute.
“Obviously very disappointed with the result but this is one where I would say I’m very pleased with the performance. This is the tough job about being a professional soccer coach is that nobody remembers the performance except for the coaching staff and the players. When you lose, you lose,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I think our locker room feels like we were a little bit hard done, meaning our performance warranted better than what we got. There’s one way to rectify that situation is to go [to Atlanta] and get those three points back.”
The Lions shook off a slow start with a strong finish to the first half. Shots from Carlos Rivas and a header from Jonathan Spector were saved by U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan in his Atlanta United debut. Giles Barnes’ header late in the first half skimmed the roof of the net.
Less than 24 hours after playing for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Phoenix, Ariz., Cyle Larin entered the match in the 72nd minute. He was the first of three subs, with Richie Laryea coming on in the 89th minute and Luis Gil in the 90th.
Atlanta took the lead on Villalba’s blast from 27 yards out in the 86th minute. Joe Bendik had no chance on the frozen rope into the far corner.
It was the lone blemish on an otherwise solid defensive performance. The Lions remained compact and organized in their lines defensively and held the league’s highest-scoring team to just eight shots while blocking two of them. Bendik made five saves, including several late in the match.
The match followed the Special Olympics Unified Sports closed-door friendly between Special Olympics Florida and Special Olympics Georgia. The teams, which were made up of Special Olympics athletes and Unified teammates (players without intellectual disabilities), played two 20-minute halves with seven a side. Orlando City and Special Olympics Florida also participated in a Special Olympics Unified match in Chicago in August 2016.
Orlando City will face Atlanta United again next Saturday, July 29, at 4:30 p.m. ET when the Lions visit Bobby Dodd Stadium. City then heads to Montreal and New York City before returning home to host Columbus on Saturday, Aug. 19.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
1’ The Lions press hard and force Atlanta into a turnover seven seconds in.
3’ Joe Bendik slides to the edge of his area to swallow a through ball.
5’ It’s a showdown between supporters tonight as Atlanta’s large traveling contingent attempts to taunt The Wall to no avail.
15’ Jonathan Spector swings the danger out of the area.
17’ Kaká sprints 60 yards into the box and lays it off for Giles Barnes to curl just past the far post.
20’ Kaká muscles his way through the middle and lays it off for Barnes but the ball goes out.
21’ Donny Toia earns a corner kick. Will Johnson swings it in for José Aja at the far post but his header floats just wide.
25’ Scott Sutter takes a long ball from Aja and with one touch swings it into the box for Barnes to earn a corner. Rivas drives it into the area and earns another corner. The Colombian tries it again but Brad Guzan, in his Atlanta debut, punches it out.
27’ Kaká drives the box, lays off for Barnes and gets it back but the ball is cleared away.
32’ Barnes has a go from distance but doesn’t trouble Guzan.
36’ Kaká gets the ball from Barnes and plays a slick through ball for Rivas sprinting at the box. Rivas catches up to it and launches it right at Guzan.
37’ Bendik wins the 1-on-1 against Yamil Asad alone in the box but the play is ruled offside.
39’ Rivas’ free kick delivery from over 40 yards curls in dangerously and Spector flicks it on but Guzan somehow gets his hand to the ground to parry it away.
41’ Crisis averted as Bendik makes an easy save in a frantic situation after Johnson’s errant backpass.
43’ Kaká's run earns a corner. The captain curls it for Barnes at the near post but his flick on skips just over the bar.
45’ Bendik makes a good save as he dives to his left to snatch Miguel Almirón’s shot from 16 yards. The referee ends the half after no added time. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 0.
Second Half
49’ Atlanta earns a corner on the edge of the box. The shot is nullified as Atlanta fouls.
53’ Bendik comes out and one-hands Anton Walkes’ centering delivery like a cornerback in the end zone.
55’ The Lions threaten as Sutter lofts it in for Johnson but his attempt at the spectacular goes nowhere.
63’ Guzan makes another incredible save on Spector after he got his head on Kaká’s free kick delivery on the six-yard box.
70’ Bendik makes a good save at the near post on Vazquez’ hard shot from eight yards out.
72’ Less than 24 hours after playing for Canada at the Gold Cup, Cyle Larin enters the match in place of Giles Barnes.
73’ Higuita gets the ball from Johnson, takes it into the box and fires a shot across the face of goal. Higuita has another go from a slightly sharper angle and puts it over the bar.
80’ Michael Parkhurst is shown a yellow card for an egregious tackle on Rivas as he turned the corner with room to run.
85’ Bendik is there for the stop on Walkes’ shot. Bendik makes another save as Almirón’s low shot sneaks through traffic.
86’ Bendik has no chance on a rocket shot from Villalba. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 1.
87’ Kaká picks up the ball, takes a touch and fires a shot from the edge of the box that Guzan grabs.
88’ Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino. Former Lion Mikey Ambrose enters the match in place of Héctor Villalba.
90’ Higuita earns a free kick 25 yards from goal. Luis Gil enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita. Kaká curls it into the wall.
90+1’ Johnson picks up the ball and races into the box before firing his shot high.
90+3’ Sutter lofts one into the box that Guzan handles.
90+5’ After five minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 1.
Scoring Summary:
ATL - Héctor Villalba (Greg Garza) 86’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Kaká (Yellow Card) 6’
ATL - Leandro González Pirez (Yellow Card) 38’
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 60’
ATL - Julian Gressel (Yellow Card) 67’
ATL - Michael Parkhurst (Yellow Card) 80’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, José Aja, Scott Sutter, M ⓒ Kaká, Antonio Nocerino (Richie Laryea 88’), Cristian Higuita, Will Johnson, F Giles Barnes (Cyle Larin 72’), Carlos Rivas
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Léo Pereira, Tommy Redding, M Luis Gil, Servando Carrasco
Atlanta United FC - GK Brad Guzan, D Greg Garza, Leandro González Pirez, ⓒ Michael Parkhurst, Anton Walkes, M Jeff Larentowicz, Carlos Carmona, Yamil Asad (Chris McCann 78’), Miguel Almirón, Julian Gressel (Brandon Vázquez 67’), F Héctor Villalba (Mikey Ambrose 89’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kyle Reynish, D Tyrone Mears, M Andrew Carleton, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: July 21, 2017
Attendance: 25,527
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 45 %
ATL - 55 %
Shots:
ORL - 14
ATL - 8
Saves:
ORL - 5
ATL - 5
Fouls:
ORL - 8
ATL - 15
Corners:
ORL - 6
ATL - 2
