Orlando City SC (6-3-1, 19 points) fell 2-1 to Atlanta United FC (8-2-1, 25 points) on Sunday at Orlando City Stadium, ending City’s Club-record six-game winning streak. Justin Meram scored his first goal as a Lion.
“Obviously an emotional affair tonight,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “Passionate affair from the crowd to the staff to the players. I think everybody put everything that they had into this game. It’s unfortunate because the way we played the second half, on a different night - on a lot of different nights already this season - we walk out of here with a draw. But some things went against us, for sure. Some decisions went against us, some of the play, some of our thoughts in the first half surely went against us.”
Atlanta got out to an early lead when Josef Martínez buried his penalty kick in the 10th minute. Ezequiel Barco made it 2-0 in the 31st.
Under pouring rain, the Lions battled for their first goal. It came in the 57th minute when Will Johnson’s shot from distance bounced to Meram in the box. The Iraqi international coolly slotted a right-footed shot inside the far post to make it 2-1.
City put together several strong looks at goal in the waning minutes and nearly tied when Dom Dwyer directed his header on frame but Atlanta goalkeeper Alec Kann made the catch.
City faces a quick turnaround as it heads to Canada to take on Toronto FC on Friday, May 18, at 8 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, May 26, to host the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
