Orlando City SC seek a first win over Atlanta United, while the defending MLS Cup champions are trying to fend off challengers to remain atop the Eastern Conference when MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week resumes Friday night at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City SC (9-11-7) are level on points with seventh-place Montreal, but sit just below the playoff line on a tiebreak. The Lions squandered a chance to make that jump last Saturday night, as they conceded late to settle for a 1-1 draw pwhl against Minnesota United at Allianz Field. Nani put the visitors in front with a 70th-minute penalty kick, but Abu Danladi scored the stoppage-time equalizer for the Loons. Though disappointing, the draw extends Orlando's unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches.
Atlanta United (14-9-3) moved atop the East with a 2-0 win last Sunday night at Providence Park over the Portland Timbers. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez slammed home his first goal in nearly a year following a failed clearance from a Five Stripes corner kick in the 14th minute to open meta the scoring. In the opening moments of the second half, Julian Gressel broke two Portland lines with a sumptuous through ball mbappe for Josef Martinez. He needed just one touch to set up a brilliant curling shot from outside the box for his 21st tally of the year.
This is the club's second regular-season contest of 2019, with the Five Stripes winning, 1-0, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium May 12 on a Pity Martinez goal in the 14th minute. Atlanta also beat Orlando, 2-0, in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals at Exploria, with Eric Remedi and Emerson Hyndman scoring a goal in each half.
#ORLvATL #MLS
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