Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/17

Published

9 years ago

on

Happy Saturday, people of purple. If you’re looking for something to do today, go to the NWSL championship match down at Orlando City Stadium. A professional sports league is having its final right here in our city, so we should turn out for what is sure to be an exciting match between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage. I’ll be at the stadium later to cover the game and am looking forward to it.

Hopefully you’ve already secured your tickets for Kaká’s final match with Orlando City. Ballon d’Or winners don’t come our way every day and we’ve had Ricky for three years. It’s been a pleasure to watch him show his skills for the Lions and even though I think it’s time for him to move on, I might find the conditions a little dusty tomorrow. Just in case you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, it’ll be your last chance to enjoy The Mane Land ticket discount.

All right, let’s get to your Saturday links.

Prosecutors Won’t Pursue Charges Against Will Johnson

MLS announced last night that the prosecution will not pursue domestic violence charges against Will Johnson. The Orlando City veteran midfielder was arrested Sept. 6 after an altercation with his wife, with whom he is going through a divorce. As a condition of not pursuing the charges, Johnson will undergo a diversion program for a year, which includes a 26-week domestic violence counseling component. Per MLS:

The evidence reviewed by the MLS league office does not establish that Johnson physically assaulted his wife. Nonetheless, the league office has concluded that his overall conduct the night of the incident was not consistent with league policy. As a result of all of the circumstances, the league office has concluded that the five-game suspension served was appropriate.

Johnson, who began training with the team early this week, will be eligible for selection on Sunday when the Lions host the Columbus Crew. It will be interesting to see if he gets on the field and how fans react to his return.

Bruce Arena: He Gone

Three days after the debacle in Trinidad, Bruce Arena resigned as head coach of the United States Men’s National Team. Arena was hired to get World Cup qualifying back on track after a horrible start to the Hex under Jurgen Klinsmann. Things started off well under Arena and qualifying was nearly a sure thing after a 4-0 demolition of Panama here in Orlando just eight days ago, but the perfect storm happened Tuesday as the USMNT lost while both Honduras (vs. Mexico) and Panama (vs. Costa Rica) upset the top teams in CONCACAF.

Here’s Bruce’s parting statement.

An Honorable Captain Goes Down with the Ship, Sunil

While Arena bowed out gracefully, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati dug in on Friday and said he’s staying put. In fact, he’s actively seeking nominating support to run for a fourth term. That’s a little like the guy who burned down your house asking for your support in being elected fire chief.

"I don't plan to resign…it's not the right day for me to talk about my personal future plans in terms of the fed presidency. It’s not the right time," Gulati stated early during the press conference. While he danced around several questions over whether he would run for re-election as USSF president in Feburary at the Annual General Meeting, he did acknowledge that he had sent a letter to board members asking for their nomination for a 4th four-year term. What is clear is that he intends to see out the United bid for the 2026 World Cup and believes he should be the person in charge when that happens.

Gulati pushed back on reporters who asked why he feels resigning is not what necessary, stating “This is not something that they do in other countries. Maybe coaches resign, but presidents do not…this is not something I’m planning to do.” He further cited the fact that he shouldn’t be judged on Tuesday night’s game but the overall growth of the game in the United States since he was elected president in 2006.

Part of the USSF president’s job is to grow the game at all levels in our country on both the men’s and women’s side. Yet Gulati held his defense-first conference call — in which many writers with uncomfortable questions for him were left on hold until time ran out — at the same time that NWSL Media Day was going on in Orlando. As the NWSL is the women’s top flight in our country, this was an incredibly tone deaf move by a guy in charge of an organization that continues to force the USWNT to play on artificial turf fields. There was no need to steal the NWSL’s moment in the soccer spotlight.

How do U.S. supporters feel about Gulati not only staying on but also seeking reelection? Well, the American Outlaws released a statement.

Another Look at the Legacy of Kaká

Paul Tenorio over at FourFourTwo gave a fair assessment of Kaká’s value on and off the pitch for Orlando City and discussed how the two sides of what the captain brought to the club built the Brazilian’s MLS legacy. The TLDR; version is that Kaká did a boatload for the team and the league and was somewhat productive on the field — just not $7 million worth of productive.

