Antoine Griezmann was the driving force behind Orlando City SC’s 4-1 win over DC United at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, scoring twice and assisting once to put the Lions firmly in control of an Eastern Conference playoff race that is tightening with every matchday. Orlando led 2-1 at halftime after Tai Baribo converted a stoppage-time penalty for the visitors, but Griezmann’s second-half strike quickly restored a two-goal cushion before Marco Pasalic rounded off the evening in the 90th minute. Interim head coach Martín Perelman got the response he needed after back-to-back defeats.
Key Moments
- 15′, Griezmann opened the scoring, finishing a move built by M. Ojeda, who provided the assist to give Orlando an early lead.
- 22′, M. Ojeda doubled the advantage, turning provider into scorer as Griezmann returned the favor with the assist.
- 45′, Tai Baribo pulled one back for DC United from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, keeping the visitors in the game at the break.
- 50′, Griezmann restored Orlando’s two-goal lead just five minutes into the second half, effectively ending DC United’s hopes of a comeback.
- 90′, Marco Pasalic, on as a late substitute, finished a move started by Justin Ellis to complete the scoring and set the final margin at 4-1.
Tactical Breakdown
Orlando City’s 4-2-3-1 gave them the structure to dominate. They controlled 59 percent of possession, completed 534 of 611 passes, and registered seven shots on target against three saves from DC United’s goalkeeper Johnson. An xG of 2.62 for the hosts versus 2.60 for the visitors tells only part of the story: Orlando converted four times, DC United once. The combination between Griezmann and M. Ojeda in the narrow channels behind Dike was consistently too quick for a DC United midfield that gave the ball away far too often on its own half.
The key tactical shift came at halftime, when Orlando head coach Martín Perelman withdrew Cartagena and introduced Joran Gerbet. The move tightened the midfield after DC United had found some joy through the flanks in the closing stages of the first half, and Griezmann’s goal just five minutes into the second period ended the match as a contest before René Weiler’s side could build any momentum from Baribo’s penalty. The triple substitution at the 70th minute, bringing on Adrián Marín, B. Ojeda and Justin Ellis, allowed Orlando to manage the final stages without risk.
DC United struggled to impose any sustained pressure despite taking 15 shots, with eight missing the target and three blocked. Their 4-4-2 was disjointed in the middle, and three yellow cards across the afternoon reflected a team that grew increasingly frustrated. Baribo’s penalty gave the scoreline a flattering feel at halftime, but once Griezmann scored at the start of the second period, DC United had no answer.
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Verdict
Orlando City move to 38 points and hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference, keeping them in a playoff position with a game in hand on several rivals around them. DC United remain 12th on 33 points, outside the top nine and in need of wins in their remaining matches to force their way back into contention. For Orlando, a performance this convincing, built around Griezmann at his best, is the kind of form that can carry a team deep into October.
DC United
Orlando City SC
A. Griezmann