Starting XI and roster notes: Atlanta United, Orlando City SC start in Eastern Conference semifinals

Brad Guzan (C), Luis Abram, Derrick Williams, Stian Gregersen, Pedro Amador, Jay Fortune, Dax McCarty, Bartosz Slisz, Saba Lobjanidze, Alexey Miranchuk, Jamal Thiaré

Josh Cohen, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Matt Edwards, Ronald Hernández, Tristan Muyumba, Daniel Ríos, Xande Silva, Tyler Wolff

See Atlanta United’s full roster

Pedro Gallese, Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson (C), Rodrigo Schlegel, Dagur Thorhallsson, Cesar Araujo, Facundo Torres, Wilder Cartagena, Iván Angulo, Ramiro Enrique, Martin Ojeda

David Brekalo, Felipe Martins, Luis Muriel, Duncan McGuire, Nicolas Lodeiro, Luca Petrasso, Kyle Smith, Jack Lynn, Javier Otero

This is a single elimination game in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The winner of Sunday’s contest advances to the Eastern Conference Finals and will face No. 7 at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, November 30.

This round also introduces extra time. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute periods will be played. If the match is still tied at the end of the extra 30 minutes, the winner will be decided in a penalty shootout.

• 9 seed Atlanta United advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with an upset over Supporters’ Shield winners and top seed Inter Miami CF in the Round 1 Best-of-3 Series. Atlanta United have won four elimination games in the last two months to reach this point.
• Meanwhile, Orlando City SC was the highest seed to advance to the semifinals of the Eastern Conference. no. 4 Orlando defeated no. 5 Charlotte FC in the first round.
• Brad Guzan makes his 300th career appearance in MLS, regular season and playoffs combined. He becomes just the 10th goalkeeper in MLS history to reach that milestone.
• Guzan leads all goalkeepers in this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs with 23 saves.
• Starters Luis Abram, Saba Lobjanidze, Stian Gregersen, Bartosz Slisz and Alexey Miranchuk all spent time with their home countries during the FIFA international break that ran from 11-19. November.
• Slisz scored the game-winning header in the Game 3 win against Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 9 to send Atlanta United through.
• This is the first time Atlanta and Orlando have met in the playoffs.
• Atlanta owns a 10-4-7 record against Orlando in MLS regular season play. The sides last played each other on decider day in October. Atlanta United won that meeting away 2-1 at the Inter&Co Stadium.
• Sunday is Atlanta’s 18th MLS postseason appearance in club history.

• Back Brooks Lennon is unavailable for Atlanta with a shoulder injury

See Saturday’s Availability Report presented by Piedmont