Inter&Co Stadium was the site of a couple defining moments for Atlanta United last year, and the team hopes to earn a decisive, page-turning result at the same venue Saturday night.
Atlanta United travels to Florida for the first time this season to take on Eastern Conference opponent Orlando City SC. Saturday is the first meeting since Orlando eliminated Atlanta from the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinal match last November.
Prior to that playoff meeting, Atlanta United took points from the Lions in the most recent regular season match played between these two clubs at Inter&Co Stadium. On Decision Day in 2024, with their postseason hopes on the line, Atlanta United rose to the challenge and with a determined effort beat Orlando 2-1 to secure a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Atlanta's two goal scorers from that crucial Decision Day victory appear in Saturday's starting XI for head coach Ronny Deila. Saba Lobjanidze, after missing the start last week at Philadelphia, returns to begin the match at left wing. Jamal Thiaré gets his first start of the season. A goal tonight from the Senegalese striker would end Atlanta United's current scoring drought and add his name to the team's 2025 scoresheet.
Thiaré replaces designated player Emmanuel Latte Lath, the club's leading scorer on the season, who is suspended Saturday due to yellow card accumulation. Atlanta will get him back for next weekend's afternoon kick at home against Nashville SC.
After going scoreless in their previous two matches, Deila's group will be on the hunt tonight to make the most of their chances, earn a hard-fought road result against a historic rival and get back to the exciting style of play that defines Atlanta United soccer.
"We have a goal," Deila told reporters Thursday. "It's a way of Atlanta to play, also, that's from the past, the not so long past, but when they were really good, they played an attack-minded style. We have fans that really love that way of playing. We have to just believe in that. We want to go back to those roots, and again, we will get there."
Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United at Orlando City SC:
Brad Guzan (C), Brooks Lennon, Noah Cobb, Luis Abram, Pedro Amador, Bartosz Slisz, Mateusz Klich, Alexey Miranchuk, Saba Lobjanidze, Miguel Almirón, Jamal Thiaré
Reserves: Josh Cohen, Luke Brennan, Matt Edwards, Jay Fortune, Ronald Hernández, Efraín Morales, Edwin Mosquera, Will Reilly, Cayman Togashi
Match Notes:
-- Noah Cobb makes his second start of the season. He pairs up with Peruvian Luis Abram as the two center backs on the backline.
-- Center backs Derrick Williams and Stian Gregersen are out due to injury . View Friday's Availability Report
-- Jamal Thiaré earns his first start of the season for Atlanta. He scored a total of eight goals in 2024, including the regular season and playoffs. Four of those goals were scored in the state of Florida.
-- Edwin Mosquera is available for the first time since March 16 vs. Inter Miami after missing some time with an ankle injury. The winger was cleared on the Availability Report heading into Atlanta's trip to Philadelphia but was not selected for the matchday roster.
-- Brooks Lennon is one assist away from breaking Atlanta United's all-time assists record. He is currently tied with Julian Gressel with 39 career assists with the club.
-- Both sides are coming off consecutive scoreless outings. Atlanta United recently suffered back-to-back shutouts to Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution. Orlando City played to a third consecutive 0-0 draw last weekend in Montréal.
