Lion Links: 4/18/16

Well, Mane Landers, there's nothing like getting #ProRef'd on a Sunday to make you wish you could just stay in bed on Monday morning. Alas, Monday is here and the good news is, by the time you are done seething over our missing points, the day will be half over. So let's get on with it!

All the Coverage You Need

There’s no lack of coverage from yesterday’s match between Orlando City and the New England Revolution. Ignore work this morning while you catch up on your reading:

• Austin David's match recap
• Gavin Ewbank's player grades and Man of the Match selection
• Nick Leyva's got photos from the match
• Our postgame video match report
• The Bent Musket's take from the enemy's side of the match

Whew! That's enough to get you to your lunch break, right there. Be sure to check back for more fallout from the match later this morning.

Kaká Makes History

One pretty fun thing to come out of Sunday's debacle is a new record for Kaká: fastest PK goal in MLS history. The call came off a foul drawn by Julio Baptista just 15 seconds after making his starting debut for the Lions. This was the seventh penalty kick this year awarded within two minutes of the start of the game, but only the second that was actually converted to a goal. Clearly this settles the age old question: Is Kaká the right man to take penalties for Orlando City? (shout out to The Mane Land writer Wade Williams who asks the tough questions and will never live this one down).

Orlando Pride Fall 2-1 in Debut Match

The Pride started brightly but just didn't quite have enough in the end, as they lost their inaugural match at Portland, 2-1. USWNT midfielder Lindsey Horan provided the winning margin for the Thorns. Steph Catley, a former Thorn herself, put Orlando up early with a free kick goal. Portland found an equalizer before the break and Horan broke Orlando hearts. Still, it was a good showing for the Pride in their first game. Here's Meg Van Dyk's full match recap.

NY Red Bulls Get Snowed

I’m only a fan of the NFL when we get to those bitterly cold days in late fall when places like Detroit, Green Bay, and Chicago are covered in snow and the players are running around on white turf with green lines. So imagine my excitement to see that the New York Red Bulls traveled to the Mile High City to get absolutely snowed, literally and figuratively, by the Rapids. Adding insult to injury to the Red Bulls’ blue lips and frozen toes is the general sadness by coach Jesse Marsch, who cannot seem to explain why the 2015 Supporter Shield winners cannot get it together. Let’s hope this unhinging holds through next Sunday, as the Lions head to the Big Apple, and two weeks after that, when the Red Bulls visit the Citrus Bowl on May 6.

USMNT's Pulisic Sets Scoring Record for Bundesliga

U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic, who plays club football for Borussia Dortmund, has become the youngest non-German to ever score in the Bundesliga. At age 17 years, six months and 30 days, he is also now the fourth-youngest player in the league to ever score. Fans will remember that Pulisic took the field for the senior men back on March 29 in the 81st minute and, by doing so, Klinsmann has tied him to the U.S. team, as he was also eligible to play for Croatia.

FC Cincinnati Blows Out USL Attendance Record

Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore. Remember when Orlando City used to crush attendance records in 2012 and 2013? And then Sacramento Republic came along and doubled down? Well now, FC Cincinnati has thrown down the gauntlet with selling over 20,000 tickets to a regular season match. It was bittersweet for them though, as they fell to their rivals, Louisville City FC, 3-2. Soccer has arrived.

Lionel Messi Scores 500th Professional Goal

Five-time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi has reached an incredible accomplishment of 500 goals scored for club and country. Already the all-time leading goal scorer in Spain’s La Liga, Messi has made 450 goals in 526 games with Barcelona FC and 50 goals for his home country of Argentina. This personal accomplishment is huge for Messi, despite Barca having now had three consecutive league defeats for the first time since 2003.

Leicester City Draw Not Without Controversy

The Foxes and their fans can taste the EPL trophy but just have to hold on to the lead. Being eight points clear of second place at the moment is a grateful sight for fans who sat through a grueling ordeal on Sunday. Although the English league doesn't employ PRO refs, you would never know it from the disaster left in its wake by head ref Jon Moss. To all the Leicester fans out there: we here in Orlando feel your pain.

Well that's it for me, Mane Landers. Have a glorious Monday!