Griezmann and Ojeda deliver record-setting goals as Orlando City holds NYCFC 2-2

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Antoine Griezmann and Martín Ojeda powered Orlando City to a 2-2 home draw against New York City FC at Inter.co Stadium in Matchday 32 of Major League Soccer, delivering two notable milestones for the Lions as they push toward the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. The result extended Orlando’s unbeaten streak to four games, moved the club to seventh in the Eastern Conference with 42 points, and kept them within striking distance of playoff qualification with three matches remaining.

Griezmann, the Orlando Designated Player and a 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, levelled the match in the 32nd minute with a header. The goal was his 13th in 15 MLS matches played for Orlando, bringing his scoring contribution totals to 13 goals and seven assists in that span. It also marked him as the second-fastest player in MLS to reach 20 goal contributions, trailing only Lionel Messi, who reached the same milestone in 14 games with Inter Miami CF.

Orlando’s push for late-season positioning has leaned heavily on Griezmann since his arrival over the summer. At 35 years old, the French forward brought an established international pedigree after a storied career at Atlético Madrid, and the Lions have risen from the lower end of the Eastern Conference standings into the playoff picture during the period when his production has become a constant.

Following Griezmann’s equalizer, Ojeda added to the impact of Orlando’s Designated Player duo by turning involvement into another finish. The source reports that Ojeda followed up his assist on Griezmann’s goal with a score of his own, a left-footed effort inside the box that beat USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese.

Ojeda’s goal was itself a club record achievement. The midfielder became the first Orlando player to reach 50 career goals across all competitions, reinforcing his position as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. At 27 years old, he has continued to define Orlando’s attack since joining ahead of the 2023 season from Godoy Cruz in his native Argentina.

The match also highlighted the way Orlando has been able to turn Griezmann’s individual moments into collective results. The source notes that Orlando extended its record across all competitions to 8W-0L-3D in games where Griezmann scores, underscoring the direct influence of his output on the Lions’ results during this stretch.

With the 2-2 draw, Orlando preserved momentum while maintaining its seventh-place standing and the points total of 42 in the Eastern Conference. The Lions’ three-match window to qualify for the postseason, as described in the source, keeps every late-season result consequential, particularly as they look to convert their unbeaten run into a direct surge up the table.

Orlando will continue that late-season playoff push following the draw, with the next match scheduled against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday night at 8:30 pm ET. The source indicates the game will be available on Apple TV as Orlando aims to carry forward the rhythm generated by Griezmann and Ojeda’s record-setting contributions.

In the latest stretch of MLS competition, Griezmann’s milestone scoring and Ojeda’s club-record finish extended Orlando’s ability to respond to moments and secure results at Inter.co Stadium. Both players’ goals carried distinct historical significance for the Lions, and the draw keeps their playoff pursuit alive as the regular season approaches its final phase.