Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 21
Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United
Exploria Stadium – Orlando
October 28 – 7:30 PM ET

TV: FS1, FOX Deportes

STREAMING: FOX Sports App in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

After their Supporters' Shield dreams were dealt a damaging blow in a last-minute loss at Inter Miami CF, Orlando City SC look to rebound against struggling rival Atlanta United Wednesday night at Exploria Stadium.

Orlando City SC (8W-3L-8D) had a 12-match unbeaten streak snapped with that loss in Fort Lauderdale and now the Lions are winless in their last four, dropping nine points behind Shield-leading Philadelphia with four games to play. Atlanta United (5W-11L-4D) are coming off a 2-1 defeat to D.C. United, their second consecutive defeat that stretched their winless run to five.

This is the fourth matchup this season with the Lions flipping the script in a rivalry dominated by the Five Stripes since Day One. The teams played to a draw in the last two games, with Orlando celebrating their first-ever victory over ATLUTD, 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium August 29.

Orlando City SC

Their league-best unbeaten streak, and perhaps their Supporters' Shield hopes, were dashed Saturday when Orlando fell to expansion side Inter Miami for a second time this season, losing 2-1 in Fort Lauderdale.

Daryl Dike put the visitors in front on 12 minutes, but an own goal by Robin Jansson leveled just before halftime and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez scored the winner one minute from time.

Now comes the challenge of facing an Atlanta team desperate for points, while Oscar Pareja said the Lions are still looking to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference table.

“It’s important in this situation where we can not only add three points, but win a game that’s important," Pareja said on Monday. "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.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Dom Dwyer (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Joao Moutinho (D) - groin injury
- OUT: Mauricio Pereyra (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Joao Moutinho (D), Mauricio Pereyra (M), Rodrigo Schlegel (D)
International duty: None

Atlanta United

Atlanta United suffered their third defeat in their last four matches without a win, dropping a 2-1 decision to D.C. United. Atlanta could've vaulted above the playoff line with a win and now face an uphill climb with three regular-season games remaining. The Five Stripes thought they salvaged a draw when Jon Gallagher scored one minute from time, but they conceded a Gelmin Rivas stoppage-time goal moments later to further damage their playoff hopes.

Atlanta United cancelled in-person activities on Tuesday due to a confirmed positive COVID-19 result, but they did release an injury report ahead of their Wednesday match against rivals Orlando and Miles Robinson is unavailable after going 90 minutes against D.C. United on Saturday

Liga MX side Club Tijuana are interested in signing Atlanta United center back Fernando Meza, according to Heriberto Munoz's recent story in Mexican outlet El Imparcial.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Josef Martinez (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: Miles Robinson (D) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Franco Escobar (D)
International duty: None