SAN JOSE, Calif. (SportsTicker) – Orlando City SC (5-9-2, 17 points) defeated the San Jose Earthquakes (10-4-2, 32 points) 4-0 on Wednesday night at PayPal Park in the club’s first match following the MLS break for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The Lions opened the scoring early when David Brekalo rose unmarked to head home an Eduard Atuesta free kick in just the seventh minute of play.
Iván Angulo doubled City’s lead in the 29th minute after collecting a ball from Atuesta just outside the box and firing a low, driven effort that beat Angus Gunn at the far post.
Just three minutes into the second half, Antoine Griezmann scored his first official goal for the Lions in his MLS debut. Justin Ellis intercepted a pass in the final third and played Griezmann through on goal. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner held off pressure from three defenders before tucking a low shot into the bottom corner of the net and extending the Lions’ lead.
Braian Ojeda completed the rout in the 73rd minute with a driven header from another Atuesta set piece.
Goal Highlights:
7’ David Brekalo (Eduard Atuesta) – ORL 1, SJ 0
29’ Iván Angulo (Eduard Atuesta, Braian Ojeda) – ORL 2, SJ 0
48’ Antoine Griezmann (Justin Ellis) – ORL 3, SJ 0
73’ Braian Ojeda (Eduard Atuesta, Justin Ellis) – ORL 4, SJ 0
Match Notes:
- The match marked the Orlando City and Major League Soccer debut of FIFA World Cup 2018™ winner Antoine Griezmann.
- Griezmann struck for his first official goal as a Lion in the 48th minute, which also marked his 300th professional club goal.
- David Brekalo scored his second goal of 2026 across all competitions, marking his fourth all-time for the Lions.
- Forward Iván Angulo tallied his first goal of the year, good for his 14th all-time for the Lions across all competitions.
- Eduard Atuesta provided the assist on both the Brekalo and Angulo finishes, his first and second of the year bringing his Lions career total to nine across all competitions.
- Paraguayan international Braian Ojeda scored his first goal of the season and picked up the secondary assist on Angulo’s strike, his fifth of the season across all competitions, which ranks second-most for City.
- Homegrown forward Justin Ellis made the pass to Griezmann for his finish, recording his fourth assist of the year across all competitions.
- With tonight’s clean sheet, the Lions haven’t conceded a goal to San Jose since 2019.
- Interim head coach Martín Perelman made one change to the lineup following his team’s last match against FC Cincinnati, with Antoine Griezmann entering the starting XI.
- Defender Nolan Miller (knee) and midfielders Joran Gerbet (knee) and Martín Ojeda (thigh) missed the match due to injury, while defender Clovis Archange and midfielder Colin Guske missed the match due to international duty.
Next Match: The Lions return home to host Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium this Saturday, July 25. Kickoff on Apple TV is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
