Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/17

Happy April and, more importantly, happy April Fools Day! Spring has sprung, and with it, comes some heated MLS soccer. It’s been a couple weeks (again) since the Lions have played a match, winning against Philadelphia Union 2-1 on March 18.
But, the long and terrible wait for OCSC soccer is over this weekend! So turn that frown upside down, and get ready, because it’s game day! There’s a game to watch this afternoon, so I’m not going to beat around the bush, and get right into today’ Lion Links!
Jonathan Spector on ExtraTime Talks Cyle Larin Transfer Rumors, OCSC
Thursday afternoon, Lions center back Jonathan Spector joined the MLS radio show, ExtraTime, to talk about the USMNT, Cyle Larin transfer rumors, and how he thinks Orlando City has a chance to make the World Cup (sorry, Bastian). Hitting the highlight from Spector’s interview, the American international said that he has full confidence in Larin and his ability, and believes that the rumors surrounding the young up-and-coming player can only be a good thing.
Spector also cautioned another young player, Borussia Dortmund’s and the USMNT’s Christian Pulisic, about letting all the talk get to his head. At just 18 years old, Pulisic is already being compared to one of the best Americans to ever play the beautiful game, Landon Donovan.
The Orlando City defender is also very confident in the Lions’ ability to make it all the way to the World Cup after a good start to the season. He meant the FIFA Club World Cup, of course.
Carlos Rivas Has Become “a fundamental weapon” for Orlando City
It’s been a long journey for Colombian winger Carlos Rivas. At age 20, Rivas became one of the youngest Designated Players in league history. Now almost 23 years old, Rivas has appeared in 48 Orlando City matches, accounting for three goals and eight assists in that time, and his game is growing by leaps and bounds, drawing praise from his manager.
Yeah, I think he’s growing,” Jason Kreis said. “He’s a young player who is growing as a professional. He’s really embracing now what’s being asked of him, and trying to do that.He’s done a great job of that so far this season and I’d love him to get a goal, because he deserves it. Hopefully it will come this weekend.”
Rivas has been a great complement to Cyle Larin and his hot start this season, and there is a noticeable sharpness to the two’s form early in the season. Uruguayan center back Jose Aja said he thinks the 2017 version of Rivas is primed for a career year.
“Carlos has become a fundamental weapon for us,” he said. “We know he has been growing a lot and, if he is physically and mentally prepared and fit, we know he can be a decisive player on the field for us.”
Minnesota, Colorado Swap Players
One day after today’s Orlando City’s opponents from Columbus acquired Kekuta Manneh from Vancouver Whitecaps FC for Tony Tchani and allocation money, MLS saw another swap. The Colorado Rapids acquired Mohammed Saeid, attacker Josh Gatt, and an international slot from Minnesota United in exchange for defender Marc Burch. The Rapids also waived midfielder Sam Cronin so that Minnesota can immediately claim him in what most assuredly isn’t part of the deal (wink, wink). On paper it looks like the Loons won this deal but Colorado is clearing cap space for an additional move, so it should benefit everyone. Cronin and Burch should help improve the league’s worst defense.
Charlotte Independence, Randy Moss Stage Bad April Fool’s Joke
The USL’s Charlotte Independence decided to celebrate April Fool’s Day on a day that was not April Fool’s Day. Yesterday, the North Carolina-based club sent out a press release, complete with a video, saying that Randy Moss was embarking on a career in professional soccer at age 40. The words “April Fools” were spelled out with the first letter of each sentence in the release. While a somewhat unique gag, it wasn’t a very good joke, and posting it on March 31 not only didn’t fool anyone, but it also violated the spirit of the “holiday.” Do better, Independence.
FIFA Sends 1,300-Page Corruption Investigation to Swiss Prosecutors
Well, this could get ugly. After 22 months of investigating, interviewing, collecting documents, and so on and so forth, American-based legal firm Quinn Emanuel has finally finished its probe into the FIFA corruption scandal.
