Because of Atlanta United’s loss Wednesday, some steam was taken out of Sunday’s game against surging Orlando City.
Instead of a team unbeaten in nine games facing a team riding a six-game win streak, supporters of both teams as well as MLS will have to settle for a game featuring two teams that are still playing very well and two fan bases that have developed a large helping of vitriol in only three meetings.
“A game where I’m going to where I’m going to have to listen to fans yell ‘Hello’ to me the whole entire game on the sides of the field,” Atlanta United fullback Greg Garza said. “They did a vote I saw on Twitter of the most obnoxious fans, and I think they got first place. Probably beside us, and them, they have the fans that are screaming the whole entire time. It’s a hard place to play, but we do have good memories there from last year, and hopefully we can do re-do that this year.”
Atlanta United has a 1-0-2 record in the team’s three meetings last season. The first two games were punctuated by goals from Hector Villalba. The first, a late 1-0 winner in Orlando, was named the MLS Goal of the Year. The second, also scored late, salvaged a 1-1 draw at Bobby Dodd Stadium a week later. The third game ended in a 3-3 draw featuring a hat trick from Josef Martinez and was played in front of more than 70,000.
Orlando City coach Jason Kreis told MLSSoccer.com that he thought the Lions deserved more.
“I would say after three matches with them last year, every match I felt was a really good soccer match, really tight affairs,” he said. “I think in particular we probably feel a little bit hard done with the result because I feel like we were in positions to draw the first game and win the second two games at their place. We were in winning positions in those games and didn’t take care of the business at the end. I think that leaves a little bit of a sour taste in our mouth.”
The sour taste may have started before the first game was played.
Giving Orlando City’s front office notice ahead of time, Atlanta United bought a billboard in downtown Orlando that had this message:
As you can imagine, that didn’t set well with the Lions supporters.
At least one Five Stripes supporter posted images on social media alleging that he was beaten up on his way to that first game. Whether the billboard caused that, or if there were other causes, is unknown.
When the teams met again a week later, three Orlando City supporters were arrested after the game because they destroyed metal bleachers at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Before the game, few of the players or either coach wanted to describe Atlanta United-Orlando City as a rivalry. A year later, the word is being used freely by some.
“ … it’s a rivalry game,” Orlando City midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “It means a lot to the fans and playing at home. You always want to win, especially against your rivals. Everything always feels better when you beat your rivals and send them on a long road trip back home – although it’s not very long, it can feel long for them.”
But not by others – Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said, “No, nothing’s changed,” when asked if it was a rivalry – which, because of how he dismissed the idea, may actually add to the rivalry.
This won’t be the same Orlando City team that Atlanta United faced last season.
After limping to the finish line last season with 39 points from 34 games, the team’s front office made over the roster. Striker Cyle Larin, once of the brightest strikers in MLS, left, as did defender Jose Aja. Kljestan was brought in. So was winger Justin Meram, a standout at Columbus, and midfielder Oriol Rosell, as well as defenders Lamine Sane and Amro Tarek.
After stumbling to an 0-1-2 start in which Orlando City was missing several key players because of the injuries, Orlando City began roaring to life with a 3-2 win against a New York Red Bulls’ “B” team. It has since won five more games to become the hottest team in MLS.
Atlanta United also is different. It acquired midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Ezequiel Barco to add to an offense that was already arguably the best in the league.
Nabe, Barco, Martinez, Villalba and Miguel Almiron started together for the first time in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Sporting KC. They looked sharp, but didn’t get to play together for long because a red card to Brad Guzan in the 34th minute meant that Martino subbed off Villalba so Paul Christensen could come in as a goalkeeper. Christensen may be Sunday’s starter.
It remains to be seen if Martino will again use the 4-3-3 formation he used Wednesday. It’s arguably the best way to utilize all of the team’s attacking talent. The team is 0-2 using the formation this season, compared to going 7-1-0 with the 3-5-2 formation.
“We will keep playing the same way as we are,” Atlanta United’s Leandro Gonzalez Pirez said. “We aren’t going to change anything. That’s how we will head into Orlando.”
About the Author
