Orlando City B (6-6-9, 31 points) at Atlanta United 2 (6-9-5, 26 points)
When: Friday, August 23, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw, GA
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Stars Showing Out
With its 3-2 win over New York City FC II, Orlando City B recorded just its second win since the beginning of June. Needing a strong finish, the Lions’ biggest names put on a terrific performance to take all three points over the Pigeons. After falling behind 1-0 midway through the first half, forward Yutaro Tsukada, fresh off a signing a deal with the First Team, scored his fifth goal of the season right before halftime. Less than one minute later, midfielder Jhon Solís put the Lions ahead with a goal of his own, his fourth on the season. Not to be left out, leading goal scorer Shak Mohammed headed in his ninth goal of the season off a feed from Tsukada. The assist also moved Tsukada into a tie with defender Alex Freeman for most assists on the Club with five in 2024.
Cooling Off Hotlanta
The Lions will travel to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to take on Atlanta United 2 with the home side looking to make a late playoff push as well. Atlanta comes into this match unbeaten in five of its last six games with a 3-1-2 record and 13 points over the same span. OCB currently sits five points ahead of Atlanta for 10th place, but the Lions have played 21 matches to Atlanta’s 20. The Lions have gotten the best of Atlanta United 2 this season, going 1-0-1 with five points, including a 2-2 draw in which they took the extra point after a 5-3 end-of-regulation shootout win at Osceola County Stadium in June.
Stepping in Between The Posts
Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado has stepped up since being given the starting nod for the young Lions. Javier Otero started in goal for the majority of the Club’s matches through the first three months of the 2024 season. Recently, Otero has spent the majority of his time in the First Team squad following goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar’s season-ending injury. Mercado has since taken his place and started the last eight matches for the Lions, with 11 total starts on the year. Over the same span, the Lions have gone 2-2-4 and Mercado has only given up 10 goals with 31 saves. His 47 total saves this season puts Mercado in the top 10 amongst all goalkeepers in MLS NEXT Pro.
Playoff Picture
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro picture has started to come into view more clearly the last couple weeks and OCB is fighting to stay in the hunt. Even after a win over NYCFC II, the Lions remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but they gained much needed ground on the rest of the field. Two points is all the separates OCB from the final playoff spot currently being held by intrastate foes Inter Miami CF II, and only four points separates fourth-place Chicago with the Lions. Four of the final seven matches for Orlando are against teams currently sitting above them in the Eastern Conference standings, setting up important matches to fight for the points.
