Orlando City’s offensive firepower was on full display Saturday night. The Lions toppled D.C. United 4-1 at Inter.co Stadium.
The victory helped Orlando City cement its playoff position, improving to 12-13-5 with 41 points. The Lions are seventh in the Eastern Conference of MLS. D.C. United is 7-10-12, 33 points.
Antoine Griezmann had two goals and an assist, Martín Ojeda added a goal and an assist, and Marco Pasalić added a stoppage-time goal for Orlando City. Maxime Crépeau had three saves in goal.
“(The win) was important. We saw that we struggled in the last game with the draw, and it was unfortunate that we didn’t win that game,” Orlando forward Pašalić said. “Every win now is important in this period of time and the qualification for the playoffs. So I think we can be happy about the three points.”
Pašalić was referring to Wednesday’s 3-3 draw at Toronto FC, which is also chasing a playoff spot. The Lions appeared in control when Toronto’s Matheus Pereira scored in the 90th minute to create the tie.
Against D.C. United, the Lions made sure the outcome could not be altered at the end.
Griezmann scored the opening goal in the 15th minute. Daryl Dike held up play. That allowed Ojeda, just inside the top of the 18-yard box, to chip a first-touch pass over four defenders to a charging Griezmann on the give-and-go for a first-touch finish from 7 yards out. Griezmann neatly slotted his shot past United goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
Ojeda added an impressive goal of his own seven minutes later, with Griezmann providing the assist. Ojeda flicked the ball on with a back-heel volley off a feed from Griezmann, making it 2-0 for the Lions in the 22nd minute. It was Ojeda’s 49th goal for Orlando City, extending the club record he broke in Toronto.
Griezmann has 12 goals and seven assists in 14 MLS appearances and is the first player in league history with a goal contribution in 12 of his first 14 career games.
D.C. United pulled one back shortly before halftime on a penalty kick from Tai Baribo. Wilder Cartagena had the foul on Sean Nealis that led to the penalty as the Lions went into halftime up 2-1. The Lions were short-handed on the back line. Veteran defender Robin Jansson underwent successful surgery to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, the club said in a press release Friday. Jansson is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Lions pounced shortly after the break, scoring a third in the 50th minute. Griezmann intercepted a misplayed pass by Kye Rowles in D.C.’s defensive third, took two dribbles and rolled a shot into the net to make it 3-1 to secure his brace with his second goal.
Pašalić upped the advantage to 4-1 in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Justin Ellis had the assist, playing through his fellow substitute to put the icing on the cake.
Orlando players celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Kids enjoy themselves during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Zakaria Taifi (19) kicks under D.C. player Keisuke Kurokawa (6) during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Martin Perelman smiles during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Antoine Griezmann (left) and Martin Ojeda (right) celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (71) leaps high to stop a kick during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Martin Ojeda celebrates after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Young fans cheer during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann heads the ball during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player David Brekalo (4) and D.C. player Tai Baribo (9) compete for the ball during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando head coach Martin Perelman points during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann moves the ball during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann (left) scores a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann celebrates during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann yells to fans during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Antoine Griezmann, left, and Martin Ojeda celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Daryl Dike (middle) leaps during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann controls the ball during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Martin Ojeda (10) falls as he scores a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Martin Ojeda (10) screams in celebration after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau 71 leaps to protect the net during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Martin Ojeda (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Iago (57) leaps to head over D.C. player Tai Baribo (9) during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Daryl Dike (9) leaps high over D.C. player Kye Rowles (15) during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players, from left: Antoine Griezmann, Martin Ojeda, and Zakaria Taifi celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players gather during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Orlando players celebrate after a goal during the D.C. United at Orlando City Soccer MLS match at Inter.Co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, October 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
“When I was running towards the goal,” Pašalić said, “I had a lot of things in my head … in this short time for the people (watching), this is — for the player — a really long time. You have to watch your back if somebody is near you … I double-checked that the guy is not near me, and then I felt a little bit less pressure. I saw that (Johnson) was open on his right side a little bit more than the left side, and then I scored.”
The victory leaves Orlando City five points ahead of eighth-place Red Bull New York, which lost Saturday to Toronto FC, and ninth-place FC Cincinnati, which plays Sunday. Toronto also has 36 points. There are four games left in the regular season for the Lions.
Up next for the Lions is a home match against New York City FC on Saturday.