Antoine Griezmann scores first MLS goal in Orlando debut
Antoine Griezmann scored his first MLS goal in his Orlando City debut, helping the Lions crush the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 on the road. The French World Cup winner struck in the 48th minute for his 300th career club goal, instantly justifying Orlando's marquee signing after the World Cup break.
Key Takeaways
- Antoine Griezmann scored in the 48th minute of his official Orlando City MLS debut.
- Orlando City blanked the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 away on Wednesday night.
- The finish was Griezmann's 300th career club goal across all competitions.
- Eduard Atuesta earned man of the match with three assists as Orlando rose to 10th in the East.
The 35-year-old forward wasted little time announcing himself to Major League Soccer. After scoring in two pre-restart friendlies — against the USL's Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Dallas — Griezmann carried that hot streak into league play for a short-handed Orlando side that looked sharp from the opening whistle.
According to MLSsoccer.com, teenage forward Justin Ellis intercepted a pass in the attacking third and found his French strike partner. Griezmann slipped past a trio of defenders before firing a low shot inside the near post to make it 3-0, then delivered his signature celebration.
How did Antoine Griezmann score his first MLS goal?
The breakthrough arrived three minutes after halftime. Ellis, 19, pounced on a sloppy San Jose giveaway and quickly fed Griezmann, who used quick feet and a left-footed near-post finish to put the result out of reach. It was clinical, classic Griezmann — and exactly the moment Orlando fans had been waiting for.
He nearly opened in spectacular fashion even earlier, attempting a long-range lob five minutes in after catching Earthquakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn off his line, only to overhit the chance. Link-up play with teammates Tiago and Griffin Dorsey also threatened before the goal finally came.
Why does this debut matter for Orlando City?
Orlando entered the night 13th in the Eastern Conference with just 14 points. The 4-0 win lifted the Lions to 10th, only two points behind D.C. United for the final playoff spot. Key contributions from Iván Angulo and Braian Ojeda, plus Atuesta's three assists, underlined a squad rediscovering its rhythm after the World Cup break.
For a club banking on a global star to change its second-half trajectory, the timing could hardly have been better. Griezmann played the full 90 minutes and looked seamlessly connected to his new teammates — a product, The Athletic noted, of those preparatory friendlies before the season restart.
Where does this fit in Antoine Griezmann's career?
Beyond the MLS milestone, the strike marked Griezmann's 300th club goal. He already sits as Atlético Madrid's all-time leading scorer with 212 goals and previously netted for Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona. Crossing that career threshold in purple is a headline in its own right for celebrity breaking news watchers.
His debut also outshone fellow marquee arrival Robert Lewandowski, who went scoreless in Chicago Fire's 3-2 loss at Inter Miami. The two stars are scheduled to meet when Orlando hosts Chicago on Aug. 19 — and after night one, the early edge belongs to Griezmann.