Fresh off that HUGE win against Cincinnati, our Atlanta United doesn’t have time to rest! We’re right back under the lights at the Benz tonight for a swift rematch against Orlando City! The 17s will be roaring, and this time, our squad looks and feels like a completely different beast than the one that faced the Lions back in April!
We pulled off that massive victory against Cincy despite missing some key guys, and tonight, we might see one of them back! Brooks Lennon, who was out on Sunday with that hamstring issue, is listed as questionable. Saba Lobjanidze has been holding down that right wing-back spot and has been fantastic, so there’s a good chance he starts there again, regardless of Lennon’s availability. Unfortunately, we do have a new name on the injury list: Josh Cohen is out tonight with an adductor injury.
Here’s the latest availability report:
Atlanta United Availability Report – Tuesday, May 27
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Josh Cohen | Adductor | Out |
| Stian Gregersen | Quadriceps | Out |
| Brooks Lennon | Hamstring | Questionable |
| Tristan Muyumba | Knee | Out |
What Fueled That Sunday Night Magic?
How did we snag those three points against Cincy? In short: EVERYTHING clicked! We took the game to them, and even after conceding twice, we responded with goals of our own – a huge mental victory! And let’s not forget those four goals! Coach Deila was thrilled with the variety: two from set pieces, one in transition, and one from established play! As he said, “We need to keep on [varying] what we’re doing. We need to keep on being direct, and we need to be killers inside the boxes.”
Our midfield was on fire! Slisz, Fortune, and Miranchuk combined for four goal contributions! Miranchuk with two assists, and Slisz and Fortune both getting on the scoresheet! That new midfield setup, with Fortune playing higher up as a box-to-box No. 8, was sensational! Deila raved about the “legs, technique, and creativity,” and now, the goals are coming too!
Slisz himself feels great in this new structure, playing as the single No. 6, giving Miranchuk and Fortune more freedom to attack.
Sharpening Up Defensively!
While the win was fantastic, Deila wants us to be even more solid defensively, especially around our own box. We gave up 27 shots against Cincy – the most all season! We can’t afford to give teams that many looks, even if they aren’t all clear-cut chances.
What Needs to Happen Against Orlando?
First things first: limit those shots! Last time we faced Orlando, we allowed 16 shots in a 3-0 road loss where we didn’t even register a shot on target! Tonight has to be different. Our shift to that back five has definitely shored things up defensively and helped our attack. Plus, Emmanuel Latte Lath, who missed that last Orlando match due to suspension, is back and had some great looks on Sunday!
Orlando is a dangerous attacking team, third in the league in goals scored. They’re also defensively solid, clearing the ball quickly and often. Deila sees similarities between them and Cincinnati, noting their strong structure.
But the biggest difference between that last Orlando game and tonight? Leadership! Deila has been praising the players who are stepping up and making a difference, naming Miggy, Derrick Williams, Guzan, Klich, and the growth of Jay Fortune and Bartosz Slisz.
Alright, Atlanta! Let’s carry that momentum from Sunday night into tonight’s rematch! The Benz will be rocking, and our Five Stripes are ready to show Orlando the new Atlanta United!
IT’S GAMEDAY! VAMOS ATL!