As the highest-paid player in the league, Kaka’s production was just OK. In three seasons in MLS, he never scored double-digit goals – eight of his 24 goals across three seasons were from the penalty spot – and he hit double-digit assists just once. He played 28 games in his inaugural season, 24 games in 2016 and will finish his career with 23 games played in 2017. Sometimes, his defensive deficiencies left his team exploited.

The bigger problem was that, at his price, Kaka also represented an opportunity cost. With David Villa producing in back-to-back MVP-caliber seasons in New York, and Sebastian Giovinco turning the league on his head, Kaka’s $7 million price tag was as much a negative as it was a positive. His peers were changing games every week. What could Orlando City do with that Designated Player spot if given the chance?

Tenorio’s piece also has a good breakdown of how much money Orlando City could clear off the books this off-season, so head on over and give it a read.

Orlando Pride U-18/19 Team to Face North Carolina Today

Before this afternoon’s NWSL final, Orlando Pride’s U-18/19 team will host the North Carolina Courage U-18s/19s in Sanford, FL, at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The match will take place at 11 a.m. and will be streamed on the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Facebook page. Good luck to the Baby Pride. (Sorry, I couldn’t think of a catchy nickname for the team.)

Atlanta United Promotes Ex-OCSC GM Paul McDonough

Remember Armando Carneiro? Of course you don’t. Nobody does. You’re completely forgiven if you have forgotten the guy who was hired to be then-Orlando City GM Paul McDonough’s boss and the club’s “chief soccer officer.” After all, he was only on the job for about two months before resigning for personal reasons in December of 2015. But those two months were long enough to chase McDonough out the door. He ended up in Atlanta, as director of soccer operations. After helping build an Atlanta United team that made the playoffs in its inaugural season, McDonough has been promoted to vice president of soccer operations and his contract was extended for four years.

From my few chats with him, I think Paul’s a pretty good dude and there’s no question he learned a lot from the mistakes that were made in the early days of building Orlando City. While I wish nothing but pain and misery for the insufferable Atlanta fans who have slid into my DMs, I’m happy to see McDonough having success and can only shake my head at the entire Carneiro fiasco yet again.

Free Kicks

Well, we weren’t there last night, but this can’t be right. #FakeNews

  • MLS will hold an Expansion Draft for LAFC but shouldn’t, says FourFourTwo.
  • U2’s tour stop in Buenos Aires included a toast to Lionel Messi.
  • Those born on this date include William Penn (1644), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890), legendary hoops coach John Wooden (1910), James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore (1927), Ralph Lauren (1939), Jerry Glanville (1941), Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward (1946), former Flyers enforcer Dave “The Hammer” Schultz (1949), Night Court actor and magician/comedian Harry Anderson (1952), Thomas “She Blinded Me with Science” Dolby (1958), A League of Their Own actress Lori Petty (1963), and Usher (1978).

That’s all the time I have for you this morning. Stay tuned to The Mane Land for full coverage of Orlando City’s home game tomorrow against the Columbus Crew and a recap of the NWSL final later today.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/12/26

Barbra Banda up for weekly honors, Johnny Cardoso to have surgery, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B both picked up victories, while Orlando City lost. There’s no rest for the wicked though, because the Pride take on Boston Legacy on the road tonight, while the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Barbra Banda up for Weekly Honors

Barbra Banda’s game-winning strike over the North Carolina Courage has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. Banda cut across her marker in the 87th minute with the match tied 0-0 and curled a great strike inside the far post to give the Pride a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. The victory got Orlando back on track after dropping two games in a row, and the goal was Banda’s league-leading eighth strike of the year. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Surgery for Johnny Cardoso

Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that midfielder Johnny Cardoso will have surgery to repair an injury to his right ankle. Cardoso was hurt during a training session, with Atletico classifying the injury as a “high-grade sprain involving joint damage.” The club’s statement did not specify a timeline for his return to the field and U.S. Soccer has not made any statement besides wishing Cardoso a speedy recovery. That said, with this summer’s World Cup less than a month away, its tough to imagine that he’ll be healed up and ready to be part of the United States Men’s National Team roster. If that’s the case, it’ll be a bitter blow for both the USMNT and a midfielder that looked like a sure bet to be on the squad.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s make sure we’ve got everything on the schedule. Things got started on Monday when Brenden Aaronson played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Action continues today when Aidan Morris and Middlesborough face Southampton in the second leg of an EFL Championship playoff promotion semifinal. Wednesday sees Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Motherwell in a game with massive ramifications on the title race in the Scottish Premier League. Wednesday also has Alex Freeman and Villarreal hosting Sevilla in La Liga play, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will try to play spoiler against Manchester City.

