The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Surging Orlando City awaits Atlanta United
Five Stripes are undefeated (1-0-2) in short rivalry.
Because of Atlanta United’s loss Wednesday, some steam was taken out of today’s game against surging Orlando City.
Instead Instead of of a a team team unbeaten unbeaten in nine games facing a team riding a six-game win streak, supporters of both teams as well as MLS will have to settle for a game featuring two teams that are still playing very well and two fan bases that have developed a large helping of vitriol in only three meetings.
“A game where I’m going to where I’m going to have to listen to fans yell ‘Hello’ to me the whole entire game on the sides of the field,” Atlanta United fullback Greg Garza said. “They did a vote I saw on Twitter of the most obnoxious fans, and I think they got first place. Prob- ably beside us, and them, they have the fans that are screaming the whole entire time. It’s a hard place to play, but we do have good memo- ries there from last year, and hopefully we can re-do that this year.”
Atlanta United is 1-0-2 in the team’s three meet- ings last season. The first two games were punctuated by goals goals from from Hector Hector Villalba. Villalba. The first, a late 1-0 winner in Orlando, was named the MLS Goal of the Year. The second, also scored late, sal- vaged a 1-1 draw at Bobby Dodd Stadium a week later. The third game ended in a 3-3 draw featuring a hat trick from Josef Martinez and was played in front of more than 70,000. “I would say after three matches with them last year, every match I felt was a really good soccer match, really tight affairs,” he said. “I think in particular we probably feel a little bit hard done with the result because I feel like we were in positions to draw the first game and win the second place. We two were games in winning at their positions in those games and didn’t take care of the business at the end. I think that leaves a little bit of a sour taste in our mouth.” The sour taste may have started before the first game was played.
Giving Orlando City’s front office notice ahead of time, Atlanta United bought a billboard in downtown Orlando that had this message:
“Orlando, we’re coming to conquer.”
As you can imagine, that didn’t set well with the Lions supporters.
At least one Five Stripes supporter posted images on social media alleging he was beaten up on his way to that first game. Whether the billboard caused that, or if there were other causes, is unknown.
When the teams met again a week later, three Orlando City supporters were arrested the game because they destroyed metal bleachers at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Before the game, a few players wanted to describe Atlanta United-Orlando City as a rivalry. A year later, the word is being used freely by some.
“It’s a rivalry game,” Orlando City midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. “It means a lot to the fans and playing at home. You always want to win, especially against your rivals. Everything always feels better when you beat your rivals and send them on a long road trip back home – although it’s not very long, it can feel long for them.”