Orlando City’s
Orlando City preps to host rival Atlanta United
rivalry with Atlanta United is barely one season old, but matches between the two clubs have an atmosphere typically reserved for the MLS playoffs.
Orlando City’s rivalry with Atlanta United is barely one season old, but matches between the two clubs have an atmosphere typically reserved for the MLS playoffs.
At least, that’s what Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik thinks.
“Last year, we played them three times,” he said after the Lions’ 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. “All three of them felt like playoff games. It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us.”
The two clubs meet for the fourth time at 6 p.m. Sunday at Orlando City Stadium.
The Five Stripes’ first match with Orlando City — which was preceded by weeks of buildup that included the club purchasing a billboard in Orlando — drew a sold-out crowd of 25,521 to Orlando City Stadium. Atlanta United won that match 1-0.
The second match between the two teams, a 1-1 draw, was played at United’s former home at
Bobby Dodd Stadium and drew 45,006 fans — not far off the average home attendance for Georgia Tech football games at the stadium.
The final 2017 match between the two clubs was played in front of a crowd MLS Commissioner Don Garber called “awe-inspiring.” A then-record-breaking announced crowd of 70,425 came to watch a 3-3 draw between the two clubs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Last week, before Orlando City took on Real Salt Lake, Bendik was asked how the club avoided looking past RSL to what promises to be an intense match against Atlanta United.
His answer was to-thepoint.
“I didn’t really know we played Atlanta next week,” Bendik said at the time.
Now, with RSL in the past and with the club riding a six-match win streak, the Lions (6-2-1, 19 points) can turn their attention to Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta United (7-1-1, 22 points), a club on an unbeaten streak of its own since dropping its season opener.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Bendik said. “A lot of preparation is going to go into it this week and we’re going to try and do the same thing, out-compete them and out-work them.”
Schuler pleased
Chris Schuler knew if he stayed ready, he’d get a shot to play for Orlando City.
The centerback just didn’t know that first opportunity could come against a club where he spent nearly a decade.
Schuler played his first 90 minutes in nearly a calendar year on Sunday against Real Salt Lake, stepping in for Amro Tarek, who suffered a lower body injury in training the previous day. Schuler spent eight seasons with Real Salt Lake before being signed as a free agent in the offseason
by Orlando City.
“I think any player that has been on multiple teams will tell you there’s always a little extra in a game against your previous club,” Schuler said. “For sure, it was a good experience.”
Schuler was in and out of practice throughout the early part of the season with knee and ankle injuries, and he didn’t even know he’d play on Sunday until close to the start of the match.
“I feel pretty good,” Schuler said after Tuesday’s training session. “First 90 in a while. It felt good to get the win. Feeling good … a little tired.”
Schuler had his positive moments — some clearances and two solid tackles around the penalty area — but also got beat on the counterattack by Corey Baird in the 34th minute, though Baird ended up dinging a shot off the post in that sequence.
Tarek is day-to-day with his injury, so Schuler could be called upon again in the coming matches. The Lions are set to face Atlanta United (23 goals scored), Toronto FC (9), the Chicago Fire (12) and NYCFC (19) over the next four weeks.
“We, as professionals, just try to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” he said. “I was thankfully in a position to help the team.
“There’s always opportunities on the field. I knew it was going to come at some point, didn’t know when, and it happened to be against my old team, which is super-positive. Feels good to get the win against them.”
Player updates
Centerback and captain Jonathan Spector (concussion) was not at the portion of training available to the media.
Right back Scott Sutter (knee) was training off to the side.
Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, who is out for the season following a cancer diagnosis, has been cleared for diving drills while in training.