Best MLS goal of the season? Ojeda's backheel flick leaves fans stunned

After Orlando City’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, Orlando attacker Martin Ojeda joked with reporters that they could cut out portions of his comments and make it look like he’d planned his wonder-goal all along.

The truth? He had an idea that he was going to try to pull off an audacious shot, but he never knew it would go as well as it did when he scored an MLS Goal of the Season candidate, using the back of his heel to redirect a pass from Antoine Griezmann into the goal.

It was an acrobatic finish after a slick spell of play for Orlando, with Ojeda finding the Frenchman, then soaring and twisting his body to get the right touch on it and put it past D.C. United goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

“When I shot, I tried to do something different,” Ojeda said. “The last game I wanted to do it on the ground. Today, I tried it in the air and thankfully was able to score the goal. When I got up and saw the ball going in, it was a beautiful feeling.”

The feeling was made even nicer for Ojeda with many of his family members in attendance for the match to see him assist Griezmann on the opening goal and score the second.
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The victory showed how critical Orlando’s star power will be as the Florida club stays firmly in the playoff picture, sitting 7th in the Eastern Conference with four matches left. The top nine advance to postseason play.

“I think it’s important to have these players for us. Today we scored with the three DPs we have, so I think that’s important in this league,” Orlando City interim coach Martin Perelman said. “Sometimes they are able to do it, sometimes not, but nobody can (argue) with the talent they have. I think it’s about being humble, one game at a time, I think they are giving everything on the field.

“Today was a tough game, we had to battle, to fight and play when we could. Fortunately, we won which is very important at home.”

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Sept. 4: Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge (9) takes a shot at goal against New York City at Yankee Stadium. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

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Aug. 29: Lionel Messi scores a goal past CF Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier during the second half at NU Stadium. Messi scored four goals in a 7-1 win for Miami..

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July 22: Atlanta United’s Elías Baez (3) heads the ball against Charlotte FC during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

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April 25: The Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel (left) and Sporting Kansas City’s Kwaku Agyabeng battle for control of the ball during the second half at Soldier Field. Chicago won the match, 5-0.

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April 4: Inter Miami defender Maximiliano Falcon reacts after a play against Austin FC during the second half at Nu Stadium. Inter Miami drew 2-2 against Austin FC in the inaugural game at Nu Stadium in Miami.

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April 4: The Chicago Fire’s Maren Haile-Selassie (7) and Nashville SC’s Maxwell Woledzi battle for control of the ball during the first half at Soldier Field. Chicago won the match, 1-0.

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March 21: Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crapeau (71) blocks the header by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge during the first half at Geodis Park. Nashville SC won the match, 5-0.

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March 1: Inter Miami’s German Berterame controls the ball against Orlando City during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Inter Miami won the game, 4-2.

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Feb. 28: Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga and the Houston Dynamo’s Antonio Carlos (left) compete for possession during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. LAFC won the match, 2-0.

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Feb. 21: Fans watch during the national anthem before the game between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami CF at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. LAFC won the game, 3-0, knocking off the defending MLS champs.

The team will seek a Hollywood ending, but for now can enjoy the very real replays from various angles of the superb shot.

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