It still may not be a rivalry, according the players and managers for Atlanta United and Orlando City, but Friday’s first meeting got the series off to a cracking start.
Hector Villalba’s goal-of-the-year candidate from at least 25 yards lifted the Five Stripes to a 1-0 win over the Lions on Friday.
It capped a week that included an infamous billboard, a fun tifo with a Walking Dead motif, and enough cursing on social media and in chants at the stadium to overfill a Spaceship Earth-sized swear jar.
Villalba's goal – and all three points for Atlanta United – were preserved by new goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who made at least three high-quality saves.
After the game, Atlanta United’s players could be heard yelling their satisfaction in the locker room as they picked up their fourth consecutive win and third shutout in four games.
"I think you come into this environment, this atmosphere -- it's hostile,” Guzan said. “There are probably a few things going on off the pitch that you guys (media) made a big deal about. I think there are a few people, including their manager, that said, ‘Listen, rivalries aren't just -- you can't just make them, they have to be formed.’ But with both of us being from the Southeast, being so close to each other, two good teams, two attacking teams, I think that's what it's going to come down to."
Here are five observations about the game.
It's not a rivalry… yet. Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino, who has coached at Barcelona, and Guzan, who spent nine years in England, know rivalries.
They both seemed slightly amused with the talk about Atlanta United and Orlando City being rivals.
Despite the vitriol, the alleged physical incidents before the game and the cadre of security guards that surrounded Atlanta United’s sliver of a section in the corner of the stadium, neither Martino nor Guzan were going to call this meeting between MLS’ only two Southeast teams a rivalry.
“I think we’ll have to wait another 50 years to find out,” Martino said. “We need another 50 years and 100 games between the two teams before we can call it a rivalry. Atlanta has only played 20 games in the league so far. I appreciate the enthusiasm you guys have about it, but it’s far from being a rivalry.”
Team captain Michael Parkhurst said the important thing about the series is that the two teams will meet again July 29 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Atlanta United hasn’t lost at home since April 30, when D.C. United pipped them 3-1. The team is 5-0-0 since. It will be its final game at Georgia Tech before it moves into the $1.5-billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium in August.
“I think it helps that there is two games right in a row,” Parkhurst said. “You build up momentum. But for us, for right now it doesn't matter. They are an Eastern Conference team, and they are right on our heels for a playoff spot. In those terms we are really, really happy with the win today. It is such a good boost and now we go home and face them. And hopefully follow up with another three points and take all six."
Villalba's goal. Villalba said he was trying to put his shot on goal, but the result – a hammered shot into the right corner – was better than he imagined.
It was his ninth goal this season, tying him for the team lead with Josef Martinez.
Villalba described it as the second-best goal he has ever scored. The first came when he was with San Lorenzo in his native Argentina and helped them advance in the Copa Libertadores tournament in 2014.
Against Orlando City, Villalba received the ball on a throw-in on the left side of the field. He began to dribble toward the middle. When no Orlando City player tried to close down the shooting angle, Villalba let fly.
The ball had barely flown past goalkeeper Joe Bendik before he was screaming at defender Jose Aja, who backed off Villalba.
Guzan's play. Villalba's goal wouldn't have mattered if not for Guzan's solid play.
Signed in January but unable to play for Atlanta United until first the secondary transfer window opened July 10 and second when he was released from the U.S. men’s national team participating in the Gold Cup, Guzan make his first start for Atlanta United.
Guzan, 32, hadn’t played in MLS since 2008 when he was with Chivas USA, just before he was sold to Aston Villa when it was in England’s Premier League. He spent nine years in England, finishing his career there with one season at Middlesbrough.
He quickly showed his worth with two key stops, one a fingertip save while diving low and to his right, in the first half. The first came on a hard shot by Carlos Rivas from distance. He made another important save in the 64th minute. He finished with five saves.
Despite training with his new team for less than two weeks, Guzan consistently used “we” when discussing Atlanta United in his postgame interviews.
"I knew I've been coming here for a few months now, so to finally be here and have the opportunity to go out on the pitch and play with these guys in a real game -- yeah, it's easy to say, ‘we.’”
Martinez out. While Guzan made his debut, another key player, Martinez, missed the game.
Martinez wore a walking boot on his right foot before Friday’s game. According to the team, Martinez has a right foot bruise and is day-to-day. His exclusion was a game-time decision.
The Venezuelan missed 10 games earlier this season after sustaining a thigh injury while on national-team duty.
Martino said Martinez suffered the foot injury in a 3-2 win over Charleston in June. He has since played in five games. Martino said the injury flared up again before Friday’s game.
Larin a surprise sub. While Atlanta United was without Martinez, Orlando City surprisingly included Cyle Larin in its 18.
Larin started and played slightly more than 50 minutes for Canada in its loss to Jamaica in the Gold Cup in Arizona on Thursday.
He then flew across the country to re-join Orlando City for Friday’s game.
He came on as a sub Friday and played 18 minutes, but made no impact. Though he leads his team with eight goals, he hasn’t scored since May 31 and has just one goal since scoring March 13.
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