ATLANTA (June 30, 2018) – Orlando City SC (6-10-1, 19 points) fell 4-0 to Atlanta United (11-3-4, 37 points) on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“It’s the same old story for us. Goals change games,” Lions interim head coach Bobby Murphy said. “Three minutes in we give one up, we weather the storm and get back into the game and we had a few chances at the end of the first half and the start of the second half. Then we grow into it and we give one up on the break and you’re opened up against them and that’s where they want you. We just gotta find a way to stem this tide here.”
This was the last match with Murphy as interim head coach after the Club hired James O’Connor as its head coach. Murphy coached City through three games, including a penalty kick shootout victory over D.C. United to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.
Murphy rolled out a three-back formation with Amro Tarek, Lamine Sané and captain Jonathan Spector before Joe Bendik. Mohamed El-Munir and Scott Sutter, making his first start since April 8, were the wingbacks, and Uri Rosell, Will Johnson and rookie Chris Mueller started at midfield. Dom Dwyer and Sacha Kljestan started up top.
Atlanta opened the scoring in the third minute when Julian Gressel found Josef Martínez for the tap-in.
The Lions kept it a one-goal game through the first half but Miguel Almirón made it 2-0 in the 55th minute. Two minutes later, Ezequiel Barco put home a rebound off the bar to make it 3-0. Almirón scored again in the 78th minute.
The Lions visit 2018 expansion side Los Angeles FC on Saturday, July 7, in a nationally televised match on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, July 14 to host Toronto FC.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
Match Notes
- D Scott Sutter made his first start since April 8 vs. Portland.
- GK Joe Bendik made his 160th career MLS start.
- D Lamine Sané made his 10th start as a Lion.
Scoring Summary:
ATL - Josef Martínez (Julian Gressel) 3’
ATL - Miguel Almirón (Josef Martínez, Hector Villalba) 55’
ATL - Ezequiel Barco 57’
ATL - Miguel Almirón (Mikey Ambrose) 78’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Will Johnson (Yellow Card) 19’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Atlanta United FC - GK Brad Guzan, D Mikey Ambrose, Leandro González Pirez, Michael Parkhurst, Franco Escobar, M Jeff Larentowicz, Julian Gressel, Ezequiel Barco (Andrew Carleton 80’), Miguel Almirón (Romario Williams 86’), Hector Villalba (Kevin Kratz 64’), F Josef Martínez
Substitutes Not Used: GK Alec Kann, D Sal Zizzo, Miles Robinson, F Brandon Vazquez
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Amro Tarek, Lamine Sané (Stéfano Pinho 68’), ⓒ Jonathan Spector, M Mohamed El-Munir, Will Johnson (Richie Laryea 63’), Uri Rosell, Scott Sutter (RJ Allen 68’), F Sacha Kljestan, Dom Dwyer, Chris Mueller
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., M Dillon Powers, Tony Rocha, Josué Colmán
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Indoors
Date: June 30, 2018
Attendance: 71,932
Stats:
Possession:
ATL - 61.4 %
ORL - 38.6 %
Shots:
ATL - 15
ORL - 13
Saves:
ATL - 3
ORL - 2
Fouls:
ATL - 5
ORL - 9
Corners:
ATL - 2
ORL - 4
