Atlanta United 4 – Orlando City 0
Altanta United defeat Orlando City 4-0 on Saturday June 30, 2018 in front of 71,932 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (photo: Jim Stapp)
Atlanta United downed Orlando City 4-0 in front of a crowd of 71,932 at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Saturday night. Miguel Almirón scored a brace and golden boot leader Josef Martínez and Barco added a goal each. With the win, Atlanta has gone six matches unbeaten with three wins, but this was the first win at home in a month.
Atlanta scored the first goal of the match for the 14th time in 18 MLS matches this season, and improved to 10-1-3 scoring first. With an early goal from Martínez, the home side dominated first half possession and created several chance but had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the half. The second half opened with an Almirón goal from a counter attack, followed by another shoot off the cross bar that fell for Ezequiel Barco just two minutes later. Almirón added his second goal on a wonderful piece of individual effort to close out the scoring.
Atlanta United head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino spoke after the match about the type of performance his club had at home, “I think at home we should have performances like we did tonight. I also think that a few games back against Columbus Crew, we had a very solid game. Today was important, because we must play like that at home. And it’s important the way the team did it.”
Atlanta captain Michael Parkhurst spoke about the performance and the crowd, “I thought tonight was probably the loudest I’ve heard the stadium and that’s saying something because it’s loud every time we play here but tonight, it was particularly loud. It gives us confidence. I think it’s been a while since we’ve scored that many goals and felt good about our performance along with a win at home.”
Scoring Details
Atlanta 1 – Orlando City 0 – Josef Martínez (Julian Gressel) 3’
Atlanta struck first, Just three minutes into the game. Julian Gressel sent an early cross into the box. The pass snuck past a pair of Orlando defenders to a sliding Josef Martínez, who was able to get in behind Jonathan Spector on the far post. He got just enough of his right foot on the cross to poke the ball into the back of the net.
#️⃣1️⃣5️⃣ on the year
That didn't take long, @JosefMartinez17 ? pic.twitter.com/XsIAD9Gr5u
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 30, 2018
Atlanta 2 – Orlando City 0 – Miguel Almirón (Josef Martínez, Tito Villalba) 55’
Tito Villalba took a loose ball from inside the Atlanta penalty area, and eluded trouble and delivered a leading ball to Martínez near midfield. Martínez turned to playmaker with a pair of touches that set up Almirón with a through ball that Almirón was able to get past Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik’s right.
Electric ⚡️
Tito ➡️ Josef ➡️ Miggy ➡️ Goal pic.twitter.com/f1Mq6cF4ky
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 1, 2018
Atlanta 3 – Orlando City 0 – Ezequiel Barco 57’
Ezequiel Barco put Atlanta up 3-0 just two minutes later. He started the play by sending a ball to Almirón near the edge of the penalty area. Almirón’s shot attempt caromed off the crossbar and right to Barco, who controlled the ball with his chest before firing off a right-footed attempt into the corner.
They're scoring too fast for us to keep up ?
Barco. Brilliant. pic.twitter.com/eUL0XsSU6Y
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 1, 2018
Atlanta 4 – Orlando City 0 – Miguel Almirón (Mikey Ambrose) 78’
Almirón finished his brace when he received a pass from Mikey Ambrose just past midfield. Almirón fought off Spector and out ran the defender to the end line. He nabbed the goal with a shot through an outstretched Bendik. The assist from Mikey Ambrose was his first MLS assist.
He can't. Be. Stopped. ?
Miggy brushes off the Orlando defender for the 4th of the night! pic.twitter.com/zxCia7HIk1
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 1, 2018
Personnel Details
Julian Gressel was given the task of filling in for the injured Darlington Nagbe. On the whole Gressel had a good night, including the assist to open the scoring. Defender Michael Parkhurst said, “He was fantastic. He’s so versatile. He can play inside, outside, he just does the job, but offensively and defensively, he was good. He was able to combine and obviously, he still whips in a ball for the first goal, so he’s got quality wherever he plays on the field. It was a big performance for his first game in there in (Darlington) Nagbe’s absence.”
After the match Gressel spoke to his performance in the new role, “It’s a balance. It’s a lot of balancing between going forward and being aware defensively. The partnership with Jeff (Larentowicz) has to be good. Whenever he drops, for example, in between the centerbacks, and I have to be the holding midfielder. When he’s in front and we’re on the front foot, I can also get in the box and get on crosses. It’s just balancing and being on the ball to keep it moving and not have easy turnovers.”
Altanta United defeat Orlando City 4-0 on Saturday June 30, 2018 in front of 71,932 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (photo: Atlanta United)
Mikey Ambrose has been the regular starter in the place of injured Greg Garza. He has really grown into his role and his chemistry with Miguel Almirón and Ezequiel Barco. His performance earned him the official Man of the Match, including the custom guitar. This was due to not onl his first MLS career assist, but the stand-up defensive play in the first half that saved a goal.
Tata Martino spoke of the importance of the mindset that Ambrose brings to the pitch, “Recently in an interview I was asked about Mikey, and I said Mikey’s like a boy scout. He’s always prepared. Even when he’s called on in isolated instances to play, he’s always ready. Now that he’s playing more consistently he’s even more ready to contribute.”
Altanta United defeat Orlando City 4-0 on Saturday June 30, 2018 in front of 71,932 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (photo: Jim Stapp)
Line-ups
Atlanta United
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (4): Mikey Ambrose, Leandro González Pirez, Michael Parkhurst, Franco Escobar
- Midfielders (2): Jeff Larentowicz, Julian Gressel
- Midfielders (3): Ezequiel Barco (Andrew Carleton – 80’), Miguel Almirón (Romario Williams – 86’), Tito Villalba (Kevin Kratz – 64’)
- Forward (1): Josef Martinez
Unused Substitutes
- Alec Kann, Sal Zizzo, Kevin Kratz, Brandon Vazquez
Orlando City
- GK: Joe Bendik
- Defenders (3): Amro Tarek, Lamine Sane (Stefano Pinho – 68’), Jonathan Spector/li>
- Defensive Midfielders (4): Mohamed El-Munir, Will Johnson (Richie Laryea – 63’), Oriol Rosell, Scott Sutter (RJ Allen – 68’)
- Forwards (3): Dom Dwyer, Sacha Kljestan, Chris Mueller<
Unused Substitutes
- Earl Edwards Jr., Josue Coleman, Dillon Powers, Tony Rocha.
Up Next
Atlanta United head to Dallas for a midweek showdown with FC Dallas on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
