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Lion Links: 6/10/15

Published

11 years ago

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It’s Wednesday y’all, and we’re four days away from seeing the Lions take on D.C. United. The only thing worse than being four days away from game day is being five days away from game day. Luckily, we’ve got some other soccer going on to keep us busy. Check out today’s Lion Links.

First: BEER – Plans Submitted for Brewery Near Orlando City Soccer Stadium

Two breweries, Broken Strings and Black Cauldron have combined into one in an effort to get a brewery location near the new Orlando City soccer stadium. In a city that continues to undergo construction projects, a brewery about 1,000 feet from the stadium would certainly be a welcomed addition.

"With 20 home soccer games a year, we will see tremendous traffic there during that time, and during other nearby events," said co-owner Charles Frizzell.

No complaints. Go beer.

Early Access

Orlando City has posted the option on its website for fans to sign up for early renderings of the new stadium before they are released to the public.

On the website it says all you're required to fill in is your first and last name and an email address. But there may be more to it. After entering the information in, I never received an email or anything about the renderings. Maybe it's some sort of contest. Maybe you will just have better luck than I.

U.S. U-20s Reach World Cup Quarterfinals

Rubio Rubin's goal provided all the offense needed as the U-20 USMNT knocked off Colombia, 1-0 in Wellington, New Zealand last night to reach the quarterfinals of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Orlando City defender Conor Donovan didn't play, but his team fights on in their quest for the championship. Zack Steffen helped his cause by stopping a penalty kick and the U.S. finished down a man but held on for the win.

Next up for the Yanks is Serbia on Sunday, which knocked off Hungary with a goal in the 118th minute in extra time to win, 2-1. The U.S. will have to play without Jordan Allen and Kellyn Acosta due to yellow card accumulation.

Louisville City Gets Fernandez on Loan

Midfielder Collin Fernandez has joined Louisville City on loan from the Chicago Fire, the club announced Tuesday. Fernandez is a member of the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team player pool and made the trip to Mexico in 2011 with the U-14 team.

The Orlando City USL affiliate will host the New York Red Bulls 2 on June 20, when fans can get their first look at the 5-foot-8 midfielder, who scored 16 goals in 25 matches with the U-18 Chicago Fire in 2013-2014.

What the Aussies 'learnt' in the Loss to the USWNT

America is not that good. Australia is world class. Caitlin Foord might as well be the star of the new Terminator movie. You would think it was the Aussies who came away with a 3-1 victory by those takeaways. The Aussies gave a valiant effort, but that’s quite a lot of positives coming out of a 3-1 loss, in which the U.S. played most of the game without its top scorer (Alex Morgan) and an out-of-form Abby Wambach.

But, consider the Aussies' glass half full. They are, after all, one of the most optimistic countries in the world. (BONUS LINK)

The Australian team does win in one category, though: Best name. Seriously, Matildas? Fantastic.

Klinsmann Pro-Relegation in MLS

Wiz Khalifa said it best. We are all just searching for the thrill of it. USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann agrees, saying he thinks adding a relegation system to the MLS would add a thrill to the league that it hasn't had in its history.

"This thrill of the relegation battle is non-existent in the U.S. league. The risk for club investors to all of a sudden play in the second league would be too high. But the sporting side would benefit from it. Our players from Europe know that. That furthers our national team. Something is at stake week in, week out. Be it at the top or at the bottom, you always have to perform."

It would be an uphill battle to get owners and investors to buy into the relegation system in the MLS, but it’s an interesting concept. It certainly might make some people care about the Colorado Rapids now and then.

Chicharito May Consider MLS move

It looks as if Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez may be going back on his original statement that he would not play for an MLS franchise.

His agent said Tuesday (Spanish link) that his client would not be returning to Manchester United and that the club would be willing to lower the price to place Chicharito in Europe or the MLS.

So basically, see you in Orlando.

***

That's about it folks. Hope you enjoyed my first post. I'll be seeing you around these parts.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/10/26

MLS hands out two lifetime bans for gambling, Americans in midweek action, Sergino Dest injury update, and more.

