Atlanta United FC created a turning point for Orlando City SC | OneFootball

Atlanta United FC hit the Orlando City SC pitch knowing they faced a club that was one match away from an MLS Cup appearance last season.

Orlando City SC isn’t the same club that finished last season just one match away from an appearance in the MLS Cup. But the team that beat Atlanta United FC 3-0 is becoming better than that one.

The Lions wouldn’t have looked better than last year in this match, had Atlanta United discovered what the Orlando team did. What the home team had that the visitors didn’t was a sense of balance. Not only is balance between offense and defense, but the knowledge of when to ratchet one above the other.

Although yielding to the Lions’ four consecutive shutouts – a team record – Atlanta United wasn’t without offense. When the teams left the pitch, Orlando had set a new club record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at 436. Yet Atlanta surpassed Orlando in crosses, 9-2 and 5-3 in corner kicks.

Because City maintained their high-level defense throughout the match, no chances Atlanta created got finished. The game ended with no shots on goal for them, while six of Orlando’s 16 shots were on target.

With their defensive scheme settled, the Lions needed to ratchet up their offense beyond the accurate passing they presented from the earliest moments of the game. But they had a hangover from their previous match, when an evident penalty kick opportunity was passed up as the referees decided not to consult VAR.

Mar 29, 2025; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez (7) fights for the ball against Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic (87) during the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

In the 40th minute, it looked like this outrage happened again. Forward Luis Muriel went down in the box, and minutes passed with no call. But this time, VAR got the call, and it was confirmed. Muriel took his penalty shot and scored in the 42nd minute. It was the second penalty kick for the team.

As players and supporters guessed, this created a turning point for the team, and they started scoring again. They ratcheted up the offense far enough to unleash three shots in the first two minutes of the second half.

While that first flurry didn’t score, it kept United completely off balance for the rest of the match and put Orlando City in control.

By the 51st minute, scoring returned to the Lions’ repertoire. Showing precision passing throughout the match, midfielder Marco Pasalic spied defender Alex Freeman cutting right and placed the ball where he delivered it to the bottom left of the Atlanta net.

Then in the 67th minute, Pasalic curled a ball from well outside the 18-yard box, where it ended up in the bottom-right corner of the net for the third score.

Orlando City SC reached the turning point they needed in the 2025 season. They are scoring again. They’ll need to keep that up.