Saba Lobjanidze and Giorgos Giakoumakis each scored goals as Atlanta United continued to distance themselves from a season-opening defeat with a 2-0 victory Sunday over visiting Orlando City.
Brad Guzan made four saves in his first clean sheet of the season while playing through hamstring cramps in the second half. Atlanta United (2-1-0, 6 points) continue to look like the scoring threat that was second in MLS with 66 goals last season.
Atlanta has scored six goals in two games, with four from Giakoumakis, after a 1-0 season-opening defeat to the Columbus Crew.
Pedro Gallese made four saves for Orlando City (0-3-1, 1 point), which has yet to record a win in four league games. They have already played eight contests, counting CONCACAF Champions Cup commitments.
Sunday’s loss for Orlando City came five days after they were eliminated from Champions Cup play by Tigres UANL of Mexico.
Atlanta jumped in front 1-0 in the ninth minute after a throw-in when Giakoumakis launched a long pass from near midfield that found Lobjanidze just outside the Orlando City penalty area. Lobjanidze put a pair of moves on Rafael Santos and scored past Gallese. It was his first of the season.
Gallese kept Orlando City in the game with a pair of one-handed reaction saves from close range just before halftime.
Atlanta added its second goal in the 71st minute when Brooks Lennon brought the ball into the corner of the penalty area before sending a pass back to Giakoumakis, who scored off the bottom of the crossbar from long range.
Orlando City failed to score for the third time in four league games and also were held without a goal in the opener of the two-game set against Tigres. They have just two goals this season after scoring 55 goals in 34 games in 2023.
The Lions already have a minus-eight goal differential and their 10 goals allowed in MLS play are tied for the most in the league with the New England Revolution.
–Field Level Media
