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Lion Links: 2/3/17

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9 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: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

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9 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 28, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

Free Kicks

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

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