MLS: Atlanta and Orlando Draw 1-1
- Forrest Wimberly
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Credit: Atlanta United
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
A warm, humid evening welcomed both teams to the pitch last Saturday night in Orlando as Atlanta United was in town to face Orlando City in MLS Rivalry Week action. An Orlando goal from Griffin Dorsey in the 18th minute was cancelled out by an Atlanta goal from Jay Fortune in the 86th to share the points in a 1-1 draw in Central Florida.
Both teams wasted little time getting into the flow of the match and just as expected in a heated rivalry match began to press the attack for the opening whistle in a very open and free-flowing game. In a moment of foreshadowing, Orlando played in Martin Ojeda with a long through ball that put him in 1v1 versus Lucas Hoyos in the Atlanta nets. Ojeda ripped a low shot well outside the far post just as the flag was raised for offside, but this warning salvo was replaced by an Orlando goal just minutes later.
Another ball slipped in deep down the left channel was collected by Ivan Angulo, who went on an aggressive 1v1 dribble up the end line to round the corner and rip a square ball across the goal box, where a waiting Griffin Dorsey was there to tap the ball into the net and Orlando into the lead 1-0 in the 18th minute.
Encouraged by the goal, Orlando players went on several more aggressive 1v1 dribbles isolating and beating Atlanta defenders to create additional chances and keep the pressure on Atlanta’s defense. All this Orlando pressure ensued for the next 10 minutes until a string of Orlando fouls and Atlanta corner kicks relieved the pressure on the Atlanta defense and allowed the visitors to regain their footing in the match and control the tempo of the play to close out the half.
Orlando sat deeper in defense and had to endure a series of Atlanta attacking waves over these final minutes of the first half that limited the hosts to limited attacks of their own. Atlanta would win eight corner kicks in the first half and produced their best look at goal in first-half stoppage time as this moment would foreshadow the Atlanta goal later in the match. A recycled corner kick found Jay Fortune at the top of the box where he ripped a shot that was always going wide but just couldn’t be turned into the Orlando net for the equalizer.
No changes were made by wither team at the break, and it was half chances on both ends to open play for both team in the second half. Orlando then slipped in Ojeda in the 52nd minute to force Lucas Hoyos in the Atlanta goal into action after some frantic defending gave Orlando an excellent chance to double their advantage.
Again, it was several fouls by Orlando that relieved the pressure on the Atlanta defense and slowly the visitors worked their way back into the match. Alexey Miranchuk in the 60th minute rolled a ball just wide of the far post after a looping ball put him in all alone inside the Orlando box.
A superb recovery run from Enea Mihaj in the 65th minute put the Atlanta defender in the perfect spot to block a shot from Orlando’s Martin Ojeda after a Dorsey cross opened the Atlanta defense and put Ojeda in all alone back post. One final Orlando attacking moment in the 72nd minute looked promising, but the influence of Atlanta’s Hoyos in the nets rushed the shot as it was scuffed harmlessly wide left.
Atlanta turned up the energy level over the final minutes and the hustle on and off the ball created several turnovers that produced chances for Alexey Miranchuk and Tristan Muyumba in the 80th and 83rd minutes, respectively.
The breakthrough moment for Atlanta would come in the 86th minute off the foot of substitute Matt Edwards who went on a surging run with the ball at his feet down the right flank into the right corner. Edwards would then cut inside and pass the ball to a waiting Jay Fortune who would make no mistake this time rocketing the ball one-touch into the back post upper 90. 1-1 with just minutes to play.
One final Orlando attack five minutes deep into stoppage time saw Lucas Hoyos well outside of his area playing as a sweeper/keeper where he cleared the ball into touch and out of reach of the streaking Orlando forward.
The match ended 1-1 as both teams will travel to Ohio to play their next MLS matches next weekend with Orlando at Cincinnati and Atlanta at Columbus. But before the MLS matches, Atlanta and Orlando have a massive US Open Cup Quarterfinal match looming on Tuesday night. So while the points were split tonight, there will be a winner on Tuesday night as one of these two teams will earn a semifinal berth in their quest for the Open Cup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.
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