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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/7/16

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So, it seems the Church of Lion has once again been shifted from its normal time slot. Hey, that's cool. You'll probably need some time to work on this week's bonkers tip before Sunday morning anyway.

If you're new to my weekly tips, here's what you've missed so far:

  • Dim your phones so no one can see you're reading Lion Links.
  • Buy a cool stadium seat to beat the pain of those wooden pews – like this one.
  • Mouth the word "watermelon" while everyone else is singing to avoid getting the stink eye.

Cool you're caught up. Now, let's tackle heat. Dudes and dudettes, it is hot out there. And if you go to a traditional style church, you're probably wearing a tie or a fancy dress. Those are not conducive for the weather we are experiencing. So, let me introduce you to the cooling towel — revolutionary material that, with a bit of water and a quick snap or two, will keep you nice and comfortable. Slide that thing under your collar or cover it up with a nice shawl. Either way, you'll be smiling and profiling (woooo!) while everyone else is roasting away.

Now, on to the Links!

Welp, Heath Gone

Last night was a bit of a shocker as Orlando City fired the only head coach its ever had. After eight seasons in USL/MLS, Adrian Heath is not the gaffer of this team anymore. While the man himself said his job was probably dependent upon making the playoffs, it seemed there was plenty of time left in a season in which the Eastern Conference summit can be reached with a simple three-game winning streak. Plus, Orlando City has games in hand against several of the teams it is chasing. Well, coaches are hired to be fired, as they say, but it is sad to see someone go who gave so much to this community. Oh, and to make matters worse, assistant Mark Watson was also let go. OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis and OCSC Assistant Coach Bobby Murphy will co-manage during the upcoming coaching search.

Kaka is more than a captain, he's a recruiter!

As if we didn’t know this already, but MLSsoccer.com had a feature yesterday stating how important Kaká is to bringing other talented players to Orlando. His Brazilian roots helped the team land Julio Baptista and they go on to credit his AC Milan ties with getting Antonio Nocerino (I wonder if they accept refunds?).

All and all, an interesting read that also highlights how coaches can use social media and YouTube to scout a player versus going in person. This has cut down on crazy travel and "wild goose chases" as he called them when it comes to scouting.

Lions Close to Signing Aja?

The rumor about center back Jose Aja is heating up, with a report out of Uruguay saying the 23-year-old defender will be joining Orlando City on loan from Nacional. We first discussed this rumor on Tuesday, but on Wednesday evening the online chatter reached new levels with the new report. The team could use some positive news, but coming to a team that just fired its coach is problematic for any player.

Orlando Pride sign Keeper Kaitlyn Savage

Well it seemed like keeper DiDi Haracic was the one, but yesterday we learned it is actually former Florida International University goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage who will be joining the team. Savage, the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year with Adelaide United in the Australian W-League, is set to carry the load for the Pride while current number one Ashlyn Harris will be called up for Olympic duty. Join me in welcoming the former Panther back to the great state of Florida!

The Spanish Taxation of Leo Messi

No one can escape the tax man, including Lionel Messi. Reports are coming in that the "all-everything soccer sensation" and his father, Jorge, have each been sentenced to 21 months hard time in Spain. Apparently they bilked Spanish authorities out of 4.5 million dollars between 2007 and 2009.

Due to this being his first violation and Spanish law being good to those who are first timers, it's not likely he'll spend a day in the slammer. Nope, probation seems to be what he and his dad are heading for. Still, he's probably in line for some big time fines for using other countries to hide all his treasures. First the Copa and now this? It's not the best of times to be a Messi.

And, as a surprise to no one, Leo and Jorge are filing an appeal. Best of luck with that, gentlemen!

Euro 2016: Bale vs Ronaldo

In yesterday's Euro 2016 semifinal, we had ourselves a good one as two of the very best (who also happen to be Real Madrid teammates) were on the field, duking it out for supremacy. In the end, led by Cristiano Ronaldo breaking the ice at the 50th minute, Portugal overcame the plucky team from the British Isle, advancing to the finals. Now the Portuguese just have to wait to see who they play, Germany or France, on July 10.

