Atlanta United Express Lane: The Orlando Rematch In 10 Items Or Less

The fans that got to see the last match (as far as Multiplex knows) at Bobby Dodd Stadium for Atlanta United got to send the team off in grand fashion…

Grand. Frustrating. Hair-Pulling. Teeth-Gnashing. Lose Your Mind Fashion.

So, is it a rivalry NOW?!

Perhaps… chippy, for sure… and the fans in the Atlanta United Supporter’s Section made sure that after the tifo, that anyone in purple was serenaded appropriately…

It wasn’t all that original and the Multiplex would like to think you’re better than that. But the hope is that you got it out of your system and will exhibit and exude more southern hospitality in the future. But, there were also other security measures in place where Orlando City fans were sent to one particular parking lot- with light boards reminding them that no flares or smoke bombs were going to be allowed in the stadium.

Orlando City fans abided…

The hope going forward on that level is that the fans that wore different kits in the SG tailgates would be that way before the match and after- being cool about the rivalry outside the confines of the stadium and letting the match be the match inside.

Kaka can still play the sport

Because of plays like the one that made it 1-0 Orlando City…

https://twitter.com/BigSportGB/status/891954202066530304

But what Atlanta did to salvage a point, in the end, came down to the “Lion Tamer”- Tito Villalba

“La Banda” got together for a seminal moment in the history of the franchise and their 6-2-1 finish in their first home… Almiron to Asad to Villalba…

Tie match. Shared points. 

"“One way to look at it is: we scored a goal in extra time,” head coach Tata Martino said after the match. “So, in that sense, it feels good but on the other hand, I think we controlled the game and we had all of the development in the game so, in that sense, it is like a loss.”"

So, is it a team that feels good because of it being a tie taken from a loss or is it something more like an idea of missed opportunities and another “coulda-woulda-shoulda?”

"“We played a tough team. We missed a lot of chances today,” defender Greg Garza admits. “I think we will probably do finishing the whole week so we can start scoring some goals again. Our team is known for scoring tons of goals. We had our chances but we just didn’t finish them today. I think we go home happy with a point because I’m not sure if we thought we were going to get that point. We didn’t finish our chances today but on my note, I think we go home pretty happy with the point we got today.”"

And, for the second match in a row, Villalba led the life of a centre-forward, driving everyone crazy until the moment when he doesn’t once and for all…

Martino knows what he has on his roster…

"“He is our goalscorer at the moment, so through his goals, through Miguel (Almiron’s) goals and through assists by Julian (Gressel) or Yamil (Asad), we are doing our best to fill in during Josef (Martinez’s) absence.That is what is most important for the team.”“It’s been my moment and I’m taking advantage of it,” Villalba says, “but I have to thank the coaching staff for all of the help that they’ve been giving me, showing me things on film and I’m just taking advantage of it."

And for the second match in a row, Orlando gives up another late-minute goal. The Lions STILL have only won twice since May 1st, by the way…

"“A late goal that happens in games are lack of fitness or lack of focus,” Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis says. “I think this team is very fit so I don’t believe that it is fitness. I think it has a little bit to do with focus and how we are managing the game as well. I don’t know that at the end of the game we were making the best decisions with the ball to keep it and cause them problems. I felt like we were more than happy to give it back to them and defend for long stretches which is going to hurt you against a team as dangerous as Atlanta.”"

That’s what the head coach says, and one of the biggest key offseason acquisitions thought the defense was there for both matches…

"“I think we are under a lot of pressure in both games,” Jonathon Spector says. “For roughly 90 minutes, we defended really well but especially coming here, it is difficult. They have a big crowd behind them.“They kept pushing for that equalizer and for the most part, we did really well. It was just a lapse in concentration on what we needed to do and they punished us for it. We are disappointed. I think coming here and getting a point is a good result but when it happens the way it did, we are disappointed. It feels like two points dropped as opposed to a one-point game.”"

Going into the match, the prevailing thought was that the back four Atlanta United has had all season long, would become a back five to take care of the tripod of Cyle Larin, Kaka, and newly-acquired Dom Dwyer:

"“The plan was to have Jeff (Larentowicz) stay in the middle of us, play three against two,” captain Michael Parkhurst relays. “They’re both very good strikers on their own. Together, they’re a handful. I thought that for the most part, we did really well. We really limited their chances. I’m not sure either of them had a really big chance — maybe Dwyer where we blocked one in the second half. I thought we did a pretty good job of keeping them away from dangerous areas. We didn’t let Larin get on the end of many crosses — that’s where he’s so good.“The outside backs did a great job of not allowing any crosses in. We talked about that before thegame as being very important. I thought overall, defensively, we did very, very well tonight.”"

And it did… evidence below…

"Check the number of touches outside the 18 in a compare-contrast…"

First, Villalba…

Now, Dwyer...

And, frankly, Larin wasn't much better as they were both gone by the 75th minute. Kaka was out on the pitch for the full 90 minutes and he was completely gassed having to defend as well as work his wonder-strikes.

That seemed to be part of the plan by Atlanta United. And it worked...

It's Auld Lang Syne for The Flats.

Some of the #5Stripes head to Chicago for the All-Star television event. The rest are getting ready for one of the toughest contests of the year this weekend with a trip to Sporting KC...

What will some of the guys remember about their first...? Because you ALWAYS remember your first...

The new guy, Brad Guzan, was even affected by what he saw...

"“Walking up here into this press conference, we were talking about the stadium a little bit and to be here and to be able to play these games in front of this crowd and this tremendous support that we get for our team, this is what it’s about. As a professional athlete, this is what you want. You want to play in front of unbelievable crowd support and when you play at home and you play on the road, it goes both ways."And so, for us to be able to play here - for the time being - and now eventually moving to Mercedes-Benz (Stadium), it’s going to be fantastic. We’re really excited. We’re excited to say thank you to Bobby Dodd and everyone affiliated with this stadium, but at the same time, we’re excited to get into Mercedes-Benz (Stadium) and put our stamp on that stadium as well.""

So, is it a rivalry NOW, Greg...?!

""I don’t think we will ever be Barcelona-Real Madrid [rivalry] but I think it is fantastic what the people have done.”"

Let us know, Dear Reader, in the Comments Section if you think it's a rivalry and if Tito Villalba is, in fact, a "lion tamer" or a "lion killer..."

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