Lion Links: 4/3/15

Match day has arrived in The City Beautiful, as Orlando City is set to take on D.C. United at the Citrus Bowl in a matter of hours in its fifth Major League Soccer match of the season. Friday afternoons are generally unproductive at work as it is, and I can’t imagine you’re going to get much done in the hours leading up to the opening kick. So, you might as well check out some Lion Links to help kill time as you prep for OCSC’s 7 p.m. match against the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

Breaking: Kaká is Good at Soccer

He's only played four games in an Orlando City shirt, but MLS decided that's enough time to merit a "best-of" video for the former Ballon d'Or winner, and I can't say I blame them. Reliving the magical touches, tekkers and goals from the Brazilian's first month in purple is a pretty solid way to gear up for tonight's showdown with D.C. United, if you needed any more motivation in the first place. I would tell you to grab your popcorn, but the video's running time of 1:24 doesn't really give you enough time to microwave a bag of Blast O Butter. No worries, it's still highly enjoyable.

United’s Luis Silva Could Make Season Debut Against OCSC

Orlando City has faced its share of early season injuries, so the Lions can empathize with D.C. United, which is without Eddie Johnson, Fabian Espindola and Steve Birnbaum. United could receive a boost in attack tonight at the Citrus Bowl, however, as striker Luis Silva will be back in the squad. D.C. manager Ben Olsen says that Silva will be worked back in gradually, following his return from a series of leg injuries, which started in October of 2014 with a hamstring pull. Silva scored 11 goals last season for United in 27 appearances, converting 64 percent of his shots on target.

Louisville City Hits the Road for the First Time in USL

Orlando's USL affiliate, Louisville City FC, will hit the road for the first time in the USL ranks on Saturday when it takes on the Richmond Kickers in Virginia at 5 p.m. Louisville got its USL campaign off on the right foot last week with a 2-0 triumph over Saint Louis FC at Louisville Slugger Field, and it will hope to keep its good energy going against a Richmond squad fresh off a 2-2 draw with Wilmington in week one.

Soccer By Ives MLS News Ticker

Here are some MLS news bits from outside of Orlando provided by SBI. Among the news from Thursday is a new contract for goalkeeper Steve Clark in Columbus, while net-minder Kenny Cooper was waived by the Seattle Sounders amid reported interest from Montreal.

Book Review: The Soccer Diaries

I'm not trying to start a TML book club or anything, but if you're into soccer—which I presume you are if you're reading this—and book learnin', The Soccer Diaries may be of interest to you. Author Michael J. Agovino looks at the game's coming of age in the United States over the last 30 years, so it could be intriguing for any of you who have watched the game grow from the underground of American sports. I doubt it will make Oprah's Book Club list, though.

That's it for Friday's Lion Links. See you at the Citrus Bowl, Lions.