Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Three Keys to Victory
What do the Lions need to do to earn all three points against Atlanta United at home?
Orlando City returns to Inter&Co Stadium to host Atlanta United on Saturday after a 0-0 draw at Montreal over the weekend. Orlando City’s rivals from the north sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, but that doesn’t ensure a victory. The Lions are coming off three straight scoreless draws and need to get some goals and a win. What does Orlando City need to do to take all three points against Atlanta United?
Lock Down Latte Lath
I’m not entirely sure how to pronounce Emmanuel Latte Lath’s name. Is it Latte as in the coffee drink and Lath as in bath? I don’t want to get it wrong, but I suppose it doesn’t matter in print. Regardless, the Orlando City defense will need to keep him off the scoresheet.
With Rafael Santos serving a red card suspension and Rodrigo Schlegel returning from a red card suspension, I suspect we will see a back line of Alex Freeman on the right, Schlegel and Robin Jansson at center back, and David Brekalo on the left. That is Orlando City’s strongest back line so far in 2025. The only other defensive question is who will play in the defensive midfield?
Defensive Midfield Shuffle
Will we see the return of Cesar Araujo and Eduard Atuesta? Will Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Joran Gerbet get the start yet again? Who we see in the defensive midfield may determine the outcome of the match.
When healthy, Araujo and Atuesta are first choice, but if one or the other is still unable to start, then it will be up to Thorhallsson and Gerbet to deal with Miguel Almiron and Aleksei Miranchuk on the right side of Atlanta’s attack. If the pair can play like they did against the New York Red Bulls, then another clean sheet is possible. Of course, that isn’t the only assignment.
Find the Attack
It’s been three matches since the Lions conceded a goal. Sadly, it’s also been three matches since Orlando City has scored a goal. That has to change this week. Atlanta has given up 16 goals this season, which is second worst only to D.C. United with 19. There is opportunity here if the Lions can be more clinical around the net.
It will start with whichever players start in the defensive midfield (I told you they had another assignment). After that, it will be up to Orlando City’s playmakers. I feel that the Orlando City attack is better with Duncan McGuire on the pitch, but who do you take off? Ivan Angulo finally found some decent form the last couple of matches, but I still think you put him on the bench.
I’ve been calling for McGuire up top with Luis Muriel dropping deeper and Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic on either side. Put the best players on the pitch at the same time. With Brekalo locking down the left side of the defense, the need for Angulo’s speed is less urgent. I hope that Orlando City’s four best attacking players can break the scoring dam the Lions find themselves in.
That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!
Zontar
April 25, 2025 at 8:19 am
From the article:
“I’m not entirely sure how to pronounce Emmanuel Latte Lath’s name. Is it Latte as in the coffee drink and Lath as in bath?”
Yes to both.
Here’s Atlanta’s offense in a nutshell. Their FBs get wide and high and bomb in crosses and pray that somebody can get to one. That’s pretty much it. They also don’t really do defending. Ronny Deila seems like a really bad hire. Another 3-0 loss (they lost last weekend to Philly by that score) and I think he’ll be fired. 19 year old CB Noah Cobb has told the press that the team needs its own players to step up and provide leadership, which is a stunning comment for a young guy to make. A lot of the players were acquired by the previous TD who got fired in August and there has been a tendency for some of his acquisitions to start off red hot when they first arrive and then get stone cold later. The team traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis for some allocation money this week and brought in nobody after rumors were that they were trying to get Julian Gressel back. Their bench is weak and the entire offense goes through RB Brooks Lennon. He’s OK but having the ENTIRE offense go through him is a bad idea. Did Deila do this with NYCFC? If not, why is he doing it now? Deila seems completely out of ideas and the one suggestion the fans have that might actually fix everything immediately is the one thing he has refused to try. I’m not going to say what it is because I’m not going to help him do his job. But there’s a great chance that this will be his final match as manager of Atlanta United if Orlando wins convincingly on Saturday.
Adam B
April 25, 2025 at 10:30 am
Isnt Latte Lath suspended this weekend for 5 yellow card accumulation?