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Lion Links: 11/2/15

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10 years ago

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Hope everyone had a nice Halloweekend and enjoyed that extra hour of sleep. Daylight savings time is incredible.

We've got plenty of Monday morning Lion Links to get your week started off right. Let's get to it.

Red Bulls Grab Road Goal, Timbers & Caps draw in MLS Playoff Action

With the knockout round of the MLS tournament in the books, the conference semifinals got underway with two rivalry match-ups on Sunday.

In the first leg of an Atlantic Cup match-up, the Red Bulls grabbed a crucial one-goal lead over D.C. United behind a Dax McCarty strike in the 72nd minute.

On the West coast, the Timbers and Whitecaps locked horns in the first leg of a Cascadia Cup duel. There wasn't much offense to speak of in this one, which is a victory for Vancouver, considering the match was played in Portland, but this should lead to a competitive second leg next weekend.

In other action, Montreal won at home over Columbus Crew, 2-1, with Patrice Bernier and Johan Venegas canceling out Federico Higuain's early goal, and Clint Dempsey's free kick golazo in the 87th minute gave Seattle Sounders a 2-1 win over FC Dallas in the late game at CenturyLink Field. Dallas had led 1-0 on an early Fabian Castillo goal, but Andreas Ivanschitz and Dempsey brought the Sounders back in the second half.

Here's the schedule for the second leg matches (all times Eastern):

Adrian Heath Returns to England

Not permanently (I hope). But the Gaffer was back in his native England this week to visit at least one of the clubs where he plied his trade as an undersized midfielder.

Heath made over 100 appearances for the Clarets, including a stint as a player-manager in the late 90s. That was the beginning of a ten-year managerial career in England, before Heath made the jump to a small club in Texas called the Austin Aztex. You probably know what happened from there.

Eddie Johnson Decides to Call it Quits

This sucks.

One of the more electric American strikers in recent memory (and Bunnell, FL native) Eddie Johnson officially announced his retirement from soccer on Sunday at the age of 31. Johnson was forced out by a heart condition that kept him out for the entire 2015 season and caused MLS to void his contract with D.C. United.

Johnson was a USMNT regular and made two appearances at the 2006 World Cup. He was honored by United in a halftime ceremony during their playoff game against the New York Red Bulls.

NYRB Goalkeeper Luis Robles Herds Sheep with Cheerios in New York Times Profile

One of the interesting things about MLS is that, for many American players, it's basically a one-shot deal. When they reach a certain age, many of these guys are unwilling to travel to foreign countries to try and scrape out a career away from their family and friends. If they don't make it in MLS, they're not going to make a career playing soccer.

That's what makes Luis Robles' career so interesting.

In 2012, the Arizona native was released by third division German side Karlsruher SC. He returned to the States and signed with Red Bulls as a reserve keeper, picking up what he figured would be his last paycheck. But this weekend, he was starting in goal for the Red Bulls during the MLS Cup playoffs.

Robles was profiled this weekend in a really well-written New York Times piece. It's worth a read if you want somebody to root for in the playoffs. Oh, and this is also an actual paragraph from Robles' time in Germany:

His agent put him up in the barn of an old country house, where Robles took up residence in the spartan washroom. In fits of boredom, he would walk the sheep on the property, luring them around the grounds with Cheerios

We've all been there man.

Two American Coaches Reach 2016 Europa League Qualifying

Head coaching positions in Europe have always been tough to come by for Americans, but at least two Yanks have managed to achieve some success across the pond.

The 2016 Europa League will feature two American managers, as Bob Bradley at Stabaek and John Caulfield at Cork City both saw their clubs qualify this week.

It would probably be more accurate to describe Caulfield as American-born (he was raised in Ireland and sounds like it), but the Cork City manager was in fact born in New York City.

