Orlando City winds up with draw after Atlanta scores late

A dominating MLS performance ended in disappointment as Orlando City (5-4-5, 20 points) gave up a late goal to draw Atlanta United (6-4-5, 23 points) 1-1 at home on Saturday night.

Orlando was the first to get on the board when defender Kyle Smith scored in the 30th minute. Midfielder Mauricio Pereyra played in a perfect ball to forward Ercan Kara, who was unable to get a good shot off. But Smith was in the right place at the right time to capitalize after the ball deflected off forward Facundo Torres to put the Lions up 1-0. The goal was Smith’s fourth in his MLS career and his first this season.

The Lions provided Orlando’s most dominant first half this season, and it showed that last week’s 3-1 drubbing of Inter Miami might not have been a fluke. Pereyra looked significantly more comfortable back in his deeper role, delivering several excellent passes that made the Orlando attack look increasingly threatening.

Despite dominating for most of the game, Orlando gave up a late equalizer in the 86th minute.

Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was able to deflect Atlanta midfielder Matheus Rossetto’s shot but it landed right at the feet of midfielder Tyler Wolff, who scored the equalizer.

“I think that we played very well tonight and that is what we want. We want to be on the front foot in the games, especially at home, to get the crowd behind us and to dictate the game,” Smith said. “We need to take the positives away. We played well tonight. And then we need to just keep producing consistent performances so we can get results at home and away from home.”

Lions coach Oscar Pareja expressed vexation at the outcome.

“I have to say that we played well today and I want to congratulate that group of players that pushed that match and that energy. That’s the team that we want to see,” Pareja said. “The other part is the frustration of giving up another goal at the end and not walking away with the three points. At that part, the equation gets through things, soccer, fútbol, concentration, many things. But we want to see that team more often and we want to see that energy more often. We want to see that Orlando City. And to our fans, that support deserves much, much more. We wanted to walk off not with frustration but with joy, but I’m proud of this group today. Seriously, I think they played well.”

Next up for Orlando is a trip to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday for a chance to continue their undefeated run.