Lions Draw Atlanta 3-3 in Front of Record Crowd

ATLANTA (September 16, 2017) – In the third match of a four-game road trip, Orlando City SC (9-12-8, 35 points) played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Atlanta United FC (12-8-7, 43 points) in front of an announced crowd of 70,425 - a Major League Soccer (MLS) single-game attendance record - Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dom Dwyer scored his first two MLS goals as a Lion before assisting Cyle Larin’s 12th goal of the season, while fullbacks Donny Toia and Scott Sutter also assisted.

“Obviously our objective was to get the three points here, as it will be now the rest of the way,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “To settle for a point is a little disheartening but to look past that and look at the performance, I’m really proud of what the guys put into it. I thought the effort and mentality to respond twice after giving away goals and get the lead again was fantastic. The guys gave us everything and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Dwyer and Larin got the start with Giles Barnes at the top of the diamond midfield for the second consecutive game and, along with Yoshimar Yotún, continued to show chemistry in the attack. Dillon Powers made his second start as a Lion and Antonio Nocerino wore the captain’s armband for the second consecutive game. Jonathan Spector made his first start since Aug. 5 alongside Tommy Redding, Sutter and Toia. Joe Bendik made his 63rd consecutive MLS start for City.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute when Toia served a perfect ball to the back post for Dwyer, who leaped through the air to head home the first opposing goal scored in three games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Three minutes after Josef Martínez’ equalizer in the 36th, Dwyer recaptured the lead with a mirror image goal, this time from Sutter on the right wing. It was Dwyer’s 11th career MLS brace and gave Toia a career-high three assists this season.

Martínez scored his second goal of the game to level the score in the 55th minute, but Larin put the Lions ahead for a third time just three minutes later. Dwyer served an in-swinging cross to the far post that Larin headed off the ground and past a diving Brad Guzan at the near post. The goal extended Larin’s team lead and gave him goals in each of his last three appearances. It was Dwyer’s second MLS assist as a Lion.

Atlanta leveled the match in the 69th minute when Héctor Villalba found Martínez for the hat-trick.

Carlos Rivas came on for Powers to make his 27th appearance of the season, tying his MLS career-high set in 2015. Léo Pereira made his eighth appearance of the season when he entered for Spector in the second half. Former Lion Mikey Ambrose entered the match in the 88th minute.

The match was the third and final meeting of the season between the two teams, with the Lions taking two points from two games in Atlanta.

City finishes the road trip against the Portland Timbers on Sept. 24. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Providence Park and will be nationally televised on FS1. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27, to host the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

First Half

4’ Donny Toia sticks his foot out to block Héctor Villalba’s cross and Atlanta earns its second corner. Miguel Almirón sends it to the top of the box for Chris McCann, who blasts a shot from 23 yards that Joe Bendik parries over the bar.

5’ From the opposite corner flag, Almirón’s delivery is cleared away.

8’ Tommy Redding recovers and does well to win the ball from Josef Martínez. Dom Dwyer swings it for Yoshimar Yotún, Dillon Powers makes a nice move to find space and Brad Guzan swallows the cross.

10’ Yotún splits two defenders and winds his way through the box for a shot. Toia curls a gorgeous ball across the pitch for Dwyer who slams the header to the far post for his first MLS goal as a Lion. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 0.

13’ Villalba cuts inside and slices a cross that Jonathan Spector heads out for a corner. Martínez’ attempt at the spectacular is wide.

14’ Giles Barnes’ cross from the right wing is caught by Guzan.

15’ Cyle Larin shows his skill to get past two defenders on the end line and earns a corner. Yotún swings it in but Atlanta clears. Scott Sutter collects, turns and blasts a shot that Guzan handles. Almirón rips a shot off the post.

17’ Sutter does excellent work on the press to win possession. Yotún dances through the middle and passes off but the ball eventually goes out of play.

18’ Two good stabs from Spector keep Atlanta in front of the line. Atlanta wins its fifth and then sixth corners.

24’ Dwyer races onto Yotún’s through ball but Atlanta clears and Almirón is away. Spector makes the challenge without fouling and Bendik collects.

27’ Villalba works it inside to Martínez who lays it off for Almirón, but his shot is partially blocked and Bendik catches with ease.

30’ Bendik gets just enough on Almirón’s shot from the top of the area to tap it off the post. Spector hammers it away.

33’ Sutter works it up the pitch and slides it through for Antonio Nocerino, who earns a corner. Yotúns delivery is cleared away.

