Lion Links: 9/7/15

Happy Labor Day everybody!

I’m not sure how much consolation that is after another disappointing result for Orlando City, which dropped out of playoff position with a 3-0 defeat to the New England Revolution on Saturday, but hopefully it puts you in a slightly better mood as the three-day weekend rolls on.

Whether you're planning on firing up the grill, hanging out with loved ones, or fearing for your lives because there's a giant venomous snake on the loose, here are some Lion Links to kick off your Monday!

Looking Back at the Loss to New England

It was tough to be optimistic about the Lions chances in this one, with several key players out on international duty, but another shutout loss is still difficult to think about. Luckily, we did it for you:

• Here’s our recap of the 3-0 loss to the Revs

• Player Grades and MOTM picks from Allen Etzler

• Five Takeaways from another Orlando City defeat

Kaká Returns to Brazilian National Team as Second-Half Substitute

He may not have been wearing purple on Saturday, but Kaká was busy over the weekend, representing his country in an international friendly against Costa Rica. The match was played at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

Coming on as a substitute for Hulk in the 67th minute, Kaká was active on offense, getting on the end of a Marcelo through ball before being called offside and assisting on a few shots that couldn't quite find the back of the net.

The Selecao came out on top 1-0, behind a goal from Hulk in the 10th minute.

Orlando City Equipment Manager Featured in MLS Film
The Lions were featured in a unique short film on MLS.com that looked at the lives of MLS kit men. Orlando equipment manager Kurt Ustruck was spotlighted in the video, and talked about his job with the fledgling MLS club.

The video also featured kit men from Sporting KC, the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls. Ustruck revealed some superstitious tendencies, including memorizing how the locker room looks after a win, so he can replicate it in the future.

USMNT Confirm October Friendly Against Costa Rica

Three days after their decisive Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico, the Stars and Stripes will head across the country to take on Costa Rica in a friendly match at Red Bull Arena.

While it might seem like an odd scheduling choice after such an important match, it will be the country’s last game before World Cup qualification begins in November.

The game is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Didier Drogba's Historic Night in Montreal

So I guess that Drogba guy’s pretty good huh? The Ivory Coast international made his second appearance for the Montreal Impact on Saturday and it was a memorable one for the former Chelsea legend.

Drogba scored a hat trick in Montreal's 4-3 win over Chicago, helping knock Orlando out of the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference in the process.

It was big night for Drogba, who showed he's still got enough left in the tank to get it done in Montreal. But it's also a huge win for the Impact, as they jockey for their first playoff appearance in MLS history.

Josh Lambo Completes Journey from MLS to NFL

Football? Or futbol?

For the San Diego Chargers’ new kicker Josh Lambo, it doesn’t really make a difference. The former FC Dallas SuperDraft pick made the Chargers’ 53-man roster yesterday, completing a remarkable journey from MLS castoff to starting kicker in the NFL.

Lambo was selected by Dallas in the eighth round of the 2008 SuperDraft, but never actually appeared in an MLS game. He did make six appearances in goal with FC Tampa Bay (now the Tampa Bay Rowdies) on loan, before being cut in 2011. Safe to say Lambo has landed on his feet.

He enrolled in Texas A&M after his soccer career ended, where he won the placekicking job and signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent. After an impressive preseason, Lambo beat out veteran Nick Novak in San Diego to win the staring job.

He'll make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

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That's it for Lion Links today. Have a great holiday weekend!