There is plenty at stake for Atlanta United and Orlando City when they meet in Saturday night’s regular-season finale at Orlando, Fla.
Orlando City has clinched a playoff spot, but their seed in the Eastern Conference remains undetermined. Atlanta United must win and get other results to fall their way to secure a postseason spot.
Orlando City (15-11-7, 52 points) has a three-match winning streak and can wrap up a fourth-place spot in the Eastern Conference with a victory and home-field advantage for the first round.
“We know how important it is just to keep that fourth place,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said. “We’re going to play it hard. A game that means a lot for us.”
They could also gain the home-field edge with a tie, while finishing with a tiebreaker advantage on New York City FC, or if NYCFC loses or draws at CF Montreal.
Atlanta United (9-14-10, 37 points) must defeat Orlando City, then have multiple results from other matches go favorably to secure a playoff berth.
“I’m only focused on our game, and this is what I can do,” Atlanta United winger Saba Lobjanidze said. “Other teams, if they lose it and we win, it will be a big gift for us.”
Atlanta United last played Oct. 5 and earned 2-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls. But the club hasn’t won back-to-back matches since March, with the second of those victories against Orlando City.
Orlando City has been playing with an edge and it has been paying off.
“A couple of months ago, we had a very bad time, and we said internally in the group that we should play every game like a playoff,” said Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda, who has gone 10 consecutive matches across all competitions without a goal.
Orlando City knows Atlanta United will bring a desperate and attacking approach, and they are intent on maintaining their strong play with the playoffs ahead, Pareja said.
“The game is our last game in front of our fans,” Pareja said. “We know Atlanta has urgencies. They are in their last opportunity to qualify.”
Lobjanidze leads Atlanta United with eight goals and has found the back of the net in two of the last five matches.
Atlanta defeated visiting Orlando City 2-0 on March 17.
–Field Level Media
