Antonio Griezmann celebrates his first official goal of the season. (OCSC Media Team)
After a nearly two-month World Cup break, Orlando City SC needed a statement Wednesday night. In San Jose in a West Coast, late-night re-start to the MLS season, the Lions delivered four of them.
Orlando City beat second-place San Jose Earthquakes 4-0, its most complete performance of the season, and did it with a roster that looks rebuilt and improved from the one that stumbled into the World Cup break. David Brekalo headed home Eduard Atuesta's set-piece cross in the 7th minute, and Orlando never gave the lead back.
Atuesta ran the night. His delivery found Brekalo early, his pass set up Iván Angulo's low drive from outside the box in the 29th, and his 72nd-minute corner landed on Braian Ojeda's head for the fourth goal — three assists, three different routes to the net. In between, Antoine Griezmann showed why the club brought him to Orlando, collecting Justin Ellis' pass just after halftime and tucking a left-footed finish inside the far post in the 48th. Down 3-0 before the second half was three minutes old, San Jose's chase was over.
The scoreline flattered no one falsely. San Jose actually edged possession, 51 percent to 49, but Orlando outshot the hosts 13-9 and made its chances count. Maxime Crépeau handled the rest, stopping all six shots he faced, including efforts from Beau Leroux, Ousseni Bouda and halftime substitute Jack Skahan. A San Jose side that entered with 32 points and the Western Conference's second-best record never solved him.
The win moved Orlando to 17 points, 10th in the Eastern Conference — still climbing, but climbing with better pieces. Griezmann is settled and scoring. Atuesta is dictating games. And forward Daryl Dike is back with the club after his spell in England, adding another option up front. Martín Ojeda remains out with a thigh injury, but this is a deeper, sharper team than the one that left for the break.
The proof comes Saturday. Orlando City hosts Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium at 7:30 p.m., with Griezmann leading the line. Beat the best team in the East at home, and the rebuild stops being a storyline. It becomes a standing.
