While we all no doubt missed having Orlando City games to watch during Major League Soccer’s sabbatical for the World Cup, its also probably fair to say that Wednesday’s return to action against the San Jose Earthquakes was tinged with a good deal of trepidation. After all, the Lions had been hammered 6-2 on the road by FC Cincinnati in their final match before the layoff, comfortably had the worst defense in the league, had yet to keep a clean sheet, and had given up a whopping 31 of their 44 goals conceded on the road.

It didn’t help matters that San Jose was in the top five of the Supporters’ Shield standings, was the second-best team in the Western Conference (level on points for first but edged out on goal differential), and had scored 33 goals in 15 games while giving up just 15. It’s true that the Quakes weren’t in great form before the break, winning just one of their last five, but there was still plenty of reasons to worry that Orlando would pick up where it had left off in Ohio back on May 23.

Instead, the Lions not only hammered San Jose 4-0, but arguably should have beaten the Earthquakes by an even more lopsided scoreline. The team played a fluid, position-less brand of soccer that gave the home team absolute fits, and kept a first league clean sheet of the year to boot. It was an extremely unexpected, but exceedingly welcome, performance.

The big question now, is whether it can be replicated.

Well, maybe not directly replicated, as 4-0 wins tend to be relatively uncommon occurrences for even the very best of teams. Rather, can the things that made Orlando successful on Wednesday be built upon and repeated, or was the team’s performance a flash in the pan that we shouldn’t expect to see again?

First, let’s talk about the performance itself.

The highlight was how the team looked going forward. Every player on the field not named Maxime Crepeau, Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, or David Brekalo was constantly drifting anywhere and everywhere in the attacking half, taking up unexpected positions and rarely remaining in the position designated for them by the formation. Ivan Angulo functioned as a no.10 despite nominally playing right midfield, Justin Ellis and Antoine Griezmann could be found anywhere from the opposition’s 18-yard box to the midfield line or deeper, and the same could be said for Braian Ojeda and Eduard Atuesta. San Jose found the positional interchanging extremely difficult to deal with, especially during the first half hour of the game, but did settle in a little better after halftime.

Speaking of Ellis and Griezmann, they were terrors for their entire time on the pitch. As previously mentioned, both of them were dropping deep to receive the ball, exchanged quick passes with their teammates, and then turned to bomb forward themselves or play balls through or over the defense. That quick passing and clever movement was a theme for OCSC as a whole, but the two forwards were the best examples of it with Angulo coming a close third.

The speed of play for Orlando meant that the team had a lot of joy in transition moments, and the Lions constantly seemed to be springing players behind the defense, or running at San Jose’s defense with men in support. Only some poor execution when it came to passing and finishing in the final third prevented the good guys from putting even more goals on the board.

When it came to keeping the ball out of their own net, the Lions did several things very well. For one thing, the defense seemed to be more organized than we’ve seen it this year, aside perhaps from the U.S. Open Cup win against Atlanta. Orlando caught San Jose offside seven times on Wednesday, and on several occasions it was more down to the defense stepping together as a unit and staying in a disciplined line than it was on the Earthquakes being lazy or mistiming their runs.

When San Jose did carve out good chances, Crepeau was a towering presence in between the posts for the Lions. His seven saves will take the headlines, but there were also several instances where he was quick and smart in coming off his line to beat a San Jose runner to a ball and prevent a 1-v-1 situation. He also made several of his best saves on shots that were ultimately ruled out for offside or he almost certainly would have cracked double digits. It was a pre-eminent performance, and he looked to be brimming with confidence after a good showing for Canada at the World Cup.

Now to be objective, OCSC had some things working in its favor. San Jose was without Niko Tsarikis, who has two goals and four assists in 11 games (then again, the Lions were without Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic, and Daryl Dike), and the Earthquakes’ finishing was…not great. Two particular instances stood out: Beau Leroux missing wide left in the 38th minute when he was unmarked at the top of the six-yard box, and Jack Skahan touching a ball toward on onrushing Crepeau in the 57th minute rather than passing to a wide-open Ousseni Bouda for a tap-in. There were also several times when a ‘Quakes player just missed getting on the end of a ball in a dangerous area, or when bad giveaways in dangerous areas by the Lions went unpunished.

