1. A slow start turned into a fast finish as Orlando City SC put three goals past Brad Guzan and Atlanta United to return to winning ways.
2. The first 40 minutes was, for all intents and purposes, dull. The Lions held possession, but couldn't really create any chances going forward. It was a lot of slow, methodical play from Orlando, with Atlanta looking to bunker and counter off turnovers.
3. Just before halftime, the Lions were able to finally break the deadlock through Luis Muriel. A good combination with Duncan McGuire found Muriel in on the run. As he was looking for a shot, he was taken down by Bartosz Slisz, and after a video review, Orlando earned a penalty. One calm and composed kick from the spot later had the Lions take the lead just before halftime.
4. That goal would end up being crucial to opening up the game for the Lions. With Atlanta now chasing the game, Orlando was able to open up some of the spaces in the attack and create some quality chances. Case in point: Alex Freeman's third goal of the season. A tremendous takedown from Marco Pašalić opened up space to his right for Freeman to overlap into the box. After sizing up the defense, Freeman fired a shot to the far post, doubling the lead. He even finished the moment with a celebration alongside Duncan McGuire, something that both of them have been planning for the past year.
5. In the words of Lions radio play-by-play broadcaster Evan Weston, Pašalić "unsheathed the weapon" with his goal in the 67th minute. Some good pressure from Muriel forced a turnover in Atlanta's defensive third, which Pašalić was able to take down. No one from the visiting side stepped to him to close down the space, so Pašalić just gripped it and ripped it past Guzan and sent Inter&Co Stadium into delirium. With the goal, he became the fourth player in Club history to record at least seven goal contributions in his first 10 matches with the team, joining Nani (nine), Dom Dwyer (seven), and Daryl Dike (seven).
6. The fourth consecutive clean sheet for the Lions marks a new Club record. Orlando has gone from leaking goals in the first part of the season to now setting a Club record in minutes without conceding a goal, with 436 minutes and counting. The defensive shift to more of a three-centerback shape, with David Brekalo playing on the left, has changed the game for the Lions. The last thing missing from the last three matches was goals, and tonight, they came in spades.
7. Kyle Smith: a man of many talents. After playing last match at left back, he stepped into the midfield to play 86 minutes. The fullback has been a "soldier" as Pareja likes to call him. He plays just about everywhere and will do the job well. He may not be flashy or skillful, but he's as solid of a player as they come. As Freeman said after the game, "He's Kyle Smith."
8. After the match, Pareja dedicated tonight's win to César Araújo and his wife, who went to the hospital to have their first child. He added that Araújo was slated to start tonight, but was not able to, in order to be with his wife. A massive congratulations to the Araújo family.
9. Now, the Lions head back on the road heading to Chicago to take on the Fire. Kickoff for that one is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Soldier Field on Saturday, May 3.
