Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/7/15

Published

11 years ago

on

Happy Monday Mane Landers! It’s hard to believe that the 2015 MLS Season is officially over. Portland’s exciting win over Columbus was hard-fought and not free of controversy. Coincidentally, that would be the theme for today’s lion links: controversy. So let’s get on with it, shall we?

Portland Timbers Win 2015 MLS CUP

As a transplanted Portlander, nothing gave me greater joy than to see my hometown Portland Timbers take the win on the road last evening in Columbus. The game was exciting from the start, with the first goal coming from Diego Valeri 27 seconds into the game, the fastest in MLS Cup history. The rest of the game was just as crazy with controversial refereeing, goalkeeper errors, and numerous goal-line replays. To make sure you know it all, we get the winners’ perspective from Stumptown Footy and Massive Report gives us the low-down from the Columbus Crew camp. As the season draws to a close on this 2015 MLS season, don’t worry the off-season will be a busy one and you can check out the schedule of events right here and you should mark your calendar that MLS 2016 preseason starts Jan. 22, 2016.

FIFA Controversy: Sepp Blatter Implicated

Despite FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s current 90-day suspension and the looming ethics investigation, the leader of the world’s governing body of soccer has stayed silent on any wrongdoing, and has always denied involvement in the bribery scandal which alleges that $10 million changed hands for promotion and broadcast rights to the upcoming 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Breaking news from the BBC’s investigative news program Panorama now reveals that the FBI is now focusing attention on statements from former FIFA President Joao Havelange, which directly implicates Sepp Blatter with “full knowledge of all activities,” the BBC reports.

Meanwhile, in Bizarro-land, David Beckham has decided to weigh in on the controversial 2022 Qatari World Cup bid saying that the games should go on. Maybe Becks suddenly feels empowered now that he is finally on his road to his own bid, which was not short on controversy.

USWNT Turf Controversy

This weekend the 2015 World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team had a major blow when Seattle Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe went down with a torn ACL during training. Immediately afterward, amid comments from players on Twitter and photos of the damaged turf surface at Aloha Stadium, U.S. Soccer called off the game. This has escalated quickly as very bad press for U.S. Soccer’s treatment of the USWNT. This article is titled “U.S. Soccer Doesn’t Care Enough About the Women’s National Team,” pointing out that the last time the U.S. women played in the Alamodome, the site of Thursday’s upcoming scheduled match in San Antonio, that Australian player Kyah Simon tore her ACL 27 seconds into the game.

The U.S. Men, however, played a friendly in April and had fresh sod laid down over the turf. Stars and Stripes FC calls the discrepancy “blatant sexism,” and, with the fact that there is a protocol for evaluating playing surfaces for men in advance but no such thing exists for women, that this is a problem in need of discussion and immediate action by U.S. Soccer. The team also weighed in on it.

Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan was quoted by Fox Sports on the issue, saying:

“The training grounds that we were given and the playing surface of the stadium were horrible. I think it’s hard because no one’s really going to protect us but ourselves. So we’re put in a very hard position because obviously we want to play in front of these fans and we want to train before the game but injuries happen when you don’t protect yourself and when you’re not protected from those higher up from you.”

Penn State Women Win National Collegiate Cup

Portland wasn’t the only team that won a trophy yesterday. The Penn State women’s soccer team managed to knock off Duke 1-0 in the College Cup final in Cary, NC. The Nittany Lions take home their first collegiate title and it caps off a sensational journey for game-winner Raquel Rodiguez who made her debut for Costa Rica at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and now brings home the title for a college program that she took a risk on when she left home four years ago.

That’s it for today Mane Landers, fingers crossed for a non-controversial Monday but before I say goodbye to controversy, take a look at this video and let me know what you think of the goalkeeper’s actions in the poll or comments.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Yes, it was despicable and unsportsmanlike 17
No, it’s just a part of the game 3
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/9/26

Orlando City plays Atlanta, Griezmann gets fined, Banda a Ballon d’Or contender, and more.

