Antoine Griezmann scores on MLS debut and reaches 300 club goals as Orlando City thrash San Jose Earthquakes

Antoine Griezmann marked his Major League Soccer debut in spectacular fashion, scoring his 300th club goal as Orlando City swept aside San Jose Earthquakes 4-0.

The 35-year-old French forward, starting his first competitive match in the United States, found the net in the 48th minute with Orlando’s third goal of the night, capping a dominant display in Florida.

His landmark strike came in his very first MLS appearance and added another chapter to a glittering club career that has now seen him reach triple figures across his spells in Europe and, now, North America.

Dream start in Orlando

Griezmann was named in the starting XI by Argentine coach Martin Perelman and completed the full 90 minutes, immediately taking on a central role in Orlando City’s attack.

With the hosts already in control, the World Cup winner struck early in the second half to effectively end any realistic hopes of a San Jose comeback. His goal, the third in Orlando’s four-goal haul, underlined both his enduring quality and the club’s ambition in bringing him to MLS.

The Frenchman’s performance will be seen as a major boost for Orlando, who are seeking momentum after a mixed start to the campaign.

Goals from across the globe

Orlando’s rout of San Jose was built on contributions from an international cast.

Slovenian defender David Brekalo opened the scoring, setting the tone for a one-sided encounter. Colombian winger Ivan Angulo doubled the advantage, putting the home side firmly in command before half-time.

Griezmann then struck shortly after the interval, before Paraguayan midfielder Braian Ojeda completed the emphatic 4-0 scoreline. The spread of goals across four different nations underlined the diversity and depth in Orlando City’s squad.

San Jose Earthquakes, meanwhile, struggled to contain Orlando’s attacking movement and offered little threat in response, suffering one of their heaviest defeats of the season.

Play-off race tightens

The victory lifts Orlando City to 10th place in the Eastern Conference on 17 points, edging them closer to the play-off positions.

They now stand just two points shy of the post-season spots currently occupied by DC United, with Griezmann’s arrival potentially decisive in the club’s push up the table as the season progresses.

For MLS, the French forward’s high-profile move and instant impact will be viewed as another significant coup, adding further star power to a league that has increasingly attracted leading European names in recent years.

Griezmann’s debut goal, coinciding with his 300th club strike, will heighten expectations around both player and club. Orlando City will now look to build on this result, while opponents around the league will be warned that one of Europe’s most decorated forwards has arrived in MLS and is wasting no time in making his mark.