A day after the Orlando Pride scored a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Angel City that they trailed Friday 2-0 at halftime in NWSL action, a focused Orlando City SC delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium Saturday.
The Lions, whose front office recently demonstrated their commitment to stability by signing manager Oscar Pareja to a three-year contract extension through 2028, dominated possession and completely shut down Atlanta's attack, allowing zero shots on target despite Atlanta's 12 shot attempts.
Luis Muriel converted a penalty in the 42nd minute to open the scoring, followed by Alexander Freeman's well-placed finish in the 51st minute. Freeman, the young defender, describing his goal after the match, revealed the tactical awareness behind the strike: "When Marco [Pašalić] had the ball, I was eager to run in behind... I saw the defender's legs open, so I felt like it was just time for it. I just wanted to put it in the bottom left corner.”
Pašalić, who assisted on Freeman's goal, sealed the victory with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box in the 67th minute, continuing his impressive form this season.
Orlando controlled the match with disciplined play, committing just 7 fouls to Atlanta's 15, while generating 16 shot attempts with 6 on target compared to Atlanta's zero shots on frame. The Lions' goalkeeper had a quiet night with no saves needed, while Atlanta's Brad Guzan was forced into 3 saves.
The win comes after a series of three consecutive draws for Orlando City, giving the team a much-needed boost as they prepare to travel to Chicago for their upcoming match against Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 3. With renewed momentum and a clear tactical vision from Pareja, Orlando City will look to continue their strong form on the road.