Bob Bradley, of course, still bleeds red, white and blue after a tenure as manager of the USMNT. He coached Egypt for a brief time before securing the manager's job at Norwegian club Stabaek. He's been linked to several EPL jobs and was rumored yesterday to have a deal in place with Ligue 2 side Le Havre.

PirLOL

Little late on this one, but come on Andrea. At least pretend to care.

That's all the Lion Links we have for today. Stay tuned to The Mane Land this afternoon for our coverage of the NWSL Expansion Draft, as we learn who are newest members of the Pride will be.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/18/25

Justin Ellis named U-19 MLS NEXT MVP, Orlando Pride announce historic apparel collection, landing spots for USMNT players, and more.

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18 hours ago

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July 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Happy Friday! It’s been a long week, but the weekend is nearly upon us. My parents are in town on vacation, so I’m looking forward to having an excuse to go out to brunch. It should be a nice few days with plenty of soccer to keep us all entertained. Let’s get to the links!

Justin Ellis Named U-19 MLS NEXT MVP

Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis was named MLS NEXT MVP for the U-19 age group after a stellar season that included 18 goals for the Lions. The 18-year-old was the top scorer of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup to help his team lift the trophy and helped the team reach the semifinals of the MLS NEXT Cup. In MLS NEXT Pro action, Ellis has recorded seven goals and three assists in 11 appearances for OCB. It’s quite the accolade for the forward and hopefully he can continue to make strides in his development to make an impact with the first team.

Orlando Pride Announce Full-Team Apparel Collection

The Orlando Pride became the first NWSL club to offer a merchandise line featuring every player on the roster after announcing a new apparel collection. The Pride, in collaboration with apparel brand 500 Level, will offer over 500 player-specific items to form the largest player collection across the major U.S. sports leagues. As someone who is usually a fan of the unsung heroes when it comes to sports, I think it’s pretty great that fans are now able to get apparel representing their favorite Pride player no matter who that is.

Ideal Transfer Landing Spots for USMNT Players

ESPN took a stab at identifying the best fits for United States Men’s National Team players with transfer buzz following the Concacaf Gold Cup. Orlando City right back Alex Freeman was listed but could need a bit more time solidifying his game with the Lions before big clubs come knocking. Midfielder Diego Luna had a strong tournament with the U.S. this summer and could fit in well with Celta Vigo’s rebuilding plans. As for other intriguing things to keep an eye on, a move to MLS could give Giovanni Reyna the playing time he desperately needs; Ricardo Pepi may be best off staying at PSV Eindhoven; and Marseille may be just what the doctor ordered for Tim Weah.

England Comes Back to Reach Euro Semifinals

England secured its spot in the Women’s European Championship semifinals in dramatic fashion, advancing on penalties against Sweden after a 2-2 draw. A pair of goals in the first half by Sweden had the Scandinavian nation on top for most of the match, but Lucy Bronze scored in the 79th minute, before 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang scored the equalizer in the 81st. The penalty shootout included nine misses, but the defending champs prevailed in the end. It’s a brutal way for Peter Gerhardsson’s tenure as Sweden’s head coach to come to a close. England will face Italy in the semifinals on Tuesday.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/17/25

Orlando City falls apart at home, Orlando Pride players in action abroad, Charlotte will host 2026 MLS All-Star Game, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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July 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Sometimes the Cardiac Cats are fun to watch, and other times they really do just stomp your heart into pieces. We’re unfortunately in the aftermath of the latter after Orlando City’s rough defeat last night. The good news is that the Lions can’t lose today as well. Let’s jump right into today’s links.

Orlando City Beaten by New York City FC

The Lions’ summer struggles continued with a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to New York City FC. Robin Jansson scored his first goal of the season, but Orlando collapsed late at home yet again, suffering from an own goal and a winner from Alonso Martinez in stoppage time. Orlando City is now winless in its past four games and has not won at home since May 24. There’s not much time to shake off this loss, as the Lions are back in action on Saturday for a tough road match against the New England Revolution.

