Orlando City at Atlanta United: Five Takeaways

Orlando City traveled north to take on Eastern Conference rival Atlanta United. It was a back-and-forth match played from end to end, but ultimately Orlando City came away with a 2-1 win and all three points on the road. It was the perfect response to last week’s loss to Real Salt Lake. Here are my five main thoughts on the Lions’ victory.

A Quick Response

Despite a good effort by Antonio Carlos, Orlando City gave up the first goal of the match. Orlando City turned the ball over on a throw-in inside their defensive third. Atlanta momentarily lost control and in some confusion outside the box, the Five Stripes regained control. Atlanta put the ball on target past Pedro Gallese. Carlos did well to clear the slow roller off the line, but not far enough, as Caleb Wiley put it back in for the first goal in the 22nd minute. The Lions roared back three minutes later when Carlos scored a powerful header off a Mauricio Pereyra free kick in the 25th minute to equalize. It was a good reaction from Orlando City after giving up the early goal.

Smith Makes Me Sad

There have been many matches in which Kyle Smith played well. There have been some matches when he played okay. This match was not either of those. I lost track of how many attacks died at his feet. He lost the ball cheaply in both the offensive and defensive ends of the field — and also the middle. He took one shot that sailed over the crossbar, but that was the closest he got to doing anything good in this match. Those who listen to The Mane Land PawedCast know that I’m a fan of Smith’s, but I was very glad to see him subbed off for Dagur Dan Thorhallsson.

McGuire Continues to Impress

Duncan McGuire scored his eighth goal of the season in the 60th minute to give Orlando City the lead in the second half. The rookie made a really good run onto a brilliant pass by Pereyra. He took a touch to the right to keep the defender off of him long enough to slot the ball past Brad Guzan. It was one of two shots he took, but he made the most of the one he put on target. He did his usual work in harassing the defense to create space for Orlando City’s attack. He continues to show why he is rightly leading in the MLS Newcomer of the Year standings.

PRO Gonna PRO

Orlando City only committed 13 fouls to Atlanta’s 18, but received six yellow cards to Atlanta’s two. Pedro Gallese received a yellow for time wasting at the end of the match when he was trying to set his wall for the free kick — which is ridiculous. Robin Jansson earned one for dissent at the end of the first half. The referee also doubled up the second half stoppage time at the end of the match. I don’t always think everyone is out to get us, but sometimes PRO makes it hard to believe it.

Bend but Don’t Break

After McGuire’s goal, Atlanta stepped up its efforts to find an equalizer. The Lions had to do everything possible to keep the hosts off the the scoresheet down the stretch, including defending a free kick in the ninth minute of five minutes of stoppage time. Thiago Almada’s free kick was deadly in its accuracy, but Gallese was was up for the challenge and made a potential save of the week — or maybe the year. At times it was desperation defending, but sometimes that is what is required when playing a rival on the road. In the end, it was enough.

That is what I saw in Orlando City’s result against Atlanta United. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.