San Jose also made some unforced errors of its own, like the turnover that led to Griezmann’s goal. Then there was the set piece marking, which was atrocious. Brekalo and Ojeda were both completely unmarked for their goals, and it was shockingly bad defending for a team that hadn’t given up any set piece goals going into Wednesday’s game.

Now, what exactly should we make of all this?

Well, when it comes to what Orlando did, there’s an argument to be made that the team’s offensive performance from open play can be replicated. The team has had plenty of time to work on this position-less style of play on the training ground and was still having lots of joy with its quick passing and fluid movement even after San Jose had time to make halftime adjustments. The defense mostly held up well and stayed organized against one of the league’s more potent attacks, and when the Earthquakes did create chances, Crepeau kept up the form he showed in his last four games for Canada.

Orlando could also have benefitted from Tiago and Tyrese Spicer finishing clear-cut chances they were given by Ellis, Atuesta, and Griezmann. Martin Ojeda’s return and the addition of Dike can help chances turn into goals.

On the flip side, this is the first time anyone’s seen the Lions try to play this way, so its always going to be tougher to stop something you haven’t been able to train for. The element of surprise isn’t something that should be discounted when it comes to Wednesday. Other teams may make Orlando pay for some of the shaky moments that it had at the back, and not every team is going to make three big errors that the Lions can take advantage of.

For me, the answer lies somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum. I do not expect the Lions to look like 2008-2009 Barcelona every week, but I also don’t think its fair to say that Orlando simply benefitted from favorable circumstances and bounces. It’s perhaps best to say that OCSC did things that can be replicated, but there’s no guarantee those things will be replicated. The movement, passing, decision-making, defensive organization, and goalkeeping are things that can build a good foundation for success if Orlando can repeat them, and those are the things I’d focus on more than the number of goals or the clean sheet.

At the end of the day, we’re working on a small sample size and shouldn’t get carried away by one game, regardless of how fun it was. Wednesday’s performance wasn’t necessarily an illusion or the truth of what this team is. Rather, it was a glimpse of what this team has an opportunity to be. There’s work to be done and areas that can be improved on, but the Lions showed enough in San Jose for us to have hope for a season that’s looked hopeless more often than not. Vamos Orlando.

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! We have three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, starting with the Orlando Pride’s match tonight. I’ve had a feeling as if I’m forgetting something ever since the World Cup ended, but this weekend’s games should help solve that. Let’s jump right into today’s links!

Multiple Lions Make Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Antoine Griezmann, Eduard Atuesta, Maxime Crepeau, and David Brekalo all made the MLS Team of the Matchday following the team’s 4-0 win on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes. Griezmann scored in his MLS debut, while Atuesta recorded three assists. Crepeau had seven saves to help secure the clean sheet alongside David Brekalo, who scored as well. It’s great to see the Lions so well represented after a midweek slate that featured plenty of strong performances.

Orlando City Prepares to Face Nashville SC

There’s not much time for rest for the Lions after that victory on the West Coast, as they are back in action on Saturday with a home game against Nashville SC. Griezmann looked as advertised in that road win and his performance was one of the highlights from the midweek games. While it’s not the largest sample size, Orlando looked transformed with Griezmann on the field. Hopefully the Lions can keep the momentum rolling at home against Nashville, which has only lost once all season. It’ll be a tough match for Orlando, but it will also be a great opportunity to make a statement about where the team is headed.

Orlando Pride Take On the Chicago Stars Tonight

The Orlando Pride have had a week to reset and prepare for tonight’s match at home against the Chicago Stars. Both teams have lost their past two games and will be without important forwards, as the Pride’s Barbra Banda is on international duty and Chicago’s Jordyn Huitema was recently placed on the season-ending injury list. Mallory Swanson is also listed as out on the availability report for Chicago. The Stars have only scored eight goals while conceding 30 this season, making this a solid chance for the Pride to claim a needed three points at home.

