Final Whistle: Academy Roommates Combine For Late Equalizer In Round One With Orlando City

Jay Fortune And Matt Edwards Combine For The Late Draw In Orlando (Photo Courtesy/Travis Nguyen with FootyDailyNetwork)

For the penultimate weekend in MLS play before the World Cup break, the Five Stripes traveled to Orlando City. A familiar foe and a massive rivalry carried an added level of competitiveness: two matches in four days, and a massive match in Major League Soccer leading into an Open Cup quarterfinal.

And after chasing the equalizer for seventy minutes, two familiar faces in the Five Stripes family gave the team a point and momentum in the first match of a four-day stretch with progress on the line in two different competitions.

For Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino, there was no debate from minute one Saturday night. The lineup was built to chase full points in the Eastern Conference, with Open Cup thinking starting Sunday.

The starting XI had Lucas Hoyos in net. The backline started Elias Báez, Juan Berrocal, Enea Mihaj, and Tomás Jacob. The midfield had Will Reilly supporting Jay Fortune and Tristan Muyumba. The front line was Matías Galarza, Alexey Miranchuk, and Saba.

Orlando City made two changes from their starting lineup in the midweek 7-goal thriller with Philadelphia. Maxime Crépeau started in net, with Griffin Dorsey, David Brekalo, Robin Jansson (wearing the captain's armband), and Adrián Marín across the back in a 3-4-3. Marco Pašalić, Iván Angulo, Braian Ojeda, Eduard Atuesta, Martín Ojeda, and Justin Ellis rounded out the XI.

For the first handful of minutes, action lived in the attacking thirds for both teams, with the middle third bypassed entirely in the build-up. Saba was active on the right-hand side and generated more than a few corners, though with no end product.

In the 15th minute, Atlanta United's defense rose to the challenge of Braian Ojeda, Angulo, and Pašalić as Juan Berrocal and Tomás Jacob stuffed an Orlando City rush. Two minutes later, Griffin Dorsey crossed from his right-back position to a near-post chance that Hoyos had no answer for, and Orlando led 1-0.

Iván Angulo found a way around Tomás Jacob inside the Atlanta 18 down the left, then found Dorsey a few yards to his right for the goal in the 17th minute.

Saba continued to press, switching wings with Matías Galarza and leaving Griffin Dorsey with ground to cover. With less than ten minutes remaining in the first half, a Saba run forced a Maxime Crépeau parry and a subsequent corner.

Atlanta progressed, combined, and improved their opportunities over the final twenty minutes of the half. The numbers reflected it: 8 first-half corners to 2, and a shots advantage of 5 to 3. But the only goal on the board was Orlando's.

Orlando City interim manager Martín Perelman sent Robin Jansson off for Iago to start the second 45, and Fafa Picault came on for Atlanta shortly after, looking to add movement in behind Orlando City's back line.

A handball foul by David Brekalo created a free kick chance for Atlanta United on the edge of the 18. Alexey Miranchuk stepped up left of center in the 58th minute. His first crack drew a diving save from Maxime Crépeau: an excellent shot and a save that matched the effort.

Tyrese Spicer entered for Marco Pašalić shortly after, and the Picault substitution pushed Matías Galarza back into midfield with Picault up front on the left. On the next possession, a ball from Jay Fortune splitting the lines for Matías Galarza was slightly miscontrolled, allowing Crépeau to collect.

Fortune worked again in the 62nd minute with Saba and eventually Alexey Miranchuk. Alexey's shot went just wide on a worldly effort from both for the 11th shot of the match, and a Fafa Picault shot followed quickly for number 12. United controlled the majority of the opening twenty minutes of the second half while chasing the equalizer.

Matt Edwards, Stian Gregersen, and Latte Lath entered in the 67th minute for Mihaj (holding his left shoulder after being checked by the physios), Jacob, and Saba. Duncan McGuire came on for Justin Ellis and Luis Otávio entered for Eduard Atuesta as the counter-sub for Orlando with 20 minutes remaining.

Atlanta United pushed for more of the game and continued to chase in the seventies. Cayman Togashi was the final Atlanta sub after Fafa Picault went down injured after a collision with Griffin Dorsey at the net with 13 minutes to go.

Alexey Miranchuk missed a chance with ten minutes remaining as he tried to will United to an equalizer. Atlanta was correctly awarded a corner kick after an 8-second violation by Crépeau, but the resulting shot was blocked with five minutes to go.

All the work finally paid off in the 86th minute. Matt Edwards combined with Jay Fortune, and Fortune rifled a shot into the net for 1-1, the Academy roommates lifting their chances for more than a point in the standings. One minute later, Alexey Miranchuk fired from distance over the bar.

Fortune's second goal in as many matches continued a troubling trend for Orlando: seven goals conceded in the last six matches beyond the 75th minute of regulation, five of those in the 84th minute or later, heading into this match.

One last chance from Togashi setting up Galarza forced a late, full-extension save from Crépeau. The whistle came at full time. Atlanta outshot Orlando 21-7, with a 5-3 edge on target. The Five Stripes had a massive advantage in key passes at 16-6, and that should give Atlanta a mental edge heading into Tuesday.

Atlanta United (3-8-2, 11 points) now prepares for the second match in four days, with a chance to advance to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.