Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/16/15

Published

11 years ago

September 16, 2015

Welcome to Wednesday, gang. It’s already been a busy week for Orlando City and we’ve got you covered with all the news around the club.

Let's get right to the links.

Larin, Rivas, Higuita, Ramos on Preliminary '24 under 24' Roster

Cyle Larin, Carlos Rivas, Rafael Ramos and Cristian Higuita were each named to the preliminary "24 under 24" roster on MLSSoccer.com.

Larin is a virtual lock to make the final roster, and is on the fast track to being MLS Rookie of the Year, despite the fact that he has been stuck on 11 goals for some time now, unable to break the record. Higuita is a little bit more of an uncertainty, because he is often overlooked in the midfield for a struggling Orlando City. But one could argue that Higuita has been even better than Cyle Larin this season. Rivas is an emerging talent but he has been inconsistent and has had trouble at times getting playing time. He's the least likely of the three to make the final roster.

Here are the rest of the candidates:

Alejandro Zendejas, FC Dallas

Erik Palmer-Brown, Sporting KC

Justen Glad, Real Salt Lake

Eric Ayuk Mbu, Philadelphia Union

Angelino, New York City FC

Bradford Jamieson IV, LA Galaxy

Anatole Abang, New York Red Bulls

Deybi Flores, Vancouver Whitecaps

Kianz Froese, Vancouver Whitecaps

Tommy Thompson, San Jose Earthquakes

Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas

Matt Miazga, New York Red Bulls

Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders

Marky Delgado, Toronto FC

Jordan Allen, Real Salt Lake

Cyle Larin, Orlando City SC

Diego Fagundez, New England Revolution

Sam Adekugbe, Vancouver Whitecaps

Rafael Ramos, Orlando City SC

Shay Facey, New York City FC

Zach Pfeffer, Philadelphia Union

Kekuta Manneh, Vancouver Whitecaps

Alvas Powell, Portland Timbers

Carlos Rivas, Orlando City SC

Dillon Serna, Colorado Rapids

Cristian Higuita, Orlando City SC

Jay Chapman, Toronto FC

Luis Gil, Real Salt Lake

Fatai Alashe, San Jose Earthquakes

Jose Villarreal, LA Galaxy

Amadou Dia, Sporting KC

Khiry Shelton, New York City FC

Matt Polster, Chicago Fire

Juan Ramírez, Colorado Rapids

Walker Zimmerman, FC Dallas

Lucas Melano, Portland Timbers

A.J. Cochran, Houston Dynamo

Sean Davis, New York Red Bulls

Víctor Cabrera, Montreal Impact

Erick Torres, Houston Dynamo

Wil Trapp, Columbus Crew SC

Eric Miller, Montreal Impact

Russell Teibert, Vancouver Whitecaps

Brian Sylvestre, Philadelphia Union

Juan Agudelo, New England Revolution

Olmes García, Real Salt Lake

Kemar Lawrence, New York Red Bulls

Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy

Jack McInerney, Columbus Crew SC

Eriq Zavaleta, Toronto FC

Elías Vásquez, Real Salt Lake

Fabián Castillo, FC Dallas

Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC

Alexander López, Houston Dynamo

Cristian Techera, Vancouver Whitecaps

Donny Toia, Montreal Impact

Richie Marquez, Philadelphia Union

Maxim Tissot, Montreal Impact

Fernando Aristeguieta, Philadelphia Union

Andrew Farrell, New England Revolution

Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas

Cedrick Mabwati, Columbus Crew SC

Moises Hernandez, FC Dallas

Victor Ulloa, FC Dallas

Joao Plata, Real Salt Lake

Perry Kitchen, D.C. United

Kwadwo Poku, New York City FC

Patrick Mullins, New York City FC

Jared Watts, Colorado Rapids

Octavio Rivero, Vancouver Whitecaps

Nicolás Mezquida, Vancouver Whitecaps

Matías Laba, Vancouver Whitecaps

Kelyn Rowe, New EnglandRevolution

Lucas Pittinari, Colorado Rapids

Harry Shipp, Chicago Fire

The rankings will be released Sept. 22, so keep an eye out to see if any Lions make the cut.

Do the Crocodile with the Lions

Orlando City seems to have a new goal celebration, and it's named after an animal not called a lion. Instead, it's a crocodile.

We’re not sure what this is, but we like it. #CityGIFs pic.twitter.com/m3eo1kDy26

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 14, 2015

I'll be honest, it looks more like my niece trying to crawl across the carpet when she was a newborn than it does a crocodile. But "the crocodile" sounds way cooler than "the baby crawl."

