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Lion Links: 2/3/17

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10 years ago

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Good morning, Mane Land readers. I hope you enjoyed last Friday’ Lion Links from our managing editor while I was out of the office. And if you didn’t even realize that I was gone, well…I forgive you and hope that you continue to enjoy reading our coverage of everything that is Orlando soccer and more.

With that said, I am happy to be back and eager to bring you the top news so let’s not waste any more time.

Kreis Admits Molino Asked to Leave OCSC

There were mixed reviews to say the least when Orlando City elected to ship Kevin Molino to Minnesota United in a reunion of sorts with former Lions head coach Adrian Heath. It became apparent that Molino was a part of what Jason Kreis referred to as an “in-house” issue when he was distant from his teammates in training and didn’t travel to Jacksonville for preseason camp. With that said, many were still sad to see the Trinidad & Tobago international go after he capitalized regularly in 30 appearances in 2016 with 11 goals and eight assists. But the player himself asked out of Orlando, expecting a big raise after one year of production that the club couldn’t (and wouldn’t) cave in to.

“We tried to do what we could in offering a contract that we felt was competitive to what he was hoping for, but the player was still unhappy. For me, what’s most important is whether a player wants to be in the team, and the last question I asked him was, ‘Kevin, do you want to be here?’ And he said, ‘No I don’t, coach. I’d like a change of scenery’. At that point, that’s who we want to be going forward, a club that wants players to desperately be a part of it.”

While replacing the midfielder’s production on the field will be no easy task, Kreis made it clear that the culture in the locker room comes before all else.

Kreis Pleased with Lions’ Preseason Trajectory

If fans are upset about Molino’s departure, maybe this will help. Jason Kreis told Orlando Sentinel writer Alicia DelGallo things are going well this preseason.

“The effort they’ve been putting in has been second to none. The commitment level, the competitiveness in training sessions I think has reached a new level, which is exactly what we wanted.”

Kreis went on to praise the team’s fitness level, something he criticized after he was hired in July, calling it “at a different level than it was last year.”

“I couldn’t be happier with where we are right now, but I know we have a ton of work left to do still,” Kreis said. “The good thing is we have five weeks left to get it done in.”

That’s great news. A fit and committed Orlando City team should challenge for the postseason in 2017.

Deakin Looks to Make Senior Team

Orlando City’s only SuperDraft selection in 2017 came in the third round in the person of forward Danny Deakin. The Sheffield, England native has arrived at Orlando City’s preseason camp and is looking to get first-team games in his rookie season.

“It’s very good,” Deakin said. “I knew it was gonna be a lot better than college. The speed of play is very high and everyone’s very consistent on the ball. But yeah, I’m enjoying it. I think I’ve adapted pretty well to it. But yeah, it’s good and I’m enjoying my time here.”

Deakin doesn’t have a lot of goals for his rookie season. He’s focused on contributing to his team and getting as much time on the pitch as he can. “I’d like to play. I’d like to start games and show what I can do,” Deakin said. “I’d like to be involved in the first team and be around things. But you just never know, I’m just gonna do what I can and see where it takes me.”

Orlando City B Announces Preseason Schedule

As OCB looks to improve upon its first USL season in 2017, the club announced its preseason schedule that consists of seven friendlies beginning on Feb. 23. Following the preseason opener against the University of Central Florida, it will take on OKC Energy FC in Bradenton at the IMG Academy in the only game that will be streamed live at Live.IMGAcademyTV.com. Check out the link for the full slate.

Lifetime to Broadcast NWSL Matches

The NWSL has announced a partnership with A+E Networks that includes Lifetime broadcasting a weekly NWSL match Saturdays at 4 p.m. Lifetime will serve as an official sponsor and broadcast partner for the league.

In addition to the broadcast, the partnership will feature a joint venture, NWSL Media. According to the press release, NWSL Media will oversee the live streaming of matches, including pre-game, halftime, and post-game segments.

“This partnership is not only tremendously significant in the continued growth of NWSL, but representative of how far the league has come in four years and where it can go in the future,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Galati said.

In addition, the Lifetime logo will feature on the right sleeve of all teams’ jerseys.

Pereira Called into U.S. U-17 Residency Program

Alejandro Pereira, current member of Orlando City’s academy set-up, has been called into the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton for the 2017 Spring Semester. Head coach John Hackworth invited Pereira along with 31 others in pursuit of qualifying for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Pereira was one of the 28 players invited for the spring semester that were also in residency last fall. Hackworth also called in several new players, including Ethan Bartlow, Tyler Shaver, Grayson Barber, and David Ochoa. Notable players that will not return for spring residency are Chris Goslin and Chris Durkin, who will be looking to earn a first-team place in preseason with Atlanta United and D.C. United, respectively, after signing homegrown deals.

The U-17 World Cup qualifying tournament is set to begin April 14 in Panama. The emphasis of this semester will be preparing the players to not only qualify, but make an impact in the World Cup.

Lampard Calls it Quits

Few players in the history of the game have experienced the long-lasting success that Frank Lampard has. After 21 years, 13 of which were spent at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, Lampard has made the decision to hang up his boots.

Lampard last played for New York City FC after leaving Chelsea in 2014 and spending the 2014-2015 season with NYCFC parent club, Manchester City. The England international is one of just three players to record over 100 goals and 100 assists. The others on that list are Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

This MLS off-season has seen world football legends retire after coming stateside. First it was Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard, and now Lampard. Gerrard recently joined Liverpool’s coaching staff at the academy level, and with Lampard giving thanks to the Football Association for the opportunity to study for his coaching badges, Lampard could follow in his footsteps by making a return to Stamford Bridge.

That should more than do it for today’s links. It sure is good to be back, and I can only hope that your weekend is as enjoyable as writing for you all is for me. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the good times!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

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: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

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

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