Atlanta United FC vs Orlando City SC Expert MLS Picks 8/23/2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Orlando City Stadium
Josef Martinez and Atlanta United (14-3-9, 1st in the Eastern Conference) travel to Orlando City Stadium on Friday where they'll take on Orlando City (9-7-11, 8th in the Eastern Conference). The goalies expected to start are Brad Guzan for Atlanta United and Brian Rowe for Orlando City. The odds on this contest have Atlanta United priced at +135 and the Lions are at +155. The total opens at 3.
Atlanta United FC come into this matchup with a record of 14 victories, 3 draws, and 9 defeats ranking them 1st in the Eastern Conference. So far this season, they have earned a total of 42 goals which has them at 3rd in the East and 4th in the league. This means that if they are going to win in this matchup, they will look to play mistake free soccer so they can take advantage of their opportunities. Their goal differential is +15, ranking them 2nd in the league. Atlanta United FC will be looking to get teammates involved in the game as they have a total of 26 assists which has them at 12th in the league and 7th in the East. When it comes to shots on target, they have a total of 135 which has them at 3rd in the East and 5th in the league. As a team, Atlanta has racked up a total of 268 fouls which means they have an average of 10.31 fouls per contest. They have a total of 45 points for the season and they are averaging a crowd of 52,611.
Josef Martinez is a great player to watch for the 5 Stripes. The forward from Venezuala has played in 23 contests this season and has played 2,052 mins. Over the course of that time, the 25-year-old has netted 21 goals and has had an assist on 2 goals. He holds an average of 89 minutes per appearance. Martinez has started 23 contests this season and has totaled 10 fouls over the course of that period. As to shots on target, Martinez has connected on 41 which places him at 2nd in pro soccer and 1st in the East among forwards. Julian Gressel is another scorer to watch out for on the squad from Atlanta. The 25-year-old from Germany has scored 4 goals so far this season which puts him at 15th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders and 77th among all qualified players in pro soccer. He has played 2,109 minutes and averages 81 mins per appearance which puts him at 157th in pro soccer. So far this season, he has totaled 22 shots on target which puts him at 6th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders.
The man in net for the 5 Stripes is Brad Guzan from the United States. He is 34 years old and has played 2,340 minutes minding the net this season. Guzan is surrendering 1.15 goals per 90 minutes which has him placed 3rd in the East and 6th among goalies in Major League Soccer. Over the course of the 2019 season, he's allowed 30 goals. He's earned a save % of .694 which has him placed 7th in the East.
Related: Get MLS predictions on all of today's games
Orlando City SC steps onto the field holding a record of 9 wins, 7 draws, and 11 defeats which is good for 8th in the Eastern Conference. Thus far in the season, they have scored a total of 35 goals which puts them at 9th in the conference and 18th in MLS. That said, if they are going to get the win this game, they will look to play mistake free soccer so they can take advantage of their opportunities. Their goal differential is 0, which is good for 14th in MLS. Orlando City SC will want to move the ball around the pitch and get the ball to their scorers because they currently have a total of 22 assists which puts them at 20th in MLS and 10th in the conference. In the matter of shots on target, they currently have a total of 101 which puts them at 9th in the conference and 21st in MLS. As a team, Orlando has racked up a total of 293 fouls which has them averaging 10.85 fouls per contest. They currently have a total of 34 points for the year and they have an average attendance of 22,823.
Tesho Akindele is one of the best players for the Lions. The forward from Canada has competed in 22 contests in 2019 and has played 1,503 mins. During that period of time, the 26-year-old has connected on 9 goals and has had an assist on 1 goal. He currently holds an average of 68 mins per appearance. Akindele has started 18 contests in 2019 and has committed 19 fouls over the course of that period. With reference to shots on target, Akindele has earned 18 which ranks him 43rd in pro soccer and 9th in the East among forwards. Nani is another guy to keep an eye on for the squad from Orlando. The 32-year-old from Portugal has connected on 9 goals for the year which has him ranked 8th in the East among forwards and 17th among all players in professional soccer. He has totaled 1,667 mins and has an average of 72 minutes per appearance which has him ranked 250th in professional soccer. For this season, he has earned 22 shots on target which has him ranked 4th in the East among forwards.
The goaltender for the Lions is Brian Rowe from the United States. He is 30 years old and has played a total of 2,250 mins in net this year. Rowe is giving up 1.28 goals per 90 minutes which has him ranking 6th in the East and 9th among goaltenders in Major League Soccer. For the 2019 season, he has given up 32 goals. He's earned a save percentage of .717 which has him ranking 5th in the East.
Who will win tonight's MLS game ATS?
Guy's Pick: Take Orlando (+155)
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