Football
2021 Major League Soccer, Regular Season
ATL 
3
FT
 ORL
0
Reuters 3y

George Campbell, Atlanta United pounce on Orlando City

Homegrown defender George Campbell scored his first career MLS goal in the 25th minute to propel host Atlanta United to a 3-0 victory over Orlando City SC on Friday.

Atlanta United (7-7-9, 30 points) also benefited from an own goal by Orlando City SC in the 38th minute before Ezequiel Barco capped the scoring in the 72nd minute.

Brad Guzan made two saves in his 200th career start as Atlanta United improved to 5-1-0 in their last six games and pulled even in points with D.C. United for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The victory was the first for Gonzalo Pineda as coach of the Five Stripes.

Adam Grinwis finished with three saves for the Lions (10-5-8, 38 points), who saw their unbeaten streak come to a halt at seven matches (3-0-4). The defeat was the first for Orlando City since a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of New York City FC on July 25.

Atlanta United nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute after Luiz Araujo hit the post with a shot from outside the box.

The hosts made good 21 minutes later as Marcelino Moreno's cross into the box was headed home by Campbell. The 20-year-old Campbell was inserted into the lineup with Miles Robinson having recently completed international duty.

Atlanta United doubled the advantage in the 38th minute following a set piece earned after Orlando City's Antonio Carlos was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. Barco's free kick caromed off Orlando City's Daryl Dike and into the net for an own goal.

Atlanta United didn't ease up in the second half, with Moreno nearly converting a trio of prime scoring opportunities in a seven-minute stretch.

Barco completed the scoring in the 72nd minute after creating space along the top of the box before beating Grinwis inside the right post. Barco's goal was his career-best fifth of the season.

--Field Level Media

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