Lion Links: 3/31/15

April is only a day away and I'm hopeful that April will bring better fortunes to Orlando City. How about a first home win? Anyway, here are your links for that final day of March.

Orlando City players make their mark in international duty

It's been widely noted that OCSC has a large number of players gone on international duty for the next few days, so it's only appropriate to check on what they're doing.

You can check out a comprehensive list of what they’ve done so far on Orlando City’s web site. Brek Shea and the USMNT will try to rebound from their 3-2 loss to Denmark against 2014 World Cup qualifier Switzerland this afternoon. The match will be on Fox Sports 1 and UniMas at 12 p.m. ET.

P.S. If anyone can find Cyle Larin's first senior international goal against Puerto Rico, please put it in the comments section. I can't find the damn thing.

Orlando bids for next summer's Copa America Centenario.

The entire tournament will take place in the United States and several cities are expected to bid for hosting opportunities. Orlando's launching its bid to host matches in the Orlando Citrus Bowl. Team owner Phil Rawlins sounds confident in the city's chances of getting games.

“Over the past several months we have seen firsthand the significant impact premier soccer can have on our city and region,” said Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins. “Between the unforgettable kickoff to our 2015 MLS season with over 62,500 screaming fans, to the Florida Cup, the Canadian Men’s National Team training at Lake Sylvan, and the recent announcement of the major international exhibition between Mexico and Costa Rica on June 27 – we are proving to the world that Orlando is the home for world class soccer.

“We are confident that our bid for the Copa America Centenario USA 2016 will be successful, and that we will once again deliver an event of great magnitude, with its extensive economic benefits, to the Central Florida region. I’d like to thank all of our partners in this process as well as the U.S. Soccer Federation for their consideration of the City Beautiful as a venue for this historic championship.”

Considering the city hosted World Cup matches in 1994, it's not at all a long shot for Orlando to get some of South America's continental championship's matches. How about Brazil-Chile?

Vote for Kaká!

Kaká was nominated for MLS' Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month for March. The Brazilian is one of five players nominated for the award (Octavio Rivero's also nominated, boo) so make sure to vote before 11:59 p.m ET on Wednesday.

His two goals, one assist and generally dominant play have made Orlando City a tough team to play in the early stages of the season. I don't have to tell you what to do with your vote. Vote for Kaká at the aforementioned link.

Freddy Adu signs for his millionth team

Okay, that’s an over-exaggeration but you get the point. He’s played for a lot of teams since breaking out for D.C. United as a 16-year-old. This time it’s Kupion Palloseura in Finland, according to mlssoccer.com. Here’s the club’s Wikipedia page and here’s the club’s hometown on Google maps if you want to get a good idea of what Freddy’s up to these days.

Speaking of D.C. United…

Here’s the only preview that really matters. Meet Talon, who’s gotten a makeover recently. There’s a “fun” video of Talon dancing or something, and also a bio of the bird.

No, he probably won't be there Friday night but you'll get a good glimpse of him when Orlando City goes to D.C. on May 15. The game will be on ESPN2, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to see him soar around the stadium. I assume that's what eagle mascots do.

Don't forget, Orlando City and D.C. United play for the first time Friday. If you can't make it to the Citrus Bowl, the game's on UniMas at 7 p.m.