ATLANTA — No team is hotter in MLS right now than Atlanta United, with the defending MLS Cup champions having won four of their last five matches. The timing couldn’t be better for the Five Stripes as they head into Sunday afternoon's match against rivals Orlando City SC (2:30 pm ET | FOX in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).
“It’s good timing,” said Atlanta midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. “It’s always a big game, a fun game. I think they’re a tough team as well, so this is another difficult game. But to do it at home, you always love to play Orlando at home and get the crowd behind us.”
As important as it has been for ATLUTD to pick up the results they have over the last month, the quality of the play on the field has the fans in a better mood, too. Having struggled in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to open the season, with draws against FC Cincinnatiand the Philadelphia Union and a loss to FC Dallas, fans fell silent and times and even booed on occasion.
That vibe has turned around 180 degrees, and the team expects a full house of more than 70,000 fans to support their team Sunday.
“We’re going to expect 72,000 people here, so that means, yeah, there’s something at stake,” head coach Frank de Boer said after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Toronto FC. “It’s always nice to have special games like derbies. This is that type of derby game, so I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can have another positive result at the end.”
By the second half of Wednesday’s victory, flashbulbs appeared and songs rang out with passion and wide participation as the MBS crowd returned to its usual form. Five Stripes captain Michael Parkhurst has been hoping his team could rekindle that type of environment, and no better time than just days before one of Atlanta’s biggest matches of the season.
“It is big, because we understand that [Orlando] is a bigger game, especially amongst the fans,” Parkhurst told media after the win. “We want to go out there and put a great performance together. We know that it is going to be a great crowd on Mothers’ Day, and we are excited about it. Hopefully, we can rest, recover and have the energy that is needed to put in another good shift.”