The firm was retained by FIFA to internally investigate the organization’s former president, Sepp Blatter, and former CONCACAF head Chuck Blazer, for taking bribes linked to regional tournaments and World Cup qualifying games in Latin America.
It will take some time for Switzerland’s attorney general to go through the extensive report, and FIFA said on Friday, “it was legally barred from publishing the full reports or commenting on the evidence or conclusions.”
The United States federal authorities said they have already indicated or received 40 guilty pleas from marketing executives, and marketing agencies, as well as a couple former vice presidents from the CONCACAF region.
Go out and enjoy spring and your Saturday, but remember, you need to be on your couch watching Orlando City play Columbus Crew SC at 4 p.m., or in Columbus rooting on the Lions in Mapfre Stadium!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/8/25
Ramiro Enrique earns weekly props, Club World Cup semifinals preview, United States Men’s National Team stock watch, and more.

Good morning, everyone. Depending on your preference, I hope you either had a restful holiday weekend or an active and engaging one. We have an active and engaging week ahead of us in the soccer world, with the continuation of the Women’s European Championships and the Club World Cup, and Orlando City and Orlando City B in action at the weekend. That means we have a lot to cover this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Ramiro Enrique Earns Weekly Recognition
Ramiro Enrique played an important role in Orlando City’s 2-2 comeback draw against Charlotte FC over the weekend, and he’s been rewarded with a place on the bench in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Enrique bagged Orlando’s first goal of the evening just four minutes after the Lions went down by a second goal, and his strike helped keep the game from getting away from OCSC. He could have had an even better game if he’d not been denied a second goal due to a goal-line clearance. Still, it’s good to see him finding the back of the net, and here’s hoping he keeps doing so.
Club World Cup Semifinals Preview
The Club World Cup semifinals get started later today with Chelsea taking on Fluminense at 3 p.m. There are several storylines and battles to watch, with a big one being Fluminense’s Thiago Silva facing off against a Chelsea team with which he won the UEFA Champions League back in 2021. He’ll be tasked with shutting down Cole Palmer while teammate Hercules will do battle with Moises Caicedo in midfield. Wednesday’s match has Real Madrid taking on Paris Saint-Germain in a game littered with French stars on both sides. The big storyline here is Kylian Mbappe taking on his former PSG team, but the Madrid squad also features Frenchmen Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Ferland Mendy. It would take too long to list all of PSG’s French stars, but Ousmane Dembele is the biggest name to watch, although Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola are more than capable of making huge impacts on matches.
Post-Gold Cup Stock Watch
Now that the Gold Cup has concluded, we can better analyze which United States Men’s National Team players benefitted from the tournament, and which ones saw their stock drop. Two guys who got huge boosts as a result of their play during the competition are Chris Richards and Malik Tillman. Richards already had a great club season but displayed a level of poise and maturity this summer that will ease some concerns about the center back position. Tillman scored or assisted in all but two Gold Cup matches, and his performances combined with the year he had for PSV Eindhoven might just get him a move to Bayer Leverkusen. On the other hand, Matt Turner didn’t play a single minute during the tournament and almost certainly needs regular playing time if he wants to regain the starting role he had at the 2022 World Cup. Despite having a good year with Toulouse, Mark McKenzie was unable to unseat Tim Ream from partnering Richards at center back, and he’s running out of chances to make his case for a starting spot.
Women’s Euros Results
The Women’s European Championships continued on Monday, and fans were treated to a pair of extremely different games in Group B. In one, Portugal needed a last-minute equalizer to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw against Italy. That point gives Portugal a chance to advance to the quarterfinals if it beats Belgium in the final group match and Spain beats Italy, although it also needs to make up a significant gap in goal difference. In the other game, Spain punched its ticket to the knockout rounds in emphatic fashion by trouncing Belgium to the tune of a 6-2 scoreline. Alexia Putellas had a brace, and five different Spanish players found the back of the net as Spain scored four unanswered goals in the second half to cruise through to the next round.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride have announced a series of summer events to help fill the women’s soccer void during the NWSL’s midseason pause.
