Tag: Orlando City SC

Orlando City routs Earthquakes 4-0 in first match after World Cup break

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Orlando City SC midfielder Ivan Angulo races past San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Nick Fernandez on a counterattack during City’s 4-0 shutout win at PayPal Park on Wednesday JUL 22, 2026. (Orlando City SC)

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Orlando City SC scored four unanswered goals in a dominating 4-0 clean sheet over the San Jose Earthquakes in the first match out of the World Cup break on Wednesday evening at PayPal Park.

San Jose has lost four out of its last five matches. Orlando City has won two matches in a row and had points in three out of its last four matches. With the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3 loss to FC Cincinnati, San Jose remained tied with Vancouver for first place in the Western Conference.

San Jose (10-4-2-32 points) welcomed back striker Timo Werner back into the starting XI as he missed the past six matches dealing with a lower body injury. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn made his Earthquakes after being signed by San Jose two weeks ago on July 8. Gunn was one of the stalwarts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for his native Scotland. Gunn last played for Nottingham Forrest of the English Premier League and has 59 clean sheets in 218 EPL appearances. To make room for Gunn, the Quake traded Daniel to FC Dallas in exchange for up to $1 million in General Allocation Money.

Speaking of debuts, new striker Antoine Griezmann who was in the starting XI for Orlando City (5-9-2-17 points) and head coach Martin Pereiman. The star French forward and World Cup champion was signed by Orlando back on March 24 as a Designated Player.

Griezmann almost caught Gunn too far out from the goal in the fifth minute after Gunn came out to challenge ball outside the box. Griezmann’s long attempt was sailed high over the net.

Orlando City drew first blood in the seventh minute off a set piece. Eduard Atuesta’s free kick from the right wing sailed into the middle of the box where unmarked David Brekaio easily headed the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Beau Leroux had a chance in the 18th minute for an equalizer when he intercepted an Orlando City clearing attempt out of the box after Werner drove his way in from the left wing, but his cross was deflected away. Leroux’s shot attempt from just outside the box was saved by City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

The Earthquakes thought they had tied the game in the 27th minute when Werner was sprung on a breakaway with a long ball into the middle. Werner was challenged by Crepeau before tapping it over to Daniel Munie who calmly put the ball into the back of the bet. The linesman called Munie offsides on the play as he left early before the pass was attempted.

Ivan Angulo doubled Orlando City’s lead in the 29th minute. Atuesta found Angulo with a pass to the right side. With all the time in the world, Angulo blasted a shot from 22 yards out past Gunn into the far-left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Griezmann recorded his first MLS goal thanks to a gift by San Jose in the 48th minute. A lazy back pass by Jamar Ricketts was intercepted by Justin Ellis just outside the box. Ellis quickly found Griezmann all alone inside the box where he made a move right then left before depositing the ball past Gunn for his 300th career goal among all competitions.

Crepeau made a diving save on a Werner chance a minute later as the Canadian goalie acted like a wall against the Quakes offensive attempts.

Orlando City scored its fourth unanswered goal in the 73rd minute on its second set piece of the match. Atuesta crossed the ball into middle of the box off of a corner kick and unmarked Braian Ojeda headed the ball just past the reach of a diving Gunn into the right corner of the net for his first goal of the season. Atuesta finished the match with three assists.

Crepau finished with six saves to earn the clean sheet. Gunn, who was at the mercy of his defense, made just one save on five shots attempts in his first match in a Quakes kit.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with two corner kicks. Orlando City also had two.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 105th meeting of the California Classico on Saturday July 25 at 7:30pm at Stanford Stadium.

Orlando City SC’s Michel and Dike score twice in 5-0 route over Earthquakes

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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.