Wales deserves credit for making it this far though. The team proved it was more than just Gareth Bale plus 10. Congrats on a brilliant run through a very tough field.

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Not to pile it on Argentina, but sources say there is a 50% chance the country will pull out of the Olympics. Man, any more bad news from there and you'd think they were the English soccer team!…Are you a Star Wars fan? Coming soon should be a new trailer for this year's Rogue One. It looks to be hitting ABC on July 15.

That's it for today's edition of the Big LL. Come on back to The Mane Land early and often today as we'll be getting you ready for tomorrow's game with the Houston Dynamo and so much more. Wait, you're at work? Pssht, who needs work?

Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/13/25

Orlando City prepares for the Colorado Rapids, Concacaf W Champions Cup schedule released, USWNT tops FIFA rankings, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! We have some exciting soccer ahead of us over the next few days, starting with the Orlando Pride’s road game against Bay FC tonight at 10 p.m. I’ll be spending most of the weekend working and visiting family for Father’s Day. Let’s go ahead and get this Friday started with today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for the Colorado Rapids

The Lions are back in action on Saturday for a road match in high altitude against the Colorado Rapids. Orlando City is coming off a needed break in the schedule after losing two games in a row to close out a busy May. The Rapids have also lost their past two league games and will be without goalkeeper Zack Steffen due to injury. This will be the team’s first match against the Rapids since a 2-0 victory in Orlando back in 2023 and the first in Colorado since a 1-1 draw in 2022. Hopefully the Lions can get back on track with a win to kickstart another strong summer.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Schedule Revealed

The schedule was unveiled for the Concacaf W Champions Cup and we now know where the Pride will be playing this fall. Their campaign will begin at Inter&Co Stadium against Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense on Sept. 2. They’ll then hit the road for their next two matches, playing Chorrillo FC in Panama on Sept. 16 before facing Club America on Sept. 30. The Pride will close out their group play with a home game against Pachuca on Oct. 15. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals, and the winner of the tournament will earn a spot in both the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and 2028 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. It’s going to make for some late-season fixture congestion for the Pride, but that’s the price of success and earning a spot in continental competitions.

USWNT Remains Atop FIFA Rankings

The United States Women’s National Team is still the best team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings. The U.S. lost points overall in the time since the last rankings in March though, and the gap has narrowed between it and Spain and Germany. Brazil had a decent rise in the rankings, moving up four spots to fourth after beating Japan twice in recent friendlies. With notable international tournaments lined up for this summer, it will be interesting to see how much things shake up when the next rankings come out.

Michael Bradley Named New York Red Bulls II Head Coach

Former USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley was hired as head coach of the MLS NEXT Pro’s New York Red Bulls II. It’s the 37-year-old’s first professional head coaching job after spending time as an assistant coach under his father, Bob Bradley, at Stabaek in Norway. Bradley returns to where he began his professional playing career, as he was drafted by the MetroStars in 2004 at the age of 16.

“I couldn’t be more excited to come back to where my professional playing career began,” says Head Coach Michael Bradley. “This is a dream opportunity as a young coach. I’m looking forward to working everyday with this talented group of players, and I’ll give everything to help them take the next step in their careers. I’m thankful to the club for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”

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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: 6/12/25

Reliving the Orlando Pride’s win, Orlando City B loses on the road, Jhon Solis Wins MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been enjoying a pretty good week so far and actually made pizza for the first time last night. It was burnt beyond belief in the end, but still edible, which is a huge win in my book. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links!

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride beat the Houston Dash 1-0 at home in dramatic fashion and the club has released a video highlighting the action. Substitute Cori Dyke scored the winning goal deep in stoppage time to give the Pride all three points and second place in the league standings. The video includes Dyke being tossed in the air afterwards in celebration, as well as a pretty good pep talk from Marta. Let’s hope the Pride can win a bit more comfortably when they travel across the country to face Bay FC on Friday night.

