Antoine Griezmann had a brace and Martin Ojeda added a sensational goal as Orlando City extended their home winning streak to five matches with a 4-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday.
Marco Pasalic added a goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time as the Lions (12-13-5, 41 points) took a major step toward clinching their seventh straight playoff berth.
Maxime Crepeau had three saves as Orlando avenged a 3-2 April loss to D.C. United in Washington
Tai Baribo scored his 16th goal for D.C. United (7-10-12, 33 points), who are in danger of extending their six-year playoff drought. They opened the night three points shy of the postseason cut line.
Sean Johnson had three saves for D.C., which plays its next two matches against fringe playoff team FC Cincinnati next Wednesday and Saturday.
Orlando’s first two goals, both on connections between Griezmann and Ojeda, came seven minutes apart in the first half.
In the 15th minute, the Lions took advantage of a failed clearance by D.C. United. Griezmann then freed himself with a pair of give-and-goes.
The first was with Daryl Dike and the second was with Ojeda, who looped a one-touch return pass to Griezmann as he cut through the middle of the box. Griezmann slipped a right-footed shot inside the right post.
In the 22nd minute, Griezmann returned the favor, looping a pass to Ojeda in the middle of the box. Ojeda redirected the ball with a remarkable back-heel flick. His shot was inside the left post and gave Ojeda 15 goals this season.
After creating few chances, D.C. United broke through with a gift goal as Wilder Cartagena was called for a penalty, bear-hugging D.C. defender Sean Nealis and taking him to the turf as players jostled in the goal area on a corner kick.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Baribo rifled a right-footed penalty kick inside the left post to cut the deficit in half.
In the 50th minute, however, Orlando City regained their two-goal lead as Griezmann intercepted an ill-advised pass in D.C.’s defensive end by Kye Rowles and fired a left-footed shot from the middle of the box into the lower right corner.
It was the 12th goal in 14 appearances for Griezmann, who also has seven assists.
–Field Level Media
