Ramiro Enrique, Orlando City blank Atlanta to reach conference final

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th November, 18:07 2024

Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City forward Ramiro Enrique (7) and Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) battle for control of the ball during the first half in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Ramiro Enrique scored his first playoff goal six minutes before halftime and Orlando City set a new franchise high-water mark with a 1-0 victory over visiting Atlanta United in Sunday's Eastern Conference semifinal.

With a shutout of ninth-seeded Atlanta -- which won both these teams' regular-season meetings -- No. 4 seed Orlando reached its first conference final since the club began MLS play in 2015.

The Lions will host the seventh-seeded New York Red Bulls, who defeated New York City FC in Saturday's East semifinal.

Pedro Gallese kept his third clean sheet of the postseason, this time without having to make a single save against an Atlanta side that had scored eight goals in its first four playoff matches.

Atlanta's season ends with the club's best postseason finish since reaching the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Atlanta midfielder Dax McCarty played his final MLS game, finishing a career that began in 2006 with 488 league appearances and 35 more in the postseason.

The visitors won back-to-back matches just to qualify for the playoffs, then pulled off one of the biggest MLS Cup playoff upsets of all time in a three-game series triumph over Lionel Messi and Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami in Round 1.

But Orlando was the superior side throughout the first half Sunday and took a deserved lead through a set piece, an area that has given Atlanta trouble this season.

Enrique helped create the corner kick when he pressured goalkeeper Brad Guzan into spilling the ball over his own endline when trying to catch a high cross.

Martin Ojeda's ensuing outswinger dropped to the turf after deflecting off at least one body in the box, and Enrique was first to the loose ball to poke home a finish past Guzan from close range.

Interim Atlanta manager Rob Valentino removed injured striker Jamal Thiare -- who scored twice in the Game 3 win over Miami -- moments after Orlando's goal. His replacement Daniel Rios then also had to exit after taking a ball to the head early in the second half.

The attackers that remained had more opportunities in the second half than the first, but rarely made Gallese work.

--Field Level Media

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