Behind goals from Eric Remedi and Emerson Hyndman, Atlanta United defeated Orlando City SC 2-0 Tuesday night to advance to the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. The club will host the winner of the semifinal match between Portland Timbers and Minnesota United (Wednesday night) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Head coach Frank de Bor U.S. Open Cup Semifinal line-up was without the 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez due to injury but Atlanta proved strong with an attacking starting XI. The full XI: Brad Guzan (GK), Franco Escobar (DEF), Leandro González Pirez (DEF), Miles Robinson (DEF), Julian Gressel (DEF), Eric Remedi (MID), Darlington Nagbe (MID), Emerson Hydman (MID), Ezequiel Barco (FWD), Pity MartÃnez (FWD), Justin Meram (FWD).
Atlanta owned play for much of the first half hour and earned the opening goal in the 37th minute from Remedi. Ezequiel Barco found Remedi in space near the edge of the 18 and the midfielder uncorked a hard shot aimed for the bottom right corner that forced a diving save from Adam Grinwis. But he could only parry toward the corner where Julian Gressel immediately pumped the ball back into the box, where Remedi had continued his run and one-touched past Grinwis for the lead.
After a tense, back-and-forth second half, Atlanta iced the game from Hyndman in the 78th minute. Again, it was Remedi in the middle of the field creating the play. He sent a long diagonal ball for Franco Escobar who one-touched a cross into the center of the box for Hyndman. Holding off Lamine Sane, Hyndman redirected the ball into the far corner to give Atlanta an insurmountable 2-0 lead. It was Hyndman’s first goal for Atlanta United.
Brad Guzan made two saves and Atlanta ran its U.S. Open Cup shutout streak to 199 minutes.
Atlanta United (12-9-3, 39 points) returns to MLS action Sunday, Aug. 11 against New York City FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4:00 p.m. EST, ESPN, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).
