ATLANTA (July 29, 2017) – In the second leg of a home-and-home series, Orlando City SC (8-8-6, 30 points) drew Atlanta United FC (10-7-4, 34 points), 1-1, Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“Pleased with the performance again. Pleased with the work that the guys are putting in, the belief and commitment, all these sorts of good things,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “It’s a travesty that we have to make a mistake at the end to not walk away from here with all three points. Still a point on the road and in this place, it isn’t a bad result.”
The Lions kicked off the match in full force, as they threatened Brad Guzan’s goal in the second minute of play. After a couple of blocked attempts, Scott Sutter curled a left-footed strike from 20 yards off the crossbar.
Despite Atlanta’s numerous efforts for the remainder of the half, including two shots from Miguel Almirón that bounced off the post in the 15th and 39th minute, City managed to open the score. Cyle Larin controlled a goal kick and laid it off for Kaká, who drilled a superb strike from 30 yards out into the top corner in the 40th minute. It was the captain’s fourth goal and Larin’s second assist of the season.
Atlanta continued to press forward in the second half and was eventually able to equalize late in the game. Héctor Villalba finished a through ball from Yamil Asad past Joe Bendik in the 93rd minute to rescue a point at home.
The match saw Dom Dwyer make his Orlando City Major League Soccer debut. The striker started up top for the Lions after joining the squad on Tuesday from Sporting Kansas City.
It was also the last MLS game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, as Atlanta United FC will move to its new home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dwyer and Kaká will head to Chicago to represent the Lions on Wednesday, Aug. 2, in the 2017 MLS All-Star game presented by Target as the league’s top talents face off against Real Madrid at Soldier Field at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast on FS1, UniMás, TSN, and TVA Sports.
City will continue its three-game road trip when it heads to Montreal on Saturday, Aug. 5, for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The Lions then head to New York City before returning home to host Columbus on Saturday, Aug. 19.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
2’ Scott Sutter works it for Dom Dwyer in the box. Kaká’s shot from the top of the area is blocked and it pops back out to Sutter, who curls his left-footed attempt from 20 yards off the corner of the bar.
5’ Atlanta earns a free kick on the right wing. Yamil Asad’s out-swinger lands dangerously in the box but the Lions clear.
9’ Héctor Villalba wins the footrace against Jonathan Spector in the box but Spector recovers and wins the ball as Joe Bendik comes out.
13’ Bendik is there for the easy save on a bouncing header from the six-yard box. Sutter does does good work in the attacking third.
15’ Almirón has a go from 30 yards and bounces his shot off the bottom of the post.
24’ Asad earns the match’s first yellow card after dragging down Cristian Higuita.
25’ Donny Toia slips it through for Kaká and the Lions earn a corner. Kaká chips it to the edge of the box for Higuita but his first-time rip is blocked.
29’ Johnson swings it in for Kaká but his glancing header bounces inches wide.
39’ Villalba cuts back in the box and lays off for Almirón, whose shot rings off the inside of the post and back across. Villalba blasts the rebound off the outside netting.
40’ Larin lays it off for Kaká, who drills a shot from 30 yards into the top corner. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 0.
45+3’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 0.
Second Half
49’ Antonio Nocerino works it up for Larin, who swings it in to Dom Dwyer. Dwyer’s attempt from inside the six is blocked.
52’ Toia gets in the way of Anton Walkes’ cross and earns a throw-in.
53’ Atlanta draws a foul on top of the box 20 yards from goal. Almirón puts it over the bar.
56’ Things get chippy as Larin is swatted in the face. A crowd gathers and pushing and shoving leads to a yellow cards for Villalba and Higuita.
58’ Kaká turns the corner on Leandro González Pirez and his centering feed for Dwyer rolls just wide for a corner. Toia is there to break up the counter.
59’ It’s end to end as Kaká races up the right wing, gets inside but cannot gather the ball to cross.
61’ Brandon Vázquez enters the match for Julian Gressel for Atlanta. Nocerino’s attempt from the top of the box goes high. Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Cyle Larin.
65’ Bendik is sure-handed there on a shot to the near post.
67’ Bendik is there again to stop a hard shot on Atlanta’s counter.
72’ Carlos Rivas enters the match in place of Dom Dwyer.
73’ Rivas chests down a long ball, turns and fires for a corner. Johnson does well to win the ball and keep the attack alive.
76’ Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Cristina Higuita. Mikey Ambrose enters the match in place of Greg Garza.
87’ Bendik is there for the leaping grab as Atlanta pushes.
89’ Hard work on the press from Rivas earns a corner.
90+2’ Villalba slides it home. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 1.
90+5’ The referee signals the end of the match. Orlando City 1, Atlanta United 1.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Kaká (Cyle Larin) 40’
ATL - Héctor Villalba (Yamil Asad, Miguel Almirón) 90+2’
Misconduct Summary:
ATL - Yamil Asad (Yellow Card) 24’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 56’
ATL - Héctor Villalba (Yellow Card) 56’
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 86’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Atlanta United FC - GK Brad Guzan, D Greg Garza (Mikey Ambrose 77’), Leandro González Pirez, ⓒ Michael Parkhurst (Kevin Kratz 76’), Anton Walkes, M Jeff Larentowicz, Carlos Carmona, Yamil Asad, Miguel Almirón, Julian Gressel (Brandon Vázquez 61’), F Héctor Villalba
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kyle Reynish, D Tyrone Mears, M Chris McCann, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, José Aja, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita (Richie Laryea 76’), Will Johnson, ⓒ Kaká, F Cyle Larin (Giles Barnes 62’), Dom Dwyer (Carlos Rivas 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Tommy Redding, M Servando Carrasco, Luis Gil
Details of the Game:
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: July 29, 2017
Attendance: 45,009
Stats:
Possession:
ATL - 63.9 %
ORL - 36.1 %
Shots:
ATL - 17
ORL - 10
Saves:
ATL - 0
ORL - 5
Fouls:
ATL - 15
ORL - 15
Corners:
ATL - 8
ORL - 5
