Toronto’s late-night noise carried a familiar French refrain for Orlando City: when Antoine Griezmann scores, his side does not lose. The 35-year-old again delivered in a breathless 3-3 draw in Canada, striking an equaliser that helped Orlando recover from a second deficit before Matheus Pereira denied the visitors victory in the final minute.
Griezmann’s move to MLS has changed the temperature around the Florida club. Orlando sit seventh with four regular-season matches remaining, close enough to the playoff race to feel its pull, and their new attacking reference has supplied immediate returns: 10 goals and five assists in 13 appearances.
A six-goal night in Toronto
- Toronto FC took the lead twice, with Lewis Morgan and Theo Corbeanu among the home scorers.
- Griezmann brought Orlando level at 2-2, finishing a first-time volley with the quick judgement that has followed him from Atlético Madrid and Barcelona to Florida.
- Orlando moved ahead at 3-2 through Daryl Dike, while Martín Ojeda also scored for the Lions.
- In the last minute, Matheus Pereira struck for Toronto to make it 3-3.
The draw preserved a striking Orlando record. In the eight matches in which Griezmann has found the net, they have remained unbeaten, posting six wins and two draws. Since his arrival, the wider record stands at six victories, three draws and four defeats.
Perelman sees a complete player
Orlando coach Martín Perelman initially struggled to put his appreciation into a neat sentence after the match. “Grizzy is a player… something else,” he said, before expanding on the point.
“Everybody can see it. He is immense, hugely talented. He gives us all his magic, he decides matches and he is extremely generous defensively. He is a complete footballer, and his leadership cannot be questioned.”
For Griezmann, the adjustment has come only months after playing a Champions League semi-final with Atlético. His decision-making and opportunism have travelled intact, while his profile has given Orlando an instant lift on and off the pitch.
Atlético colours and an American sporting education
There were Atlético shirts bearing Griezmann’s name among the crowd in Toronto, a reminder that his years in Madrid remain close. The Spanish club may also gain greater recognition in the city after Toronto-born, two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became an investor in Atlético.
Griezmann has continued to signal his affection for his former club. Days before the Toronto match, he arrived for a game wearing a shirt featuring the face of his friend and former Atlético teammate Marcos Llorente.
Inside Orlando’s dressing room, his appetite for American sport has helped him settle. Dike said Griezmann has immersed himself in the NFL, has explored fantasy football, follows Major League Baseball and talks constantly about leagues and athletes across the country.
“He knows more than many of us,” Dike said. “It is good to see how he embraces the culture here. I support the Thunder and he likes LeBron. He just loves it all. Athletes will always respect other athletes.”
Dike also praised Griezmann’s work ethic and spirit. With four games left before the end of the regular season, Orlando will hope that the Frenchman’s scoring superstition remains as reliable as it was in Toronto.
