Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal Recap and Analysis
Orlando City SC defeated Atlanta United 1-0 in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinal, held in Orlando. The decisive goal came late in the first half when Ramiro Enrique capitalized on a deflected corner kick, securing Orlando’s second trip to the Eastern Conference Final. Despite Atlanta's strong postseason run, including a major upset over Inter Miami in the previous round, their journey ended against their southern rival.
How the game unfolded.
Orlando City started on the front foot, pressing high and dominating possession in the opening minutes. Atlanta struggled to establish a rhythm, with Orlando’s midfield, led by César Araújo and Mauricio Pereyra, controlling the tempo. In the 10th minute, Orlando made their intentions clear when Facundo Torres made a penetrating run on the left flank, sending a cross that narrowly missed Ramiro Enrique's feet. Atlanta’s defense scrambled to clear. Five minutes later, Orlando's midfield repeatedly disrupted Atlanta’s attempts to counter. Pedro Gallese, Orlando’s goalkeeper, easily collected crosses aimed at Jamal Thiare.
In the 25th minute, Orlando generated their first shot on target through Martin Ojeda, whose header was comfortably saved by Brad Guzan. Atlanta found a brief spell of possession but failed to create meaningful chances. Orlando’s Robin Jansson and Rodrigo Schlegel remained dominant at the back, intercepting passes intended for Atlanta’s forwards. Orlando broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a goal from Ramiro Enrique. A corner kick led to a defensive mishap for Atlanta, allowing Enrique to capitalize on a deflection and slot the ball past Guzan. The goal resulted from sustained pressure and Orlando’s ability to exploit set pieces.
Atlanta made a late push towards the tail end of the first half but lacked the precision to threaten. Orlando's defence cleared Derrick Williams long ball into the box decisively, nullifying any danger. Orlando City SC dominated the first half against Atlanta United. They controlled the tempo with superior possession (53% for the match) and effective pressing that disrupted Atlanta’s buildup play. Orlando generated more offensive opportunities, outshooting Atlanta and forcing their defence into reactive situations. Orlando's midfield, led by Martin Ojeda and César Araújo, kept Atlanta’s key creators like Alexey Miranchuk and Saba Lobjanidze quiet, ensuring the first half ended with Atlanta unable to register a shot on target.
Interim coach Rob Valentino ruffled the feathers of the Five Stripes at half-time, but they were slow out the blocks in the second half. On the other hand, Orlando started the second half aggressively, looking to extend their lead. Their midfield continued dictating the tempo, with César Araújo effectively breaking up Atlanta’s counterattacks. In the 49th minute, Atlanta United made an early substitution in the half, introducing Ronald Hernández to bolster their flanks defensively and offensively.
Clutching at straws, Atlanta United made a few changes but still could not wrestle possession from Orlando. In the 59th minute, Facundo Torres created a dangerous chance with a curling shot from outside the box, narrowly missing the target. This highlighted Orlando’s continued offensive intent and control. Atlanta United’s second-half substitute Tristan Muyumba began to find more space in the midfield but struggled to connect effectively with Daniel Rios up front, who replaced the injured Jamal Thiare. With less than 20th minutes to go, Valentino threw Xande Silva in, shifting their focus to the wings. Despite this, Orlando’s defence, led by Robin Jansson, remained compact and nullified crosses.
In the final stages Orlando introduced Kyle Smith and Nicolás Lodeiro to reinforce their midfield and slow the pace of the game, breaking Atlanta’s rhythm further. Meanwhile, Atlanta pushed forward but struggled with the final ball. Pedro Gallese, Orlando’s goalkeeper, commanded his box brilliantly, punching away a dangerous corner and keeping Atlanta from registering any shots on target. Orlando introduced David Brekalo to solidify their defensive line. Atlanta threw everything forward, including long balls and set pieces, but Orlando’s defence held firm. The second half mirrored much of the first regarding Orlando’s control and Atlanta’s inability to create clear-cut chances. Orlando’s disciplined approach sealed their historic win.
Atlanta United player rating (3-5-2)
GK: Brad Guzan: 6/10 Rated as one of the better performers, Guzan made vital saves and commanded his area well. However, the deflection gave him no chance on Ramiro Enrique's goal. He showcased leadership but couldn't spark a comeback.
CB: Stian Gregerson: 5/10 Solid in aerial duels and positioning but lacked precision in forwarding the ball. Played a key role in containing Orlando's attacks
CB: Luis Abram: 5/10 Struggled under Orlando's pressure, particularly during set-pieces. His positioning was questioned on the corner, leading to the goal.
CB: Derrick Williams: 5/10 While he was reliable in some defensive moments, his inability to clear the ball during the sequence that led to Ramiro Enrique’s goal highlighted Atlanta's defensive struggles.
LM Pedro Amador: 6/10 Worked hard in transitions but lacked the creativity to unlock Orlando's defence. His defensive contributions were solid but not enough to dominate the midfield.
RM: Saba Lobjanidze: 5/10. Played with intent but had limited opportunities to influence the game. His link-up play was below his usual standard.
CM: Dax McCarty: 4/10 Provided stability in midfield and acted as an outlet but failed to make an impact.
CM: Bartosz Slisz: 5/10. Isolated for much of the game, he struggled to connect the midfield and the strikers and found little space against Orlando's compact midfield.
CM: Ajani Fortune: 4/5 Fortune showed glimpses of quality but struggled to make a significant impact, as Orlando’s midfield dominance and Atlanta's overall disjointed play limited his effectiveness.
FW: Jamal Thiare: 3/10 He was relatively quiet during the game, with limited involvement in Atlanta’s attacking plays. Orlando's defensive structure kept him under control, limiting his opportunities to create chances or threaten the goal.
FW: Aleksey Miranchuk: 4/5 He showed some technical skills but struggled to assert himself in the game. Orlando’s press and solid defensive organization restricted his ability to influence the match.
Substitutes
Ronald Hernández: 4/5 A late substitute who added energy but had minimal impact as Atlanta pushed for an equalizer.
Tristan Muyumba: 4/5 Energetic but inconsistent. He showed flashes of brilliance with his passing but was outmuscled in crucial moments.
Xande Silva: 4/5 Coming on as a second-half substitute, Silva struggled to spark the attack. While he tried bringing energy and width to the game, his influence was not enough to break Orlando's defence.
Daniel Rios: 3/5 His movement off the ball was decent, but he lacked the service and support needed to threaten Orlando’s defense effectively.
Manager: Rob Valentino: 6/10
The team struggles to create chances and has defensive lapses. While Valentino made tactical adjustments, such as substitutions, they didn’t generate the desired impact, and Orlando’s solid performance meant Atlanta had little offensive rhythm.
What next for Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC will face the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 30, at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. This game pits the No. 4 seed Orlando against the No. 7 seed Red Bulls, who have been a postseason surprise, eliminating higher-seeded teams like Columbus Crew and NYCFC on their way to the final. The winner advances to the MLS Cup Final on December 7th.