An hour after the final whistle of the United States Men's National Team's 4-1 victory over Peru, Justin Ellis was still trying to process everything that had happened Saturday afternoon at Inter.co Stadium.
He'd spent the past 90 minutes in the locker room buried in his phone, firing off replies to a flood of texts and WhatsApp messages, trying, and mostly failing, to process what had just happened in the building where he made his MLS debut for Orlando City SC just last year.
"I'm more chill now," Ellis said, "but I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep too much tonight."
It's easy to understand why. In his first-ever appearance for the U.S., the Lions Homegrown forward scored just four minutes into the match, becoming the fastest player to score in their debut in modern USMNT history.
What made the moment even sweeter was that it occured at Inter.co Stadium, the same pitch where he's shaped his professional career, scoring in front of The Wall and the supporters who have cheered him on every step of the way in his young professional journey.
"It's like the perfect moment, man," Ellis said. "I dreamed of this. I play in this stadium often, but to play in this stadium for my national team is unbelievable. I was just thinking, 'Thank you, God,' a lot. It's probably one of the best moments of my life."
A sold-out Inter.co Stadium crowd cheered on Ellis and the U.S. en route to an impressive victory over Peru, adding to the USMNT's sterling record in the venue, now sitting at 8-0-0 since the stadium opened in 2017. From hosting FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to Concacaf Gold Cup matches, the home of Orlando City and Orlando Pride has turned into one of the most reliable home grounds for American soccer, both men's and women's.
Ellis' goal in the fourth minute helped get the crowd into the game and began a trend for the afternoon of young players stepping up in the match. Eleven players for the U.S. made their debuts on Saturday, with two of them scoring debut goals: Ellis and Red Bull New York's Julian Hall.
"I think us young guys bring fresh energy, which is a good vibe, and the senior players help us a lot too," Ellis said.
Giovanni Reyna is one of the senior players who has formed a quick bond with Ellis. The forward provided the assist for Ellis and even predicted more or less what happened out on the pitch.Â
"Gio and I spent a lot of time together this week, and he actually told me the night before the game that he was going to assist me. It ended up happening, and I'm very grateful for that."
After celebrating the goal with his teammates, Reyna nudged Ellis back out towards the crowd to soak in another ovation from the Orlando faithful.
"I think he understood the moment. That I'm back home, in front of the wall," Ellis said. "It was super special."
No one appreciated the moment more than Alex Freeman, the former Orlando City defender and Ellis' closest friend in the squad, who made sure Ellis knew it wasn't going to be forgotten.
"It was crazy," Freeman said. "Scoring four minutes into your debut here in Orlando is honestly kind of ridiculous. I was just telling him after the game I was going to steal the goal, but it was an amazing header. He deserves it. I think he played well today, and it just shows how you can come in and take your chance. It shows what he can give to the national team, and to its future as well."
For Ellis, sharing that moment with Freeman carried its own weight. The two have known each other for years, coming up together through soccer in South Florida before both entering the Orlando City Academy pathway. Ellis signed with the MLS side earlier this year, just as Freeman departed for La Liga's Villarreal CF.
"He's like family to me," Ellis said. "Being able to celebrate with him, and really play with him for real, meant everything. The last time we shared a field was my MLS debut, and I only played a couple minutes. To really play alongside him was unbelievable."
Freeman, for his part, treated the night as something of a homecoming. After leaving Orlando City in January, he was never able to get a proper send-off match in front of the Orlando faithful before heading overseas. After the match on Saturday, he took a lap around the field, determined to soak in the feeling of playing at Inter.co Stadium one more time and to properly thank the fans he never got to say goodbye to.
"I wanted to thank the fans," Freeman said. "I wanted to come around and see the stadium one more time, get a feel for the field I used to play on all the time. It was amazing, and I just wanted to soak it all in and appreciate everything they've cheered us for."
"I wanted to take it all in and realize I came from here, and not to forget my roots," he added. "Being here was such an amazing time, and I thank Orlando for everything. I've been able to go into a different environment, but coming back here just feels like home."
On Saturday, Inter.co Stadium became that place once again for Freeman, while Ellis began his own journey with the U.S. right where it started for both of them: Orlando.
