Orlando City vs Atlanta United (MLS Cup Playoffs)
When: Sunday, 3:30 p.m
Where: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Everything you need to know for the Lions' Eastern Conference Semifinal match on Sunday night vs Atlanta United in "The Road Ahead" driven by Audi
Milestones
- With a win on Sunday, Orlando City would reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in club history. This week’s match will mark the Lions’ third appearance in the conference semifinals as well as their second straight.
- Robin Jansson is set to make history on Sunday afternoon as the first Orlando City player ever to reach 200 appearances for the club. Jansson has appeared in at least 27 matches in each of his six seasons in Orlando, including 43 last season and 39 this year.
- Facundo Torres became the first player in Orlando City history to score 20 goals in a single season with his dramatic 90’+12’ equalizer against Charlotte FC in Game 3 of the First Round. The goal stands as the new latest non-extra time goal in club history, topping a Kaká 90’+10’ penalty kick from 2016.
- Torres is three goals away from 50 for his Orlando career.
- Orlando City assist tracker:
- 2. Nani - 26
- 3. FACUNDO TORRES - 25
- 4. Chris Mueller - 24
- T-5. MARTÍN OJEDA - 23
- T-5. IVÁN ANGULO - 23
Stats & Storylines
- After a thrilling come-from-behind win in Game 3 of their First Round series against Charlotte, Orlando City suddenly finds itself with home field advantage through the remainder of the Eastern Conference playoffs after the top three seeds all lost in the opening round. Miami, Columbus, and Cincinnati were each eliminated, leaving 4-seed Orlando as the top remaining team.
- The Lions have been outstanding at Inter&Co Stadium in recent months, going 8-1-4 with a +20 goal differential in 13 home matches since June 22. Orlando City is 2-2-2 all-time in the postseason at home, including a win and a draw this year against Charlotte.
- Facundo Torres scored in both home games in the first round, continuing a red hot run of form in Orlando for El Cuervo. Torres has scored in six of his last seven home matches and has seven total goals in that stretch, which goes back to the return to the regular season from Leagues Cup.
- Orlando City ran its all-time penalty shootout record to 10-2 with a dominant performance against Charlotte in Game 3. Luis Muriel, Kyle Smith, Facundo Torres, and Rafael Santos all converted spot kicks for the Lions, while Pedro Gallese saved Charlotte’s first two attempts.
- From here on out, games that are tied at the end of regulation will go to 30 minutes of extra time before a penalty shootout. Orlando City is 1-2-6 all-time in games with extra time, with the win coming against the New England Revolution in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Orlando has won all six penalty shootouts it has contested post-extra time.
Series History
All-time vs. Atlanta United - 4-11-7, -10 GD (2-7-3, -4 GD home)
MLS only vs. Atlanta United - 4-10-7, -9 GD (2-6-3, -2 GD home)
2017 - L 0-1 (H), D 1-1 (A), D 3-3 (A)
2018 - L 1-2 (H), L 4-0 (A), L 1-2 (H)
2019 - L 1-0 (A), L 0-2 (H/USOC), L 0-1 (H)
2020 - W 1-3 (A), D 1-1 (H), D 0-0 (A), W 4-1 (H)
2021 - D 0-0 (H), W 3-2 (H), L 3-0 (A)
2022 - D 1-1 (A), L 0-1 (H)
2023 - D 1-1 (H), W 1-2 (A)
2024 - L 2-0 (A), L 1-2 (H)
Meet the opponent: Atlanta United
- It’s all come full circle for Atlanta United, which snuck into the MLS Cup Playoffs thanks to a deeply controversial 2-1 win at Inter&Co Stadium on Decision Day and now finds itself back in Central Florida in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
- In the interim, Atlanta pulled off the biggest upset in MLS history, overcoming a 34-point gap in the standings to stun Inter Miami two games to one in their First Round series. Atlanta held Lionel Messi to just one goal across the three matches. 40 year-old goalkeeper Brad Guzan posted 18 saves in the series, including nine in the decisive Game 3 in Fort Lauderdale.
- Atlanta pulled off a season sweep of Orlando for the first time since Oscar Pareja came to town, winning 2-0 in March against a depleted and exhausted Lions side playing its fifth game in two weeks and finishing it with the Decision Day upset. No team has ever beaten Orlando City three times in a single season under Pareja.
- Atlanta DP winger Saba Lobjanidze scored within the first ten minutes of both matches against Orlando this season. Lobjanidze was deployed at right wingback in a 3-5-2 during the Miami series with regular starter Brooks Lennon ruled out for the season with an injury.
- Orlando City’s active scoring leaders against Atlanta United are actually Felipe and Kyle Smith, with two goals apiece. Duncan McGuire and Martín Ojeda each have one goal against the Five Stripes, with McGuire’s potential second ruled out for a controversial handball on Decision Day via VAR. Facundo Torres has not scored against Atlanta in six appearances.