Published

17 hours ago

on

September 9, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. The fixture congestion is back for the next couple of weeks which means plenty of opportunity to watch the Lions in action. I’m looking forward to seeing Martin Ojeda fully integrate back into the offense with Antione Griezmann. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Heads to Atlanta

Orlando City is headed north to take on Atlanta United tonight. Both teams have been playing better of late, but this is still an opportunity for the Lions to get all three points from a rival on the road. Atlanta has struggled to score goals this season, and Orlando City’s offensive weapons are many, and the team is rising up the MLS power rankings, thanks to the win over San Diego FC. It’s a double match week, so it will be interesting to see how Atlanta rotates players based on availability.

Grizi Gets Fined

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann an undisclosed amount for violating the League’s policy regarding throwing/kicking an object toward fans in the match against San Diego FC. Here is the “incident” in case you missed it during the match.

If the fine was more than a dollar, it was too much. That’s not true, a dollar is also too much.

Pride in the News

The Orlando Pride made history in the 3-1 win over the Houston Dash. The victory made Yolanda Thomas the first Black woman in a head coach’s role in NWSL history, and only the fourth female coach to win their first-ever NWSL match in charge. It also comes as no surprise that Barbra Banda is a nominee for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Pochettino’s Big Plans

Mauricio Pochettino wants to make the USMNT one of the β€œmost powerful” international teams in the world. That is a pretty ambitious goal, though I like the high aspirations. Pochettino is now in charge of the procedural and developmental sides of the game. He will have some time to experiment before the next World Cup, including utilizing more MLS homegrowns.

Free Kicks

  • Marco Pasalic has been called up to the Croatian National Team for the UEFA Nations League matches later this month and in the first part of October. Croatia will be playing Czechia, England, and Spain.
  • Ivan Angulo will be sporting a new look at the match tonight. Hopefully it helps him score goals on his breakaway opportunities.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for live match updates and we will also have a recap of the match tonight and more coverage tomorrow. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/8/26

Antoine Griezmann earns recognition, lessons from MLS matchday 24, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 8, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann playing the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend β€” the same way Orlando’s soccer teams most certainly did. All three teams picked up victories over the weekend: Orlando City B got the party started on Friday with a 4-1 win over Inter Miami CF II; Orlando City knocked off San Diego FC 1-0 on Saturday; and the Orlando Pride made it a full nine points from nine with a 3-1 win over the Houston Dash on Sunday. OCSC has a midweek game against Atlanta United Wednesday night, before all three teams are back in action over the weekend. We’ve got lots to talk about today, so let’s get into the links.

Antoine Griezmann Earns Recognition

Antoine Griezmann scored the all-important goal in Orlando City’s 1-0 win over San Diego FC on Saturday, and his performance has been rewarded with a bench place in the MLS Team of the Matchday. The goal was his fifth of the season and he now has eight goal contributions in eight league appearances with the Lions. His arrival has coincided with OCSC slowly climbing up the table into the playoff places, and the good guys will need more defensive performances like the one we saw on Saturday if they’re going to hang onto a playoff spot and potentially make some noise in the postseason.

Lessons from Matchday 24

Major League Soccer’s 24th matchday is now in the books, and there were plenty of things to be learned from the weekend’s action. Up in Canada, Josh Sargent bagged a hat trick and is starting to look more and more like the player he was at Norwich City. Toronto FC is now unbeaten in its last six games. Strikers were certainly at the forefront this weekend, as Petar Musa bagged a brace for FC Dallas in the team’s 4-3 win over Sporting Kansas City, and Breel Embolo scored a penalty kick on his Atlanta United debut to salvage a point with Inter Miami on the road. Finally, while its been an uneven year for the LA Galaxy, they knocked off the New England Revolution 2-1 at home and are now just one point outside the Western Conference playoff places.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing games during the working week, and the UEFA Champions League is firmly back in the crosshairs. Things get going on Tuesday when Alex Freeman and Villarreal start their UCL campaign on the road against Borussia Dortmund. Wednesday sees Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid play Liverpool on the road in UCL play, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic play St. Johnstone during Scottish Premier League play. Things then wrap up on Friday when Gianluca Busio and Venezia play Fiorentina in Serie A action.

