Atlanta United fell 3-2 to Orlando City SC on Wednesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mauricio Amaro made his first career start for Atlanta United, and Jay Fortune returned to match action for the first time since sustaining a left hamstring strain on July 17 at Nashville SC.
“It’s been a long time. I’m just trying to get through injury-free; that’s most important,” said Atlanta United’s Jay Fortune of his return from injury. “From there, I’m going to watch some things back, find a way to get the confidence back up and get back to the level from before.”
An own goal by Orlando City’s David Brekalo gave Atlanta United the early lead in the 7th minute. But in the 26th minute, Orlando found its equalizer through Antoine Griezmann. It began with Griffin Dorsey playing a ball to Joran Gerbet, who was running down the right wing. Gerbet, spotting Griezmann running toward goal on the inside of Diaz, played a curved pass directly to him. Griezmann slid and extended a foot toward it, creating a shot that was quick enough to leave Hoyos unable to react as the ball deflected off his arm and into the net. The two sides then entered the half at one goal each.
Orlando took the lead in the 58th minute after a long ball by Robin Jansson beat Atlanta’s back four. Jansson found Ojeda, who was behind the defenders alongside Ivan Angulo. Hoyos, stuck in a 2 v 1, attempted to play the ball, but Ojeda passed laterally to Angulo, who finished on an empty net.
In the 77th minute, a brace from Griezmann doubled Orlando’s lead. Wilder Cartagena won a duel in the attacking third, and the ball fell to Griezmann, who then sprinted toward the box. Just before dribbling into the 18, Griezmann laid a sideways pass to Justin Ellis, who immediately returned the ball with a pass between two defenders. With just Hoyos to beat, Griezmann reacted quickly and poked the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1.
In the final minute of stoppage time in the second half, a header from Enea Mihaj saw Atlanta pull a goal back. Mauricio Amaro, standing outside the box on the right, whipped an accurate cross toward the far post that Mihaj successfully met in the air. The ensuing shot flew downward, directly to the head of Tyrese Spicer, who inadvertently sent the ball ricocheting into his own net. However, Atlanta was left with little time to build toward a crucial equalizer as the visitors took all three points.
Atlanta United (6-14-4, 22 points) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 12, when it travels to Washington D.C., to take on D.C. United at Audi Field (7:30 p.m. ET, Apple TV, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United MLS matches are available on Apple TV.