Keeping Up With the Pride Players Abroad

Marta came off the bench and provided a pair of assists in Brazil’s dominant 6-0 win over Bolivia in the Copa America Femenina’s group stage. Kerolin had a hat trick and the result keeps Brazil at the top of its group for the time being. The Brazilians will be back in action on Tuesday to face Paraguay.

The CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals kick off on Friday with a great matchup between Zambia and Nigeria. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji have each scored three goals this tournament and both were named to the Best XI of the group stage. Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse likely won’t play, but England takes on Sweden today in the Women’s European Championship quarterfinals.

Charlotte Will Host 2026 MLS All-Star Game

MLS announced that Charlotte will serve as the host of the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, the 30th in the league’s history. Charlotte FC joined the league in 2022 and this will be the first time the event is held in Charlotte. It’s always nice to see a smaller market receive its day in the sun, and Charlotte has really embraced soccer over the years. But if Sir Minty doesn’t take part in the skills challenge next year, then what are we even doing?

D.C. United Hires Rene Weiler

Rene Weiler is officially the next head coach of D.C. United and will take over once he receives a U.S. work permit. The 51-year-old brings plenty of European experience to the nation’s capital and won the Swiss Cup with Servette FC last year. He replaces Troy Lesesne, who was fired by the club after its exit from the U.S. Open Cup earlier this month. It’s a new era for one of the league’s older clubs, and it will be interesting to see how aggressive D.C. will be to bring in talent during the upcoming transfer window.

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  • Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has reportedly agreed to terms with Inter Miami and could be with the club in time for the Leagues Cup. He also reportedly won’t need to take up a Designated Player spot this year, because of course.

That’s all I have for you this time around, Mane Landers. Stay hydrated and have a great Thursday!

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Lion Links: 7/16/25

Orlando City faces NYCFC, Marco Pasalic is an All-Star, OCB’s Jhon Solis transfers out, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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July 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s matchday in the City Beautiful as Orlando City hosts New York City FC in a crucial Eastern Conference bout. I know I’m in the minority, but I love Wednesday matches since I’m off work on Thursdays. That being said, if you have the opportunity, you should definitely head down to the match tonight. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions Host the Pigeons

Orlando City welcomes New York City FC to Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The midweek match comes after a short turnaround following Saturday’s draw against CF Montreal. The Lions will need to get the offense back in gear to take all three points from NYCFC. Our own Ben Miller joined Hudson River Blue to answer questions for the opposition. Check back later today for our detailed preview of the match.

Pasalic is an All-Star

Marco Pasalic was named to the MLS All-Star squad by coach Nico Estévez. Pasalic joins Alex Freeman as the second Lion to represent Orlando City in the match. The MLS All-Stars will play a team of All-Stars from Liga MX. Pasalic is tied with Martin Ojeda for the team’s goal-scoring lead with 10. He also has four assists for the Lions. Pasalic is a worthy addition to the MLS All-Star Team, but it does beg the question why Ojeda didn’t also get an invitation.

So Long, Solis

Orlando City B has transferred midfielder Jhon Solis to Fortaleza C.E.I.F. of Liga BetPlay Dimayor — Colombia’s top tier. Solis made 70 appearances for the Young Lions since joining prior to the 2023 season. As a native of Medellín, Colombia, the 26-year-old is returning to his home country to continue his career. Solis wasn’t able to make the jump to Orlando City’s first team, but he was a consistent starter for OCB.

U.S. National Team News

Fresh off his appearances in the Concacaf Gold Cup, Patrick Agyemang has been transferred from Charlotte FC to Derby County in the English Championship. In sadder news, Aaron Long is out for the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles.

On the women’s side, USWNT coach Emma Hayes has great praise for Sam Coffey and her presence in the U.S. midfield.

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That will do it for today. Check back later as we prepare you for tonight’s match, and don’t forget to follow The Mane Land on Bluesky to get match updates. Vamos Orlando!

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