Mauricio Pochettino Speaks on Young Talent

Speaking of American players, USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has urged caution when it comes to the hype surrounding young Yanks like Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. The United States Men’s National Team will play four friendlies in the upcoming international window, and with the roster set to be announced on Sept. 17, there’s plenty of people calling for young talent like Sullivan, Hall, and Justin Ellis to get some looks with the senior squad. While the USMNT coach said he’s happy about the young talent in the player pool, he also urged people to not get carried away, and said,

“We need to be careful because when you are young, of course you need to be confident, you need to have the trust in yourself, and believe that you can perform and you can do well. But the thing is it’s a limit. The balance is the most important. And one of our responsibilities is to protect this guy because sometime if you play well and you are 17, 16 or 18 and you play well and people started to know to talk about that you are Messi or you are a big star in the world because you do some few good things. If after you are confused and you don’t manage well, that can be dangerous for your career.”

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/7/26

All of Orlando’s soccer teams win, former Lion Chris Mueller retires, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

September 7, 2026

By

Image of Bernardo Rhein playing against San Diego FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers, and happy Labor Day! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend. I’ve been busy at work covering golf, soccer, and football. Our beloved Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action and picked up wins over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Shut Out San Diego FC

Orlando City defeated San Diego FC 1-0 on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium. Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the match in the first half for the Lions. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made two saves in the match just days after his father passed away as Orlando held on to preserve the clean sheet. The club held a moment of silence for Crepeau’s father before kickoff, and the players wore black armbands. Orlando City will be on the road to face Atlanta United on Wednesday, followed by a home match on Saturday against Toronto FC.

Orlando Pride Defeat Houston Dash

The Orlando Pride defeated the Houston Dash 3-1 on Sunday at Inter.co Stadium in the first match under interim head coach Yolanda Thomas. After weather delayed kickoff by about 90 minutes, Barbra Banda forced an own goal on Houston defender Leah Klenke to give the Pride the lead. Banda converted from the spot on a penalty Summer Yates won to double Orlando’s lead just before halftime. In the second half, Banda set up Haley McCutcheon’s goal to give the Pride a 3-0 lead. Houston pulled one back, but Orlando took the three points. The Pride will be on the road for their next match on Friday against the Kansas City Current.

OCB Beats Inter Miami II

Orlando City B defeated Inter Miami II 4-1 on Friday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Issah Haruna scored the opener for OCB in the first half before Miami equalized. Harvey Sarajian and Gustavo Caraballo scored to give the Young Lions a 3-1 lead going into halftime. In the second half, Ignacio Gomez buried his penalty kick for OCB to seal back-to-back wins. The Young Lions will be home for their next match against Toronto FC II on Sunday at Osceola County Stadium.

Former Lion Chris Mueller Retires

Former Lion and Chicago Fire winger Chris Mueller announced his retirement from professional soccer on Friday. Mueller began his pro soccer career with Orlando City when the club selected him as the sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He scored 22 goals and recorded 20 assists in 126 matches for the Lions and spent four seasons with the club. Mueller’s best season came in 2020, when he scored 10 goals and added seven assists, and he played a key role in leading Orlando to its first MLS Cup playoff appearance. He left Orlando after the 2022 season to play for Scottish Premiership side Hibernian FC before joining the Fire. Mueller was diagnosed with pericarditis in 2025, which limited his minutes as he missed the entire 2025 season and played five matches for Chicago in 2026. We at The Mane Land wish Mueller all the best in his retirement.

Free Kicks

  • U.S. Soccer featured Orlando City on its website, recapping the Lions’ run to the semifinals of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Orlando City will take on the Columbus Crew on Sept. 16.
  • Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who is on loan at Dallas Trinity, scored her second goal of the fall season in the USL Super League.
  • Telstar goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr, who is the son of Netherlands legend Ronald Koeman, scored twice from the spot to help his club salvage a 2-2 draw against Cambuur in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
  • Former Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has reached an agreement to join Burnley in the EFL Championship for the remainder of the season.
  • Gio Reyna scored his first goal since joining RC Strasbourg in the summer in a 6-2 win against Troyes in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
  • The U.S. Women’s U-20 National Team fell 2-1 to Italy on Sunday in its opening match in the 2026 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland. That result was Italy’s first-ever win in the competition, while the U.S. will look to bounce back against Japan on Wednesday.

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

Continue Reading

Trending