Griezmann rescues Orlando with goal and assist in 3-3 draw at Minnesota

Antoine Griezmann was Orlando City’s saviour once again on Saturday night, scoring a goal and providing an assist in the 3-3 draw secured away at Minnesota United. The Frenchman has now recorded four goals and three assists in seven MLS matches.

The evening had nearly turned into a nightmare. While Orlando led 2-0, Minnesota turned the game around by scoring three times in four minutes to go 3-2 up. It was Griezmann who prevented defeat: in stoppage time, he recovered the ball in his own half and sent Tyrese Spicer through with a long pass. The forward equalised in the 93rd minute, earning a precious point for his side.

Before that decisive intervention, the 2018 World Cup winner had already scored Orlando’s second goal in the 64th minute. Released into space by Justin Ellis, he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Alec Smir and placed the ball into the bottom corner for his fourth MLS goal.

This result confirms the rising form of the former Atlético de Madrid forward, who has recorded five decisive contributions in his last three matches. On Wednesday, he provided an assist against Chicago, before scoring a decisive brace against Real Salt Lake (2-1) — a performance that earned him MLS Player of the Day.

His manager Martin Perelman makes no secret of his admiration. “He’s a wonderful example of what a great footballer can be. We’re extremely fortunate to have him. It’s not easy to arrive in MLS, we ask a lot of him. He’s doing very well, but he remains human,” the Orlando coach said.

Griezmann himself is relishing his new adventure. “When we scored the first goal, we had an extra force with the crowd. It was incredible. They pushed us so much,” he said after his brace against Salt Lake.

Arriving this summer at a team sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, outside the playoff places, the Frenchman has overseen Orlando’s turnaround, now ninth. At 35, the man who had long expressed a desire to end his career in the United States clearly did not come to Florida for semi-retirement.