Barbra Banda Praises Marta Ahead of WAFCON

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is set to begin on Sunday in Morocco and Banda is prepared to captain Zambia for the tournament. She spoke on how Pride teammate and women’s soccer legend Marta has helped her become a better player.

“The motivation she gives me is something I can’t even describe. Every game we play, she always has a word for me,” Banda said.

“She has been my idol since I was young, and this is a great opportunity for me to keep learning, gain experience and improve my game. I’m always following her closely because I want to learn something from her.”

Zambia is in a tough group against Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi, with only the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The stakes are fairly high in each game, as the semifinalists of the tournament will directly qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Zambia’s first match is set for Tuesday against Egypt.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

Hugo Cuypers, who was tied for the MLS Golden Boot lead with 13 goals so far this season, was officially transferred from the Chicago Fire to CF Monterrey for a reported transfer fee of $7.5 million. It’s a bit low for one of the league’s best forwards, but it does open up a Designated Player spot for Chicago. American midfielder Sebastian Berhalter may also be leaving the league, as the Vancouver Whitecaps are reportedly close to transferring him to Middlesbrough for a fee around $2 million.

As for the ever escalating arms race by Eastern Conference teams, Atlanta United is reportedly targeting big names like Darwin Nunez and Breel Embolo as possible replacements for Emmanuel Latte Lath, who notably didn’t play on Wednesday. The New England Revolution are also reportedly looking to add some firepower and are nearing a deal for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City forward Justin Ellis was noted as a young American player who impressed this week for his role in Orlando’s win, in which he provided both a primary and a secondary assist.
• The club announced that Inter&Co Stadium has been renamed to Inter.co Stadium. Ampersand fanatics are in shambles.
• An agreement to key terms of a collective bargaining agreement has been reached between the USL Super League and the USL Players Association. The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified, but it would be the league’s first collective bargaining agreement.
• Former MLS and U.S. Soccer star Eddie Pope was named MLS Senior Vice President of Sporting Development and MLS NEXT Pro Senior Vice President of Competition & Operations.
• Enjoy this graphic showcasing the tenures of the managers in the English Premier League. It’s a bit crazy that half of them haven’t been with the club for over a year.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

MLS is back, but more importantly Orlando City was back on Wednesday night in San Jose, as the Lions roared right out of the gate with a 4-0 demolition of the Earthquakes. Maybe the Sunken Treasure kits are on the same schedule as former Lion Facundo Torres and do not get going until the second half of the season, or maybe this was just a one-off, but three points and a plus-four in goal differential are in the books after one of the most enjoyable Orlando City games in a long time.

I have my purple pen out and am ready to issue some grades, so here we go. Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated individually in their matchup with a Western Conference opponent.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crépeau (MotM), 9 — Was it a World Cup bounce? Or, perhaps it was due to being named as an MLS All-Star? Either way, Crépeau was on an absolute heater in northern California, making seven saves that he was credited for and also several others that will not show up on the stat sheet because there was an offside call in the buildup. Canada’s No. 1 (not to be confused with Duke Caboom, Canada’s greatest stuntman) used his entire body to help Orlando City keep its first MLS clean sheet since June of 2025, making a kick save, using each hand to palm away shots, blocking another with his midsection, and even coming out of the box and executing a diving header to clear the ball out of danger. His best save might have been when he flew high to deny a header by Beau Leroux from going into the upper corner, but the fact that his save on that shot was not the clear choice for best save tells the story of how well Crépeau played on this night.

D, Adrián Marin, 5 — After a few games playing as a de facto center back in a back three alignment (it was technically a back four, but with Griffin Dorsey pushing high while Orlando possessed the ball) Marin returned to playing left back in a back four and really struggled throughout first half. He was better in the second half, but during the first half San Jose created nearly all of its chances on his side, as his lack of pace allowed the Earthquakes acres of space to set up their attack. The Spaniard battled, however, and while he often was chasing players down from behind, he always was able to get back and help defend. Marin had seven defensive contributions, split among three tackles, two interceptions, and two clearances, while completing 85% of his passes, and he deserves credit for helping keep a clean sheet.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 — The Beefy Swede had the kind of game that you hope for from your team’s center back — a mostly quiet evening. Jansson did not make any tackles but he had two interceptions and three clearances, spending most of his time organizing the defense and helping clog up the middle, while also beating San Jose players to several balls that could have become a problem had he not arrived first. This frustrated the Quakes, who fouled him twice. He completed 88.9% of his passes, mostly in the defensive half of the field, and led the back line from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

