Atlanta United (3-4-1) is scheduled to play Orlando on Saturday at Exploria Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FOX, can be heard on the radio at 92.9FM, and/or you can follow Doug Roberson’s coverage on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC.
Orlando (@OrlandoCitySC)
Record: 4-2-3.
Record against Atlanta United: 1-6-2 in league games and 0-1-0 in U.S. Open Cup games.
Manager: Oscar Pareja, first season with Lions.
Likely formation: 4-2-3-1.
Key players: Nani, forward, three goals on 17 shots, eight on goal, two assists.
Chris Mueller, forward, six goals on 16 shots, nine on goal.
Daryl Dike, forward, three goals on 11 shots, four on goal.
Stats that may interest you
Xg: 11.8
Xga: 9.0
Actual goals: 16
Actual goals against: 11
Home record: 2-1-0.
Analysis
This is a very good Orlando team, one that easily defeated Atlanta United 3-1 in its previous meeting. It gets as many as eight players involved in attacks and stresses defenses with runs from any position. It has numerous goal-scorers and many ways to defeat opponents. It will press and is very adept at capitalizing on counterattacks and set pieces, as Atlanta United learned in their previous meeting. Defensively, there are still cracks. Atlanta United has yet to show that it can take advantage of any weaknesses this season.
Orlando surprised Atlanta United in their previous meeting by reconfiguring its midfield. By the time Atlanta United could adjust the Lions had a two-goal lead.
Highlights from Orlando’s last game
Orlando’s starting 11 in its previous game
1 G Pedro Gallese
2 D Ruan
25 D Antônio Carlos
6 D Robin Jansson
27 D Kamal Miller
19 M Benji Michel
20 M Oriol Rosell
11 M Júnior Urso
77 M Robinho
10 F Mauricio Pereyra
18 F Daryl Dike
―
Atlanta United coming games
Sept. 5 at Orlando, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Sept. 9 at Miami, 8 p.m. (Fox Sports South)
Sept. 12 at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. (Fox Sports South)
―
Southern Fried Soccer Podcasts
Can be found on Apple, iTunes and Spreaker
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
Atlanta United coverage on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have a question? Email me at droberson@ajc.com
About the Author
