Orlando player Benji Michel celebrates after scoring a goal against San Jose goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski, right, Tue Jun 22, 2021 in Orlando (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

ORLANDO—When it rain it pours.

In the case of the Orlando City SC, the goals rained down just as much as the precipitation did as the host team dominated from start to finish in a 5-0 crushing shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on a stormy Tuesday evening at Exploria Stadium.

It was the worst loss of the season for San Jose as they looked steps slower and played uninspired soccer for head coach Matias Almeyda for the entire 90 minutes. The Quakes have lost five of their past six matches. Orlando City have won two matches in a row and three out of its last four.

It was the second match in a row Almeyda has gone with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Orlando City SC turned the Quakes defense into a slice of Swiss cheese as they were able get open for scoring chances down the middle of the pitch throughout the whole match.

“We were very bad on the pitch. We did not apply the pressure we needed to. We did not use spaces we thought about using. The goals came from our mistakes,” Almedya said.

Orlando City SC (5-1-3) used their speed to generate their first goal. Benji Michel possessed the ball inside the box where Florian Jungwith was late to arrive and tripped Michel resulting in a penalty kick in the sixth minute.

Nani cashed in the penalty with a low shot to the lower left of the net that beat a diving Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski a minute later.

Michel doubled Orlando City SC’s lead with his first goal of the match in the 16th minute. He beat Paul Marie to a chipped ball in the box by Chris Mueller and tapped it past Marcinkowski. 

Darly Dike made it 3-0 in the 31st when he grabbed a pass by Nani and drove around Marcinkowski before burying the ball into an empty net for his first goal of the match. Dike made his first start since returning from a successful loan spell with Barnsley in the English Championship.

The only thing that could stop Orlando City SC’s momentum and from scoring any more goal before halftime was the heavens. A lightning storm delayed the match for 56 minutes at the 40th minute of the first half. The match’s start was delayed for 30 minutes as the inclement weather made its presence throughout the night in the citrus city.

San Jose (3-6-1) was not able to generate any descent scoring chances. Whenever they possessed the ball in Orlando City SC’s side of the pitch a combination of sloppy turnovers, players not not being on the same page with one another and Orlando City outhustling them to clear the ball out of danger led to counter attacks the Quakes ended up getting burned on.

Cade Cowell and Shea Salinas coming into the match as subs once the match restarted did little to chance San Jose’s fortunes.

“They had three counterattacks and three goals pretty quickly there. It was a bit of a surprise and a bit frustrating for the whole team,” Salinas said.

Orland City SC didn’t let the long delay derail their momentum to start the second half. Off a set piece Nani serviced the ball into the middle of the box where Dike was left uncovered and his header beat Marckinkowski for his brace in the 49th minute.

Nani finished with a three point match (G, 2A).

“Orlando has more than just two important players; they have between 15 and 18 important players. Their fullbacks and center backs are important, their midfield is important, and they have many important attacking players. We are aware of the differences between rosters. We came to play our game, and evidently, we did that poorly. Our team, including myself, first and foremost, did not come through,” Almeyda said.

Michel completed the scoring with his own brace when he slammed home a shot from the near post that Marcinkowski had no chance at.

Orlando City SC’s goalie Brandon Austin had a relatively easy night only needing to make one save to earn the shutout victory. Marcinkowski, who received no help from his defense, made three saves on the eight shots he faced in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had five corner kicks. Orlando City had two.

The Quakes are now 1-2-3 all-time vs. Orlando City SC.

Judson (25th minute) and Oswaldo Alanis (52nd minute) were issued yellow cards during the match.

UP NEXT: The Quakes return home to host the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second installment of the California Classico on Saturday 6/26 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Stadium.