D, David Brekalo, 7.5 —Just as he did against Atlanta in the U.S. Open Cup, Brekalo opened the scoring for Orlando City with a headed goal in the game’s opening minutes off of a set piece delivery from Eduard Atuesta. The Slovenian put another header on target later in the game as well, though it was saved, and his two shots on target led the team. Similarly to his center back partner Jansson he did not make any tackles, but he led the game in defensive contributions with 10 (seven clearances and three interceptions). Brekalo completed 83.8% of his passes, and turned in what was one of his best all-around games in an Orlando City jersey, although he allowed a dangerous Timo Werner chance that Crepeau had to dive to push just wide.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 6.5 — Orlando City’s right back was able to balance marauding up the right flank with recovering quickly enough to prevent San Jose from breaking out on his side of the field. Werner was still able to create chances, including a few excellent ones, but Dorsey held his own against one of the league’s best attacking players. Dorsey had nine defensive contributions, with three tackles, one interception, and five clearances, and though he did not have any goal contributions, he was active offensively with two key passes and an 88.9% pass completion rate. Half of his completed passes came in San Jose territory, and the interplay on the right side of the field between Dorsey and all of Orlando City’s attacking players helped generate a lot of chances for the Lions.

MF, Tiago, 4 — The young Brazilian limped off the field with an injury, and not to kick a player who went down hurt, but it was probably time for him to come off anyway. Tiago’s movement was great, giving him chance after chance to score or to set up his teammates, but he did not deliver on any of them, often making the wrong choice on whether to shoot or pass or delaying so long the choice was taken from him altogether. The most egregious might have been in the first half, when he had Justin Ellis wide open but chose to shoot instead. But then again, maybe it was actually in the second half when he inexplicably slowed down while on a breakaway that Ellis had played him into and allowed the defenders to snuff out his chance. The effort and the hustle were there but the playmaking was not, and hopefully his injury is not serious, because the Lions will need him with a busy month coming up. He completed eight of his 10 passes and added two tackles on defense.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 8 — Atuesta’s performance made him a major contender for Man of the Match, and had his one shot attempt dropped in instead of just being palmed away by Angus Gunn at the last second, that might have tipped him past Crépeau. The Colombian played perhaps his best free kick since joining the Lions early in the game, delivering a line drive of a cross from the right sideline directly onto Brekalo’s head for the game’s opening goal. Later in the first half, he assisted Iván Angulo by playing him into an open pocket of space, and his fellow Colombian did the rest with a hammer shot into the far corner. Atuesta made it a hat trick of assists on the game’s final goal, as he took a short corner from Ellis and dropped a cross into the danger zone in the middle of the box, where Braian Ojeda did the rest by putting a header into the lower corner to make it 4-0 Lions. The one downside from Wednesday was that Atuesta picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will have to sit out Saturday’s game, but aside from that, he had an excellent all-around game, completing 84.2% of his passes and adding a team-leading four tackles, one interception, and one clearance on defense.

MF, Braian Ojeda, 8 — “Defensive Ojeda” was Defensive and Offensive Ojeda against San Jose, as the midfield destroyer made plays all over the field, including opening his Orlando City scoring account with his headed goal late in the second half. The Paraguayan led the game with nine loose ball recoveries and four interceptions while also adding one tackle, one block, and two clearances on defense. His work rate was part of the reason why neither Brekalo nor Jansson had to make any tackles, as he helped keep San Jose from successfully attacking down the middle of the field. He completed 89.5% of his passes, picking up a secondary assist on Angulo’s goal, and partnered well with all of the Lions who played in the middle of the field at various points of the game.

