ATLANTA — Atlanta United fell 2-1 to Orlando City SC Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Caleb Wiley scored his fourth goal of the season, but the club saw its five match home unbeaten streak come to an end.
Each team produced a number of chances through the opening 20 minutes before Atlanta United found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute. After Orlando gained possession in Atlanta's half, Miguel Berry fought to win the ball back just outside of the penalty area, turned and chipped a ball into the box for Machop Chol. The Homegrown was behind the defense as goalkeeper Pedro Gallese rushed out to close the angle. Chol scuffed his attempt, but it managed to bounce by Gallese and slowly roll towards goal. An Orlando defender made a sliding clearance off the line, but Wiley followed the play and immediately blasted the ball into the back of the net for the game's first goal.
However, Orlando quickly responded three minutes later with a goal from a set piece. Mauricio Pereyra took a free kick from the left side and delivered it to the penalty spot where Antonio Carlos rose high above the Atlanta defense and placed a powerful header into the top left corner for the equalizer.
Orlando took the lead in the second half. Pereyra drove through the middle of the field and found Duncan McGuire making a run towards goal with a through ball. McGuire dribbled into the box before scoring with a shot into the bottom left corner in the 60th minute.
In search of an equalizer, Atlanta brought on a pair of attacking substitutions in the 70th minute in Giorgos Giakoumakis and Edwin Mosquera. The team produced a series of encouraging attacks, but was never able to threaten Gallese's goal until a Thiago Almada free kick in the 99th minute. Atlanta earned a free kick roughly 30 yards from goal slightly to the left of center. The Argentine sent the ball curling towards the far post and caught Gallese off-balance, but the Peruvian keeper was able to recover and come up with a diving save to preserve the win for visitors.
Atlanta United (9-7-8, 35 points) returns to action in the first group stage match of Leagues Cup when it travels to face Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Tuesday, July 25 (7:30 p.m. EDT, MLS Season Pass, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). MLS will pause for the duration of Leagues Cup and Atlanta will return to MLS Regular Season play Sunday, Aug. 20 vs. Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.
