Atlanta United, (7-2-1) will visit Orlando City (6-2-1) at 6 p.m. Sunday. The game will be televised on FS1 and can be heard on 92.9FM.
Orlando City has won six consecutive games. Atlanta United’s eight-game unbeaten streak was snapped in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Sporting KC.
Jordan Culver of the Orlando Sentinel answered three questions about the matchup, with a fourth, bonus question:
1. After last year’s results, has Orlando City’s Players expressed a greater desire to beat Atlanta United compared to other teams?
A: Coach Jason Kreis has. He said the Lions felt pretty "hard-done" by last season's results and said Orlando City was in position to win the two matches that were in Atlanta. That said, the club has taken on a "we're focused on us" mentality.
2. What is the matchup to watch and how do you think it will go?
A: I'm going to paint with a wide brush and say Orlando City's back line vs. Atlanta United's attack. All season, Orlando City's back line has shown flashes of brilliance, accompanied by head-scratching missteps. Mohamed El-Munir, for example, has some phenomenal recoveries, but also has been a defensive liability at times (see: match vs. the Red Bulls).
Orlando City’s back line has its flaws, and if the Lions don’t maintain possession, the back four could get burned.
3. Which single player is most responsible for the 6-game win streak?
A: It's hard to say anyone other than Dom Dwyer. He came back from a quad strain and Orlando City started winning. He's got six goals in six games and has been stellar without the ball, too. Yoshi Yotún gets an honorable mention for being a phenomenal box-to-box midfielder.
4. Bonus question: Have you seen any Atlanta United billboards?
A: Nope.
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