ORLANDO, Fla. (July 21, 2017) ā 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. HĆ©ctor Villalba scored in the 86th minute.
āObviously very disappointed with the result but this is one where I would say Iām 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,ā Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. āI think our locker room feels like we were a little bit hard done, meaning our performance warranted better than what we got. Thereās one way to rectify that situation is to go [to Atlanta] and get those three points back.ā
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. Menās National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan in his Atlanta United debut. Giles Barnesā 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 Villalbaās 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 leagueās 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
1ā The Lions press hard and force Atlanta into a turnover seven seconds in.
3ā Joe Bendik slides to the edge of his area to swallow a through ball.
5ā Itās a showdown between supporters tonight as Atlantaās large traveling contingent attempts to taunt The Wall to no avail.
15ā Jonathan Spector swings the danger out of the area.
17ā KakĆ” sprints 60 yards into the box and lays it off for Giles Barnes to curl just past the far post.
20ā KakĆ” muscles his way through the middle and lays it off for Barnes but the ball goes out.
21ā Donny Toia earns a corner kick. Will Johnson swings it in for JosĆ© Aja at the far post but his header floats just wide.
25ā 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.
27ā KakĆ” drives the box, lays off for Barnes and gets it back but the ball is cleared away.
32ā Barnes has a go from distance but doesnāt trouble Guzan.
36ā KakĆ” 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.
37ā Bendik wins the 1-on-1 against Yamil Asad alone in the box but the play is ruled offside.
39ā Rivasā 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.
41ā Crisis averted as Bendik makes an easy save in a frantic situation after Johnsonās errant backpass.
43ā KakĆ”'s run earns a corner. The captain curls it for Barnes at the near post but his flick on skips just over the bar.
45ā Bendik makes a good save as he dives to his left to snatch Miguel AlmirĆ³nās shot from 16 yards. The referee ends the half after no added time. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 0.
Second Half
49ā Atlanta earns a corner on the edge of the box. The shot is nullified as Atlanta fouls.
53ā Bendik comes out and one-hands Anton Walkesā centering delivery like a cornerback in the end zone.
55ā The Lions threaten as Sutter lofts it in for Johnson but his attempt at the spectacular goes nowhere.
63ā Guzan makes another incredible save on Spector after he got his head on KakĆ”ās free kick delivery on the six-yard box.
70ā Bendik makes a good save at the near post on Vazquezā hard shot from eight yards out.
72ā Less than 24 hours after playing for Canada at the Gold Cup, Cyle Larin enters the match in place of Giles Barnes.
73ā 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.
80ā Michael Parkhurst is shown a yellow card for an egregious tackle on Rivas as he turned the corner with room to run.
85ā Bendik is there for the stop on Walkesā shot. Bendik makes another save as AlmirĆ³nās low shot sneaks through traffic.
86ā Bendik has no chance on a rocket shot from Villalba. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 1.
87ā KakĆ” picks up the ball, takes a touch and fires a shot from the edge of the box that Guzan grabs.
88ā Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino. Former Lion Mikey Ambrose enters the match in place of HĆ©ctor Villalba.
90ā Higuita earns a free kick 25 yards from goal. Luis Gil enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita. KakĆ” curls it into the wall.
90+1ā Johnson picks up the ball and races into the box before firing his shot high.
90+3ā Sutter lofts one into the box that Guzan handles.
90+5ā After five minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Atlanta United 1.
Scoring Summary:
ATL - HĆ©ctor Villalba (Greg Garza) 86ā
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - KakĆ” (Yellow Card) 6ā
ATL - Leandro GonzĆ”lez Pirez (Yellow Card) 38ā
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 60ā
ATL - Julian Gressel (Yellow Card) 67ā
ATL - Michael Parkhurst (Yellow Card) 80ā
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, JosĆ© Aja, Scott Sutter, M ā KakĆ”, Antonio Nocerino (Richie Laryea 88ā), Cristian Higuita, Will Johnson, F Giles Barnes (Cyle Larin 72ā), Carlos Rivas
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D LĆ©o Pereira, Tommy Redding, M Luis Gil, Servando Carrasco
Atlanta United FC - GK Brad Guzan, D Greg Garza, Leandro GonzĆ”lez Pirez, ā Michael Parkhurst, Anton Walkes, M Jeff Larentowicz, Carlos Carmona, Yamil Asad (Chris McCann 78ā), Miguel AlmirĆ³n, Julian Gressel (Brandon VĆ”zquez 67ā), F HĆ©ctor Villalba (Mikey Ambrose 89ā)
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