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Atlanta United wants perfect storm against Orlando City SC

• Orlando City just can’t oblige Atlanta United
• Atlanta wants perfect storm at season-finisher
• Lions need to keep up momentum

By Chuck Wharton

Oct 5, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati defender DeAndre Yedlin (91) passes forward as Orlando City SC midfielder Nico Lodeiro (14) defends during the second half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati defender DeAndre Yedlin (91) passes forward as Orlando City SC midfielder Nico Lodeiro (14) defends during the second half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images / Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images
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For the close of the MLS regular season, Orlando City SC will face a motivated Atlanta United FC squad with wild hopes for the post-season.

Atlanta United FC wildly holds hopes for the MLS post-season requiring a perfect storm, floating in a universe of infinite possibility.

At the center of Atlanta’s post-season storm is United’s plan to win in Orlando. Then a dizzying series of other events have to happen. Besides beating Orlando City, Atlanta needs two out of these three following:

  • A loss for CF Montreal at home vs. New York City FC
  • A loss for DC United at home vs. Charlotte
  • A draw or loss at home for Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati
Bartosz Silisz
Oct 5, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Bartosz Slisz (6) after a victory over the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

So if Atlanta could beat Orlando, then two of the three bullet-items hit, they qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs Oct. 19. But if they could beat Orlando and all three of the bullet-items hit, they clinch the eight-seed and host the Wildcard Playoff game on Oct. 22.

So it’s time for scoreboard watching as all four of these matches kickoff around 6 p.m. ET Oct. 12.

Atlanta heads to Orlando with a little wind in their sails. They qualified for this ultra-complex playoff scenario by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1. With that win, Nashville SC falling away from the MLS playoff line and getting eliminated, Atlanta took over 12th place in the MLS Eastern Conference.

While Toronto sits officially in 10th place in the conference, that team has been officially eliminated from playoff contention. So Atlanta has one series of chances on MLS Decision Day – the last day of the regular season – to leapfrog Philadelphia Union sitting just beyond the playoff line.

Then they have to jump past the other two teams, just over the playoff line, and get into a Wildcard spot.

What Atlanta United doesn’t consider is that Orlando City has a vital stake in this game, as well.

Sure, Orlando has already clinched an excellent spot for the post-season. But the way they got there is by mental preparation. And the mental game rides on momentum.

The latest victory by Orlando City SC is their third consecutive victory – a 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati. That victory is a product of the players’ mental preparation. And to feed that mental game, they must continue their consecutive wins with the upcoming one over Altanta United FC.