34’ Atlanta wins a free kick 30 yards out on the left wing. Almirón plays it short for Carlos Carmona, whose shot from distance is high.

35’ Larin wins the ball and slips it through for Barnes, whose left-footed shot is wide. Redding does good work to stop the counter at midfield.

36’ Gressel chases down Villalba’s through ball and puts it past Bendik and the ball rolls along the goalline. Martínez taps it home. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 1.

38’ Powers taps it out of the box and works it to Dwyer to start the counter. City controls. Sutter swings it to the back post and Dwyer chips the header to the far post. Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1.

41’ Villalba’s shot from 35 yards out whizzes wide of an airborne Bendik.

45+1’ After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1.

Second Half

47’ Yotún curls a free kick delivery from 36 yards out to Larin but there is too much traffic. Redding wins the ball, Barnes dances through the box and chips it across the goal.

51’ Yotún’s free kick floats to the far side of the box. The Lions chip it across and Nocerino blasts his volley over the bar.

53’ Redding slides to block a dangerous cross on the six-yard box. Villalba is called for a handball.

55’ McCann serves it up and Martínez heads it down and in. Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 2.

58’ On the left wing, Dwyer curls a gorgeous ball to the back post for Larin to head down and in past Guzan at the near post. Orlando City 3, Atlanta United 2.

59’ Léo Pereira enters the match in place of Jonathan Spector.

63’ Almirón races and fires wide of the near post.

68’ Powers does well to beat Anton Walkes on his run up the right wing. Atlanta controls.

69’ Villalba swings it in for Martínez and United equalize again. Orlando City 3, Atlanta United 3.

70’ Yotún plays the free kick down the right wing for Sutter, whose cross goes just over Dwyer. Kevin Kratz enters the match in place of Julian Gressel.

73’ Carlos Rivas enters the match in place of Dillon Powers.

75’ Villalba’s fancy footwork is no match for Toia, who pokes it out for a corner. Almirón’s attempt at the volley from distance is well wide.

77’ Yotún’s delivery from near midfield causes trouble, Nocerino chips it back in and the Lions earn a corner. Yotún swings it to Pereira but it goes for a goal kick.

79’ Dwyer chips it in for Larin, who fights with Jeff Larentowicz and pokes it at Guzan but Larin is called for the foul.

80’ Tyrone Mears enters the match in place of Anton Walkes.

82’ Nocerino does excellent work 1-on-1 against Almirón, who fouls.

88’ Former Lion Mikey Ambrose enters the match in place of Yamil Asad.

90’ Barnes tees it up and goes for the bicycle kick but it is wide.

90+3’ Larin gets it and works it up the pitch. Yotún fouls but the ref plays advantage. Bendik makes an excellent save on a shot from distance from Villalba.

90+3’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 3, Atlanta United 3.

Scoring Summary:
ORL - Dom Dwyer (Donny Toia) 10’
ATL - Josef Martínez (Julian Gressel, Héctor Villalba) 36’
ORL - Dom Dwyer (Scott Sutter) 39’
ATL - Josef Martínez (Chris McCann) 55’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Dom Dwyer) 58’
ATL - Josef Martínez (Héctor Villalba) 69’

Misconduct Summary:
None.

Lineups/Substitutions:

Atlanta United FC - GK Brad Guzan, D Chris McCann, Jeff Larentowicz, ⓒ Michael Parkhurst, Anton Walkes (Tyrone Mears 81’), M Julian Gressel (Kevin Kratz 71’), Carlos Carmona, Yamil Asad (Mikey Ambrose 88’), Miguel Almirón, Héctor Villalba, F Josef Martínez

Substitutes Not Used: GK Kyle Reynish, D M F Kenwyne Jones, Jacob Peterson, Brandon Vázquez

Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector (Léo Pereira 59’), Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M ⓒ Antonio Nocerino, Yoshimar Yotún, Dillon Powers (Carlos Rivas 73’), Giles Barnes, F Cyle Larin, Dom Dwyer

Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D Rafael Ramos, PC, M Tony Rocha, F Hadji Barry

Details of the Game:
Time: 3:55 p.m. ET
Weather: Indoors
Date: Sept. 16, 2017
Attendance: 70,425

Stats:

Possession:
ATL - 62 %
ORL - 38 %

Shots:
ATL - 17
ORL - 10

Saves:
ATL - 2
ORL - 4

Fouls:
ATL - 12
ORL - 12

Corners:
ATL - 11
ORL - 3