MLS Matchday 12 Lessons

Matchday 12 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, Jack McGlynn was imperious in his second game back from injury, as his brace helped the Houston Dynamo knock off LAFC on the road while USMNT assistant Jesus Perez was watching from the stands. The New England Revolution are now unbeaten in the club’s last seven league games, and Carles Gil was a big reason why, as he nabbed a goal and an assist in the Revs’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. He’s got four goals and four assists so far, and the Revs are sitting pretty at second in the Eastern Conference.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

European seasons aren’t quite wrapped up yet, but that isn’t stopping transfer rumors from flying thick and fast. We start with the Premier League, where Manchester City is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, before immediately sending the player on loan to continue his development. Elsewhere in England, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said to be interested in signing Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso. Switching lanes to the managerial side of things, Chelsea has reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the team, with the Spaniard said to be open to taking the job. Finally, Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the Real Madrid job, although he reportedly has a couple conditions that he wants met first.

Free Kicks

  • Kickoff times have been set for Orlando City’s three group stages matches in this year’s Leagues Cup.
  • The Lions will be launching a new merch collection Friday at The Final Whistle.

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/11/26

Lions fall to CF Montreal, Pride defeat North Carolina Courage, OCB beats Atlanta United 2, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda taking a shot against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.
  • James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
  • Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
  • Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/8/26

Orlando City prepares for CF Montreal, Pride host North Carolina tonight, Johnny Cardoso injured, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 8, 2026

By

Image of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! We have some exciting games ahead of us over the next few days, with three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy. It all starts with the Orlando Pride’s game tonight, with Orlando City playing Saturday afternoon, and Orlando City B wrapping things up on Sunday. Make sure to plan your weekend accordingly! Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Gets Ready for Road Match

The Lions are on the road this weekend for a game in Canada against CF Montreal on Saturday. Orlando is coming off of a dramatic 4-3 win over rival Inter Miami, with Martin Ojeda scoring a hat trick. Ojeda has had Montreal’s number in recent years, scoring at least once against the Canadian club each year for the past three years. Orlando hasn’t lost to Montreal since 2023, but it also hasn’t won on the road against Montreal since 2021. Saturday’s match will also be a reunion of sorts for goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who joined Montreal’s academy at age 15 and played there for nine years. He was excellent in Orlando’s win in Miami, so hopefully he can keep it up in his home country.

Orlando Pride Host North Carolina Courage Tonight

The Orlando Pride are back in action tonight with a home game against the North Carolina Courage. Both teams are coming off of losses last week, with the Pride falling 4-2 to the Washington Spirit. Tonight’s match will pit the league’s top two scorers against each other, with Barbra Banda scoring seven so far while Ashley Sanchez has scored five. The Pride will play three consecutive road games after tonight, putting an emphasis on a strong showing at home. It’s also Survivor Night at the stadium, so make sure to bring any immunity idols if you’ll be in attendance. The Pride could use any advantage they can get.

Johnny Cardoso Injured Ahead of World Cup

Atletico Madrid announced that American midfielder Johnny Cardoso was diagnosed with an ankle sprain he sustained in training, casting doubt on his availability for the World Cup next month. He’ll now work on rehabilitation before the club provides a timetable for his return. The 24-year-old started in the United States Men’s National Team’s game against Belgium in March, but he had to exit that camp due to injury as well. Hopefully he has a smooth and successful recovery from this.

English Clubs Reach European Finals

Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the Europa League, overcoming a loss in the first leg to secure a spot in the final. John McGinn scored twice to help his team reach its first major European final since 1982. Villa will play in the final on May 20 against SC Freiburg, which also bounced back from a loss in the first leg by beating Braga 3-1 in Germany. A red card to Mario Dorgeles in the sixth minute reduced Braga to 10 men early on and Lukas Kubler bagged a brace for Freiburg.

In the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace won 2-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk to advance to the final on May 27 against Rayo Vallecano. As a result of this week’s semifinals across the continent, English clubs are in contention to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

Continue Reading

Trending