Published

16 hours ago

on

March 10, 2026

By

Image of Duncan McGuire reacting to his goal against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City took a brutal beating on the baseball diamond at Yankee Stadium, while Orlando City B knocked off Chicago Fire II at home to pick up its first win of the young season. We’ve got a busy week ahead of us, as the Young Lions take on Carolina Core on Saturday afternoon, OCSC is at home against CF Montreal later that night, and the Orlando Pride kick off the season against the Seattle Reign on Sunday. We’ve got a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

MLS Bans Two Players for Life

Major League Soccer has given lifetime bans to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for violating the league’s gambling policy. The pair “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer,” with the kicker being that they placed bets on games in which their own teams were involved. The bets took place during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with a particular instance highlighted in the Columbus Crew’s 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 19, 2024, in which both players bet on Jones to be given a yellow card, which he received in the 35th minute. Neither player is currently under contract with an MLS team.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing matches during the working week, and the knockout rounds of continental competitions are once again in the spotlight. Things get going this afternoon when Yunus Musah and Atalanta host Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, while Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid play Tottenham Hotspur in the same competition. Wednesday has Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen playing Arsenal in the UCL, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom take on Southampton in the Championship. Thursday sees Tanner Tessman and Lyon travel to play Celta Vigo in the Europa League, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace take on AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. Things conclude on Friday when Alex Freeman will hope to break a streak of four games as an unused substitute when Villarreal travels to Deportivo Alaves in La Liga.

Sergino Dest Injury Update

Sergino Dest went down in the 55th minute of PSV Eindhoven’s league win over AZ Alkmaar on Saturday and had to be helped off the field while putting minimal weight on his left leg. PSV coach Peter Bosz confirmed that it was a hamstring injury, and while the club has made no official statement about how much time he might miss, the fullback said in a statement that he is confident he’ll be fit again near the end of the season. His injury means that the right back situation for the USMNT is suddenly a more interesting one, as Freeman hasn’t been playing much with Villarreal, and guys like Joe Scally will be keen on seizing any potential opportunities.

Iranian Soccer Players Granted Asylum

Five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team have been granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia after they escaped from the people assigned to keep an eye on them following the team’s final match in the Women’s Asian Cup. The group, which includes team captain Zahra Ghanbari, had been in contact with Australian officials for a number of days, who made it clear that the remaining members of the team would also be welcomed by the country if they chose to stay. The five players that chose to leave are now protected by the Australian Federal Police and consented to have their names and faces published. It is not currently known when the remainder of the team is set to depart from Australia.

Free Kicks

  • Marco Pasalic has been called up to represent Croatia.

Getting ready for the World Cup 🇭🇷Marco has been called up by Croatia for World Cup preparation matches against Colombia and Brazil in Orlando on March 27 and 31 👏

— Orlando City SC (@orlandocitysc.com) 2026-03-09T18:57:23.294Z

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/9/26

Lions fall to New York City FC, Pride beat Fort Lauderdale United in final preseason match, OCB beats Chicago Fire II, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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March 9, 2026

By

Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work. It was a rough weekend for our beloved Lions, but OCB got a win over the weekend. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City defender Nolan Miller, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Suffer Heavy Defeat at New York City FC

Orlando City fell 5-0 to New York City FC on the road Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau received a red card early in the first half. New York capitalized on the man advantage and the Lions trailed 3-0 at halftime. Keaton Parks scored twice in the second half as New York City FC secured its second straight win, while Orlando remains winless after three matches to start the season. The Lions were shut out for the first time in 25 matches. Orlando City will face CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium Saturday. Before the match, Orlando City announced it had signed midfielder Dylan Judelson to a short-term contract as Colin Guske was suspended after picking up two yellow cards against Inter Miami.

Orlando Pride Beat Fort Lauderdale United in Preseason Finale

In their final preseason match, the Orlando Pride beat USL Super League side Fort Lauderdale United 2-1 Saturday at Beyond Bancard Field in Fort Lauderdale. Seven Castain scored the opener in the first half, and Summer Yates added another from outside the box in the second half. Fort Lauderdale United pulled one back, but Orlando held on for the win.

The 2026 NWSL season will kick off this weekend as the Pride hosts the Seattle Reign Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride also announced that goalkeeper McKinley Crone, who was on loan with Fort Lauderdale United, has returned to the club by mutual consent.

