The 2020 MLS season is drawing to a close, as many teams are left with just three games.
Desperation is beginning to mount for clubs around the playoff line, as well as teams towards the top of each conference as they jockey for position. It gives Wednesday's rivalry match between Orlando City and Atlanta United yet another edge.
Orlando have slipped to fourth in the Eastern Conference and are now just two points ahead of fifth-placed NYCFC. The top four will get at least one home playoff match. As for Atlanta, well, they sit uncomfortably outside of the final playoff spot, two points behind Inter Miami CF and Chicago Fire FC. The Fire even have a game in hand.
Time is running out.
“I think Atlanta has urgency," Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja told media on a virtual press conference Monday. "They have a few games to qualify for the playoffs, that’ll create some pressure. We will be ready for that."
Atlanta and Orlando are each coming off a loss. Orlando conceded a late goal against fellow Floridian side Inter Miami to lose 2-1 while Atlanta lost at home to D.C. United, who entered the weekend with the fewest points in the league. Atlanta are winless in their last five matches.
"This match means a lot to both teams, we’re pursuing different interests," Pareja said. "We’ve qualified [for the playoffs] already, but we’ll keep fighting. There’ll be urgency, that’s the best way I can describe it.”
The two rivals have had hugely differing seasons.
Orlando are riding their best-ever MLS campaign, having qualified for the playoffs for the first time and sitting on 32 points after 19 games. Atlanta are enduring their worst season in their young history, with 19 points after 20 matches. Orlando beat Atlanta for the first time in club history earlier this season. The clubs have drawn the other two matchups in 2020.
“It’s important in this situation where we can not only add three points, but win a game that’s important," Pareja said. "We’re always concentrating where we can be. We would like to be amongst the top two or three in the conference. If we can win against Atlanta, it’ll be even better.”