Orlando City B Falls to Carolina Core FC

The Young Lions are returning to Orlando empty handed after a 1-0 loss to Carolina Core FC in North Carolina. A goal by Carolina right before halftime proved to be the difference, as OCB struggled to get much going offensively and couldn’t conjure some of the late magic it’s shown in recent matches. Ultimately, it’s a disappointing result after impressive wins over both Chattanooga FC and Huntsville City FC earlier this month. The Young Lions have a bit of a break to reset before trying to get back on track at home against Toronto FC II on June 25.

Jhon Solis Wins Goal of the Matchweek

OCB midfielder Jhon Solis won MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek for his strike in the club’s 3-2 road win over Huntsville on June 6. He curled a free kick towards goal with enough power behind it to beat the keeper and equalize things in the 84th minute. Solis also provided the assist from a corner kick on OCB’s first goal, so hopefully he can continue to make opponents pay in those instances this season.

Getting Ready for the Concacaf Gold Cup

The Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off this weekend and plenty of pressure is on the U.S. after a pair of losses in the friendlies leading into this tournament. The team is without many of its usual starters, and Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will have to figure things out in a group against Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Trinidad & Tobago. As for other things to watch out for in this Gold Cup, I’m interested to see how Canada fares in its group and if Miguel Herrera’s Costa Rican team can make some noise against Mexico. Panama’s group could end up as the most enticing though, as it features fellow dark horse Jamaica and a pair of underdogs in Guadeloupe and Guatemala.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to the unbearable part of summer here in Florida. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/11/25

Orlando City B plays tonight, the Orlando Pride want to enter the break strong, USMNT pounded by Switzerland, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Hopefully, you decided to put your mental and emotional health first last night and skipped watching the USMNT match. I, unfortunately, did not. I’m going to take Ted Lasso’s advice to be a goldfish and move on. I think a great way to do that is to share today’s links with you, but not before we wish Orlando Pride forward Grace Chanda a happy birthday.

Pride Looking to Enter the Break on a High Note

The Orlando Pride are sitting in second place in the NWSL standings. The club is also sitting second in the SI.com power rankings and the goal.com power rankings. For some reason, All For XI has the team at number three in their power rankings, but nobody is perfect. Now, the Pride are looking to head into the NWSL break on a high note in their upcoming two road games. Next up is Bay FC on Friday night.

OCB Visits Carolina Core Tonight

Orlando City B is in action tonight against Carolina Core FC at Truist Point Stadium in North Carolina. The Young Lions look to continue their recent success following two late winners against Chattanooga and Huntsville City. The midweek matchup should mean that Manuel Goldberg will have everyone available for the match, except those who played for the U-18 USMNT in the 2025 UEFA Friendship Cup. We will have match coverage for you both here and on BlueSky.

USMNT Crumbles vs. Swiss

If you turned off the USMNT versus Switzerland match at halftime (or before), I don’t blame you. The Swiss scored four goals in a devastating first half for the USMNT. I’m not saying it happened because Orlando City’s Alex Freeman did not get the start, but I’m not, not saying it either. Things got nominally better in the second half, considering the U.S. did not give up any more goals, but the 4-0 final score was still very, very bad. It was not what fans were hoping to see in the send-off match heading into the Concacaf Gold Cup.

Club World Cup Struggles

I’m not certain if you know that the FIFA Club World Cup starts this weekend, including matches in Orlando at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium in the coming weeks. What I do know is that across the various venues the response can best be described as…meh.

Fans are getting offers of literal free tickets to the Sounders-Botafogo game and TM has reduced prices by about 20% since yesterday.

Jeremiah Oshan (@jeremiah.sounderatheart.com) 2025-06-10T21:50:13.404Z

If you weren’t interested in going because the price was too high, you might want to check again. There are several former MLS players in the competition, including former Orlando City attacker Facundo Torres with Palmerias, though he won’t be playing in Orlando. There are several good matchups, including Manchester City versus Juventus at Camping World Stadium.

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  • Orlando City B players Justin Ellis, Colin Guske, and Jackson Platts were members of the U-18 United States Men’s National Team that won the 2025 UEFA Friendship Cup in Nyon, Switzerland on Tuesday. The U.S. and Portugal drew 1-1 in the final before heading to penalties, where the Yanks won 3-2. Unfortunately, Guske had his attempt from the spot saved in the shootout, but his teammates bailed him out.

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

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