Apparently, it was all Higuita's idea.

From the Orlando Sentinel's Alicia Del Gallo:

Two days before the game, Higuita saw a crocodile on TV, and it popped in his head when he scored a goal in practice Saturday. Higuita did The Crocodile in celebration and Brek Shea jumped in on the fun, Higuita said.

Do your thing, guys. Do your thing. But this is Florida, so maybe it should be called the Alligator?
Shea Left Off Preliminary USMNT Roster

Unsurprisingly, Brek Shea was left off the USMNT roster for the match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl for the right to go to the Confederations Cup. This is probably for the best, given the number of injuries Orlando City players have endured in international play this season.

Here is the provisional USMNT roster.

Goalkeepers (4) – Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England); Bill Hamid (D.C. United/USA); Tim Howard (Everton/England); Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/USA)

Defenders (12) – Ventura Alvarado (Club America/Mexico); DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo/USA); Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City/USA); John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/Germany); Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/USA); Greg Garza (Atlas/Mexico); Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy/USA); Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/Mexico); Tim Ream (Fulham/England); Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City/England); DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland/England)

Midfielders (12) – Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake/USA); Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/France); Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/Canada); Joe Corona (Veracruz/Mexico); Mix Diskerud (New York City FC/USA); Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany); Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution/USA); Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt/Germany); Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution/USA); Danny Williams (Reading/England); Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy/USA); Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City/USA)

Forwards (7) – Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/Canada); Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/USA); Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy/USA); Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen/Germany); Jordan Morris (Stanford University/USA); Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes/USA); Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/Germany)

Prices Dropping for USWNT Friendly

With Australia dropping out of the friendly matches against the USWNT on its victory tour, secondary ticket prices have plummeted, most likely due to the inferior opponent that replaced Australia: Haiti.

Which would you rather have for the USWNT’s match at the Citrus Bowl: cheap tickets, or a good opponent in Brazil.

It’s unlikely we will get both, but a boy can dream I guess.

Dwyer a Trendsetter for English Soccer Players

After Sporting KC and former Lion Dom Dwyer was released by Norwich City, he started a journey to America that has become a trend for fellow English players.

It’s truly a great idea for English players to go play in college in America for free, rather than toiling around in England where they are more likely to be forgotten about. It is also a terrific way to boost the quality of play in MLS. The league would be smart to make that a point of emphasis.

That’s all for the links, gang. Have a good Wednesday.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

Published

10 hours ago

October 23, 2026

Marcus Mitchell

Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

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

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2026

Marcus Mitchell

Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

A winning weekend in Houston 🤠

Recap our recent victory in the latest edition of Sights and Sounds 🎬 pic.twitter.com/OdRUJXWFPM
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) October 21, 2026

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

Free Kicks

Griezmann was noted as an MLS star who is driving their team toward success during the playoff race. The Lions have built a gap between themselves and the playoff line, but avoiding the play-in round is paramount at this point.
Orlando City academy players Maximiliano Alvarez and Carson Starrett were both called up for the U.S. U-16 National Team’s training camp in California.
St. Louis City won its first trophy since joining MLS by winning a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw in Columbus to capture the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. St. Louis secured a spot in the next Concacaf Champions Cup and won the shootout 5-4 despite star goalkeeper Roman Burki being stretchered off during the match.
Forge FC beat CF Montreal in penalties to win the Canadian Championship, becoming the first Canadian Premier League team to win the title.
The Houston Dynamo signed Head Coach Ben Olsen to a contract extension through the 2027-2028 season. The Dynamo are fifth in the Western Conference and have secured a spot in the playoffs already.
Footy Analytics Musings dove into how MLS injury designations have gotten more uncertain over the years. From analyzing the notoriously vague lower body injuries to seeing just how rarely players who are designated as questionable actually end up playing, it’s an interesting read to say the least.
Despite a loss and draw to Spain this month, the United States Women’s National Team remained in second in the latest FIFA rankings.
The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 IFCPF World Cup.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2026

David Rohe

Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

The Lions are up to 11th in the MLS power rankings following their 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Even the writer got distracted by Martin Ojeda’s amazing goal.
Orlando City midfielder Luis Otavio is on the list to potentially be on next year’s MLS 22 Under 22. Hopefully, he plays well enough for that to come to pass.
Pride striker Barbra Banda is on the list for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. The award ceremony takes place on Oct. 26.
The Bundesliga has a new broadcast rights deal in the U.S. The league will try to leverage the visibility of soccer following the World Cup.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!