Rewatch notes: Atlanta United vs. Orlando City | March 17, 2024

a tiny soccer brain keeps on trucking

After every match, we’re going to do our best to dig into the tactics and personnel that defined the weekend’s action. It’s tough to notice those things when you’re stressed out during the actual game, so we like to take a couple of days to rewatch, take notes and try and understand the part of the game that’s not played on a spreadsheet a little better. It’s not what you’d call an exact science, but at least we’re trying. 

After Sunday night, I had every intention of digging into this one and highlighting all of the positives Atlanta United could build on after a professional 2-0 win over UCF. Unfortunately, we found out this week that Stian Gregeresen will miss time after sustaining a meniscus injury. He won’t be available against Toronto and he may miss much more than that. 

It’s hard to write a column predicated on Atlanta United’s defensive improvement when a critical piece of that improvement suddenly disappears. Atlanta United did enough well to provide plenty of encouragement though. Maybe, just maybe, missing Gregersen won’t provide as much pain as it we’re all assuming it will.  

Let’s wrap it all up

Before we get into some notable defensive moments for Atlanta United, let’s get a full breakdown of the match itself out of the way. All you have to do is watch this minute and a half of play.

• The clip starts with a limp press from Atlanta United that Orlando easily bypasses as the Five Stripes kind of sort of go through the motions. 

• Caleb Wiley immediately pounces and disrupts the play. 

• Orlando cycles the ball and finds space out wide with winger Ivan Angulo occupying the space between Atlanta’s winger and fullback that both New England and Orlando routinely worked the ball to. 

• Saba Lobjanidze hauls ass to apply pressure as he, Brooks Lennon and the touchline erase whatever space Angulo could have had. 

• Atlanta wins the ball back.

• Atlanta transitions effectively and is one pass away from breaking the game open. 

• Maybe Atlanta should try shouting “SURPRISE” when they press and maybe the other team will get scared and give the ball away?

• Orlando’s second striker Luis Muriel floats into space, the ball goes back out to Angulo, Atlanta tracks Muriel’s run and they avoid serious trouble.