OCB Beats Chicago Fire FC II

Orlando City B defeated Chicago Fire FC II 2-1 at Osceola County Stadium Sunday to secure its first win of the season in MLS NEXT Pro. Pedro Leao scored the opener for the Young Lions, however, Chicago equalized just before halftime. In the second half, Justin Ellis scored to give OCB the lead and the Young Lions held on for all three points. OCB’s next match will be on the road, taking on Carolina Core FC Saturday at Truist Point Stadium.

USWNT Wins SheBelieves Cup

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Colombia 1-0 to win the 2026 SheBelieves Cup Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. Alyssa Thompson scored the lone goal for the U.S. and was named the SheBelieves Cup MVP. With the win, the USWNT claimed its eighth title in the competition, went undefeated in the tournament, secured an eighth straight shutout, and finished atop the group with nine points. Canada finished second with five points after defeating Argentina 3-2 on penalties following a scoreless draw. Colombia finished third and Argentina came in last.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/6/26

Leagues Cup schedule unveiled, Orlando Pride sign Reagan Raabe, USWNT prepares for Colombia, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

March 6, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Friday! It’s been a bit of a hectic week but I’m looking forward to spending the weekend enjoying some soccer and visiting my family for a birthday. Hopefully Orlando City can get a win on the road on Saturday and bring points back to the City Beautiful. Before we get started, we want to give a shout out to “Flip,” the latest subscriber at the TAM Player level in our Buy Me a Coffee membership program. Thanks for your support and welcome to The Mane Land family! Now, let’s jump right into today’s links!

Orlando City’s Leagues Cup Schedule Revealed

The schedule for this summer’s Leagues Cup is out and we now know which Liga MX teams Orlando City will play against. All three of Orlando’s games in the first phase of the tournament will be at Inter&Co Stadium, starting with a match against Monterrey on Aug. 5. The Lions will then take on Club Leon on Aug. 8 before playing San Luis on Aug. 12. Of the 18 MLS clubs taking part in the Leagues Cup, only the top four will advance to the knockout stage. Last year, the Lions went unbeaten across their four matches against Mexican teams before falling in the semifinals and the third-place match.

Orlando Pride Sign Reagan Raabe 

The Orlando Pride signed forward Reagan Raabe to a short-term contract that will last through June of this year. The 24-year-old has been with the club throughout its preseason as a non-roster invitee. Raabe joins the Pride following a collegiate career with the University of Nebraska, recording four goals and six assists in her final season after missing a couple of years due to injury. Hopefully she can continue to impress the coaching staff and make an impact this year.

Analyzing Colombia Ahead of USWNT Match

The United States Women’s National Team will play Colombia on Saturday in the final game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup. Colombia lost 4-1 to Canada in its first match but bounced back with a 1-0 win over Argentina. One of the top nations in South America, Colombia finished second in last year’s Copa America and boasts a versatile attack that does well with possession or in transition. The U.S. will need to limit Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo as much as possible. The 21-year-old has scored in both of Colombia’s games this tournament and has the talent to create opportunities out of seemingly nothing.

WAFCON Postponed Until July

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was set to begin on March 17, has been postponed until July 25 and is set to last through Aug. 16. This decision comes amid reports that Morocco wished to withdraw as the tournament’s host and it’s unclear at this time if Morocco will still host it later this year. Many NWSL players are impacted by this change, including Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, whose Zambian side will face Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt in the group stage. The tournament doubles as qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the quarterfinalists directly securing a spot in Brazil next summer.

Free Kicks

  • We have some rumored numbers to put to how much Orlando City was offering to pay Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann. Even if the move doesn’t come to pass, I can appreciate the club taking a big swing.
  • Nothing is official yet, but the United States Men’s National Team’s jersey for the upcoming World Cup may have been spotted in the wild. It looks like the Waldo kit with a twist, literally.
  • Toronto FC officially added center back Benjamin Kuscevic on loan from Fortaleza in Brazil’s second division.
  • Walid Regragui stepped down as Morocco’s head coach with only a few months to go before the World Cup. Mohamed Ouahbi will take over for Regragui and it will be his first time coaching a senior team.
  • Relegation is growing into a real possibility for Tottenham, which lost its fifth-straight match after a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
  • Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso, made a splash with a pair of goals in an exhibition match while training with Chicago Fire II.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

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