MF, Iván Angulo, 8 —Maybe he just needed to move off of the left side of the field? Orlando City’s speed burner ostensibly started the game as the right wing, but his heat map shows a player who played all over the field on Wednesday, and the Colombian was outstanding in all facets and across all locations. Angulo’s first half was probably his best half of the season, and he was solid in the second half as well for an excellent all-around performance. His cannon shot in the first half broke a nearly 50-game scoreless streak in MLS regular-season play, and his work rate, as usual, was unmatched. Angulo recorded four tackles and intercepted two passes on defense while also collecting six loose balls and completing 72.4% of his passes before coming off for a well-deserved rest in the 79th minute.

F, Antoine Griezmann, 8.5 — After years of our staff joking publicly about him coming to Orlando, the legendary French superstar actually is officially a Lion, and he celebrated his first official game by living out Denny Green’s famous “they are who we thought they were” quote by being everything we thought he would be. Griezmann was everywhere, from pressing the opposing goalkeeper to defending inside Orlando City’s six-yard box, and his passing vision opened up so many chances for his teammates. He was credited with five key passes, but he probably created at least 10 chances, though not all actually turned into shots. The MLS broadcast team awarded Griezmann its player of the match, and though he did not have gaudy official statistics (78.4% passing completion rate, two defensive contributions, one goal, and zero assists) he was clearly the best all-around player on the field, and it was not particularly close. His first goal with Orlando City gave the Lions breathing room and he showed his maturity in staying onside and calmly beating a defender and the goalkeeper with a well-placed shot. It was only one game, but the entire flow looked different for Orlando City and much of that came directly from Griezmann’s addition to the lineup.

F, Justin Ellis, 8 — The stats only moderately show the impact Ellis had on this game, but make no mistake, he was outstanding. The Homegrown Player displayed intelligent movement, and tremendous vision, and he reminded me often of a post player in basketball with how he would get a defender on his back and still be able to turn and create something offensively. Ellis had two assists — a secondary assist on Atuesta’s cross to Ojeda and a primary assist on Griezmann’s goal — and he could have bested Atuesta’s three assists had other players (in particular, Tiago) been more clinical with their finishing. He finished the game with an 81.8% passing completion rate, and might have gone the full 90 if not for what appeared to be some cramping late in the match.

Substitutes

MF, Tyrese Spicer (59′), 5 — Spicer entered for Tiago in a like-for-like swap, and it was like-for-like in position and also production, as the Trinidad & Tobago winger also was unable to convert, even though he was provided several excellent opportunities. Despite playing more than 30 minutes, Spicer only completed one pass and did not have any defensive contributions, and was mostly just a passenger for his time on the field. His failure to beat the goalkeeper on a clean breakaway cost Griezmann an assist to go with his goal.

D, Bernardo Rhein (79′), N/A — Rhein made his second appearance of the season after signing a short-term agreement earlier in the day and acquitted himself well during his 11 minutes on the field. He completed six of his seven passes (85.7%) and recorded one tackle. He clearly showed more zip in his legs at left back than Marin did.

MF, Luís Otávio (79′), N/A — The Brazilian midfielder came on for Atuesta and quickly engaged in the game, completing 12 of his 13 passes (92.3%) in only 11 minutes of game time. He added one tackle, one interception, and one clearance for a strong performance off the bench.

MF, Harvey Sarajian (79′), N/A — The former Wake Forest player may have been inspired by the golden Sunken Treasure kits, as he made a a play for a Golden Globe with his attempt to win a penalty kick with a dive just moments after coming onto the field. The referee did not fall for it, and gave him a yellow card, but that did not slow Sarajian down, as the rookie competed aggressively for all 11 minutes, and nearly scored on a well-struck left-footed shot that Gunn parried away. He completed all five of his passes, turning in a solid and energetic performance off the bench.

MF, Zakaria Taifi (84′), N/A —Orlando City’s final substitute came on for Ellis but shifted out to play most of his minutes on the right wing. Taifi completed only one pass, but it set up Sarajian’s shot and almost garnered him an assist. He added one tackle on defense and looked comfortable at right wing, even though most of his appearances with the senior team have been on the defensive side of the field.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s dominating 4-0 win on the road at San Jose. Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.