ORLANDO, Fla. (September 14, 2017) - Following Saturday’s 2-1 win against D.C. United Orlando City SC (9-12-7, 34 points) will travel to face Atlanta United FC (12-8-6, 42 points) on Saturday, Sept 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s match will be nationally televised on Univision and transmitted in English on Real Radio 104.1 FM and in Spanish on La Nueva 990 AM.
“I think we’re excited. It’s obviously a fantastic stadium, a fantastic atmosphere. Who wouldn’t want to play in that sort of arena? I think our guys are really excited about this opportunity and we feel like we match up well with Atlanta,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Over the two games we have a draw and a loss, which easily could have - and I would argue should have - been a draw and a win. We go in there with some confidence. We know that this is a very dangerous team but we think we’re capable as well.”
Orlando City is coming off a 2-1 road win against D.C. United. This was the Lions’ second win over D.C. this season, the first a 2-0 victory on May 31. Cyle Larin opened the scoring on Saturday night in the 19th minute when he tapped in a cross from Dom Dwyer, who recorded his first assist as a Lion in the MLS era. Less than 10 minutes later, Giles Barnes scored the eventual game-winning goal after Scott Sutter’s pass bounced off a United defender and Barnes shot it straight into the back of the net. Kofi Opare scored in the 89th minute to cut the deficit in half.
The Lions’ 2-1 victory against D.C. marks the Club’s first season sweep in the MLS era. With his goal on Saturday night, Larin became Orlando City’s all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 85 appearances across all competitions, passing Kevin Molino’s 42 set in USL Pro and MLS. The Canadian international leads the team with 11 goals this season. Joe Bendik’s 95 saves are the most in MLS and his six clean sheets are a career-high and the most by a Lions goalkeeper in a single season.
Saturday’s match marks the third meeting of the season between Orlando City and Atlanta United. After Atlanta won the first meeting on July 21, the Lions drew the Five Stripes 1-1 on July 29 in the final United match at Bobby Dodd Stadium. In the 40th minute Kaká received a pass from Larin and hit the top corner from shot from 30 yards out. Hector Villalba scored the equalizer in stoppage time.
In its last match, Atlanta United defeated a nine-men New England Revolution 7-0 on Wednesday. Josef Martínez gave Atlanta the lead with a first-half hat-trick. Anton Walkes, Kevin Kratz, Yamil Asad and Villalba all found the back of the net for their second win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Martínez leads the team with 13 goals, as does Miguel Almirón with 12 assists. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan has made 18 saves in seven matches this season.
City enters the match in ninth in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind sixth-place New York, with six games remaining.
The Lions will finish their four-game road trip in Portland on Sunday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Providence Park. City will return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27 to host the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