- Orlando City held fast at no. 10 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- New York City FC is floating a giant pigeon down the Hudson River today, but a rotating Lion statue it is not.
- Inter Miami is reportedly in talks with Atletico Madrid to sign Rodrigo De Paul.
- Newcastle United has reportedly signed Anthony Elanga pending the completion of a medical.
- Wojciech Szczesny has signed a two-year contract extension with Barcelona, which may open the door for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to leave the club.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/7/25
Lions draw at Charlotte FC, OCB claims two points against Crown Legacy, USMNT falls to Mexico in Gold Cup final, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you all had a great Fourth of July holiday weekend. I was busy working but tried to catch some soccer when I could. The senior Lions and OCB were both in action over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Come from Behind in 2-2 Draw at Charlotte FC
Orlando City overturned a 2-0 deficit and picked up a 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC Saturday at Bank of America Stadium. The Lions trailed 2-0 late in the second half, but Ramiro Enrique pulled one back for Orlando to make it 2-1. Marco Pasalic scored the equalizer to help Orlando secure a draw. The Lions are unbeaten in their last three matches on the road (2-0-1) but are winless in their last two consecutive matches (0-1-1). Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel assisted on both goals for the Lions, and Ojeda became the third player in club history to record 50 goal contributions.
Orlando City remains fifth in the Eastern Conference table with 34 points. The Lions will take on CF Montreal Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium but will be without Pedro Gallese and Robin Jansson, who will serve suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
OCB Wins Penalty Shootout vs. Crown Legacy FC after 2-2 Draw
Orlando City B drew 2-2 against Crown Legacy FC Sunday at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. The Young Lions stuck first against the run of play on a goal from Justin Ellis to take a 1-0 lead. Orlando City B held onto the lead through halftime. In the second half, Crown Legacy FC scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. However, Ellis scored the equalizer on a late penalty kick to record his second goal of the match. After 90 minutes, MLS NEXT Pro draws go to penalties, and OCB won the extra point with a 3-1 shootout win. Carlos Mercado was instrumental, as the goalkeeper stopped Crown Legacy’s first three spot kicks. OCB will be back in action Sunday at Osceola County Stadium against Carolina Core FC.
USMNT Falls to Mexico in Gold Cup Final
The U.S. Men’s National Team fell 2-1 to Mexico on Sunday in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final at NRG Stadium. Mexico won the Gold Cup for the 10th time and repeated as champions. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started the match and played 90 minutes. The USMNT got off to a great start as a Chris Richards header gave the U.S. the early lead. Later in the first half, Raul Jimenez scored the equalizer for Mexico. In the second half, Edson Alvarez buried his header to pull Mexico ahead 2-1. The goal was initially called offside, but it was awarded after video review. The USMNT fell short of an eighth Gold Cup title but will now shift its focus to preparing for the 2025 FIFA World Cup next summer. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against South Korea on Sept. 4 and Japan on Sept. 9.
Club World Cup Quarterfinals Recap
The semifinals are set in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after four thrilling quarterfinal matches over the weekend. On Friday, Fluminense edged Al-Hilal 2-1 to move on to the semifinals. Chelsea beat Palmeiras 2-1 and booked a spot in the semifinals. Former Lion Facundo Torres started the match for Palmeiras and played 67 minutes. On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich 2-0, scoring two late goals in the second half from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembélé to advance despite finishing the match with nine men. Real Madrid edged Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a thrilling match to advance. The semifinals kick off Tuesday afternoon as Fluminense faces Chelsea. On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain will take on Real Madrid as Kylian Mbappe faces his former club. The Club World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium Sunday.
Free Kicks
- On Saturday, France defeated England 2-1 in its opening match of the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was on the bench.
- Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda scored 58 seconds into the match for Zambia in the 2025 CAF Women’s African Cup of Nations against Morocco. Banda also notched an assist, but it wasn’t enough to win as the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Prisca Chilufya and Grace Chanda joined Banda in playing for Zambia.
- San Diego FC midfielder Alejandro Alvarado Jr. and defender Andres Reyes will miss the rest of the 2025 season. Both players will be placed on the season-ending injury list.
- Arsenal has completed the signing of midfielder Maritin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad after triggering his $67 million release clause.
- New York City FC has reportedly signed midfielder Nicolas Fernandez from La Liga side Elche on a Designated Player contract.
Former Chicago Fire and Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran has reportedly joined Fenerbahce on a one-year loan six months after joining Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was taken off the field in an ambulance just seconds before the end of stoppage time after taking a knee to the head by a Crew player as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/4/25
Orlando City prepares for Charlotte FC, USMNT and Mexico will face off in Gold Cup final, Diogo Jota dies in car accident, and more.

Happy Fourth of July! I don’t have many plans this holiday weekend and am hoping to get some needed rest over the next few days. There’s also a local brewery in my neck of the woods that sells canned cocktails that taste like the red, white, and blue popsicles that look like rockets [Ed. note: we think he means Bomb Pops], so I’m hoping to snag some of those to celebrate. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Readies for Charlotte FC
The Lions are back in action on Saturday night for a road game against Charlotte FC in one of the more enticing games in the league this weekend. Orlando fell 2-1 at home to FC Cincinnati on Saturday, while Charlotte heads into this game on a three-game losing streak. However, all three of those losses were on the road, and Charlotte boasts one of the better home records in the league. Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how the Lions will need to neutralize Charlotte and create chances in order to maintain distance between the two clubs in the Eastern Conference.
USMNT and Mexico Will Clash in Gold Cup Final
For the ninth time in the tournament’s history, the United States Men’s National Team and Mexico will square off in the Concacaf Gold Cup final. These two nations have won 17 of the past 18 Gold Cups and the U.S. beat Mexico 1-0 with a goal in extra time the last time they clashed in the final in 2021. It’s been a gauntlet for both teams to reach this point, and the U.S. has proven its mettle with a roster missing many of its usual stars. The final will take place on Sunday in Houston and should be an exciting match between the confederation’s best.
Diogo Jota Dies in Car Accident
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain. Jota’s passing comes less than a month after his marriage to Rute Cardoso and he is survived by three children. The sports world mourned the loss, with clubs, managers, teammates, prime ministers, and fans showing an outpouring of support. There was also a moment of silence before the Women’s European Championship match between Spain and Portugal, and players wore black armbands during the match.
Club World Cup Quarterfinals Kick Off Today
The Club World Cup returns today with a pair of quarterfinal matchups, including a showdown between Fluminense and Al-Hilal in Orlando at 3 p.m. The expanded format for this year’s tournament has been a major boon for the Brazilian teams, as all four made the round of 16 and Fluminense and Palmeiras received $13 million for making the quarterfinals. Former Lion Facundo Torres and Palmeiras will take on Chelsea at 9 p.m. and Estevao Willian will be the player to watch, as it could be his last game with Palmeiras before he joins Chelsea following the tournament.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Gaston Gonzalez is headed to Club Atletico Sarmiento on loan from Defensa y Justicia in Argentina’s top flight.
- San Diego FC players Alejandro Alvarado Jr. and Andres Reyes will miss the remainder of the 2025 season due to injury.
- Derby County and Charlotte FC have reportedly reached an agreement over the transfer of American forward Patrick Agyemang.
- Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey signed with Pumas UNAM in Liga MX. The Lions will host Pumas on July 30 in their first match of this year’s Leagues Cup.
- Spain kicked off its 2025 Euros campaign with a 5-0 win over Portugal that included four goals in the first half. Italy also won its first game, beating Belgium 1-0 thanks to a goal from Arianna Caruso.
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
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