It’s a midweek matchday for the Five Stripes coming off of a victorious feeling draw down in Miami. Now, Atlanta United’s focus shifts to another Florida club as they welcome an older foe to the Benz in Orlando City.
Let’s begin with some head-to-head stats, courtesy of stats.scarvesandspikes.com:
Rivlaries are always more fun when there’s some back and forth. That’s been somewhat the case between Atlanta and Orlando in more recent years, with Atlanta able to muster up a result against their most familiar rivals. Two head to head matches this season came in the same week down in central Florida, as Atlanta and Orlando played back to back matches in May for both the MLS regular season and the U.S. Open Cup.
The MLS match, a 1-1 draw, seemed to give Atlanta some steam heading into the Quarterfinal match after a late Jay Fortune equalzier. The Open Cup match… well, we don’t have to go any further.
A revamped Atlanta United, now featuring Breel Embolo and Mauricio Amaro, aim to get a better result in front of a home crowd this time. It’s not the same Orlando side, either, which now boats one Antoine Greizmann, who already has five goals and three assists in his eight appearances with his new club. He and Orlando sit 8th in the Eastern Conference, six points ahead of Atlanta. Orlando City’s road form, however, shows only two wins this season. Can the Five Stripes make home field advantage count?
We know Embolo and Amaro are available, along with Jay Fortune, who could feature in limited minutes tonight. He may have to, as two midfielders appear on the availability report for this one. Alzate is listed as questionable with an illness, while Cooper Sanchez is held out due to concussion protocol after Saturday’s match. Galoppo continues a common theme this summer: awaiting his visa.
Before kickoff rolls around, be sure to check out our three questions series, this time with the Orlando Lions Den Podcast’s Mike Spillane:
Atlanta United vs. Orlando City: 3 questions about Orlando with Orlando Lions Den Podcast’s Mike Spillane
The scoop on Orlando City as they visit Atlanta United on Wednesday.
Tonight’s match is set for a 7:40 PM ET kickoff tonight in the Benz, with streaming available through Apple TV. If audio is more your vibe, 92.9 The Game has your English language coverage, while La Mejor is your go-to for Spanish radio.
No matter where you are, or how things look on the pitch, feel free to chime in on the match down below in our match thread as the Five Stripes go again in the Benz.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Orlando City’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Kickoff Time: Wednesday, September 9th, 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
Orlando was more organized especially their back line. We chased the ball too much. Disorganized defense. Still cannot pass our way into the box. Players are just standing around. Nice to have Embolo, Amaro seemed decent but gave up on that ball. Nice to see Fortune back. Gill played well. Almiron and Miranchuk not so much. Trending in the right direction sort of
This ref, Armando, AHole, whatever his name, is just terrible. Who is paying this guy? PRO or someone from Orlando. Terrible and always hates Atlanta.
Amaro gave up on that ball.
Our defense look like shit..
Baez..does nothing in defense
They look completely lethargic. Same as earlier this year. No offense and defense gets caught flat. Shame what Henderson has done to this team.
1st 10 mins they were sharp but yeah since then not much.
Am I trippin or is Baez a winger not a defender? He looks great getting the ball up the sideline, but when he has to defend he looks a bit lost.
Baez playing like he knows he’s the only option on the left
That’s it, I’m buying an Embolo kit.
Wow, looked a mile offside.
Greizmann looks like he just saw his ex girlfriend in the stands with her new guy.
With Cooper out and Alzate questionable, Gill needs to be part of this lineup with Amaro
Fortune is an option again though. Assuming he’s 100% and not just “available” (I know, that’s a big assumption), I would expect, and actually kinda hope, for Fortune/Muyumba/Amaro as the mid 3.
Muyumba, really? Id rather see him as a sub. Lately he seems to spend half the guy being shit then does a few nice things to sometimes make up for it. I think I’d rather have gill or sancez in Muyumba. Have muyumba be a super sub.
I would rather have Sanchez 100%, but with the options we had, I’d want Muyumba playing as an 8 (as a 6, no). Also, it’s dependent on who Amaro turns out to be. If he plays well as an 8 as well, then put Gill in instead. But with the idea of playing with one 6 and two 8s and not seeing Amaro yet (but is supposedly a 6), with the availabilities: Fortune, Muyumba, Amaro.