Atlanta United 2 returns to the pitch following a three-week break between matches as it begins its Florida road trip with a midweek duel with Orlando City B on Wednesday night, June 26. Kickoff from Osceola Heritage Park is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can also tune in to the Soccer Down Here audio stream.
O Captain! My Captain!
Following four Short-Term Agreements and two U.S. Open Cup appearances with Atlanta United, the club signed ATL UTD 2 captain Matt Edwards as a Homegrown Player on Friday, June 21. The 21-year-old defender made his Atlanta United debut during the club's U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against Charlotte Independence, where he played 64 minutes and registered an assist in the club’s 3-0 victory. Edwards also started in Atlanta’s U.S. Open Cup match against Charleston Battery, where he helped to keep another clean sheet before Atlanta advanced on penalty kicks. The ATL UTD 2 captain has played in 10 matches, nine starts, in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, anchoring Atlanta’s defense that has kept three clean sheets this season.
Scouting Report
Orlando City B enters the contest sitting in 9th place in the Eastern Conference through 13 matches with 19 points and a 4-4-5 record. Orlando is one of the stronger teams in the final third in MLS NEXT Pro this season, having scored 25 goals so far, which is eighth best in league play. Atlanta will need to snuff out Orlando’s offensive threats to gain a road result. Much of Orlando’s offense is run through midfielder Shakur Mohammed, who leads the squad with six goals on 31 shots and 15 shots on target, as well as forward Yutaro Tsukada, who has notched four goals and four assists while being named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for May.
Previous Meeting
Atlanta United 2 holds a 1-2-1 (W-L-D) record against Orlando City B, with the last meeting between the two squads ending in a 3-2 loss for Atlanta at Fifth Third Stadium in the 2024 season opener on March 16. Javier Armas and Efraín Morales each bagged a goal in the contest.
