Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/15/17

A busy Tuesday has us going all over the place through the soccer ranks, from youth to professional to TV and beyond. So nothing fancy today, let’s get right to it!
Youth Shines in Last USMNT Match of 2017
The U.S. Men’s National Team played in its final match of the 2017 season, a 1-1 draw against No. 3 Portugal. Interim Head Coach Dave Sarachan went with a youth-driven lineup featuring first-timers Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.
McKennie, 19, from Schalke FC (Bundesliga), had a fantastic debut as he scored once — and nearly made it a brace — and was all over the field. Most impressive were his box-to-box efforts and his overall complete show of his game.
McKennie: 30/38, 1 key pass, 7! tackles, 10 recoveries, 2 interceptions (both in Portuguese half). Oh, and he scored. #USMNT #USAvPOR pic.twitter.com/Vzgn0Gq22h
— Jason Anderson (@chestrockwell14) November 14, 2017
World Cup Misses Engage in Conversations for 2018 Event
NIT? Europa? HeBelieves Cup? Not that I’m a fan of any of these names, but it looks like the head of social media steam — along with the fact that giant after giant keeps falling — has these teams debating a second-rate international event in 2018.
With the likes of the USA, Italy, Ghana, Netherlands, Cameroon, Chile, Greece, China, and Ivory Coast not making it to Russia, U.S. Soccer and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) have begun early conversations to host such an event.
Can confirm the USSF and SUM are looking into possibly bringing in Italy, Ghana, Netherlands, and Chile for a series of friendlies, and perhaps a tournament. #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) November 14, 2017
Not only do I love this because we would get to see these teams, but it’s a wildly huge advantage to still get our young national team players some experience against some of the best countries in the world in the absence of a World Cup. My fingers are definitely crossed.
Atlanta United and Memphis Join the USL Ranks
Atlanta United has officially ended its two-year partnership with the Charleston Battery and will own and operate its own USL team in 2018. The team will train out of the club’s Marietta headquarters, but no name has been given as of yet. They will play their home matches out of Coolray Field in Gwinnett County.
The USL also announced today that it has approved the franchise rights to an ownership group in Memphis. While no name of the group or club was decided, it is largely speculated that the Memphis Redbirds ownership group is at the forefront for this opportunity, which will join the league in 2019.
MLS Outlines its Top 10 Stories with No Sight of MNUTD
MLS came out Tuesday with its top 10 stories of 2017, and there’s a gaping hole roughly the size of Minnesota. That’s right, MLS’s 22nd team doesn’t find itself a place inside the story lines, but its expansion counterpart — Atlanta United — does. We often thought the league’s new darling has been ATL, but Minnesota United — a club that has brought in two of the largest league sponsors by name, in Allianz and Target — should be getting more love here.
If anything, most of these story lines don’t even happen in MLS or on the field, which does just feel like a miss all around for this article.
MLS Expansion Draft for LAFC Set; Other Off-Season Details
Set your clocks for Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. as LAFC starts to build out its roster with current MLS Players.
In case you’re not familiar with the guidelines, here you go:
“All 22 existing MLS clubs will be able to protect 11 players prior to the Expansion Draft; Generation adidas players and off-budget Homegrown Players are automatically exempt from selection and do not need to be protected. Only a single player can be drafted from any one club.
The complete list of players eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft will be released on Dec. 10 by 5:30 pm ET.”
Be on the lookout from us on players we feel should be protected in the coming weeks.
And in case you feel the need to keep watch over the rest of the off-season:
Also notable:
A trade window on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern
Free agency starts Dec. 12 at 3 p.m., after the draft
Waiver draft Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m.
Re-Entry draft 1 Dec. 15, 3 p.m.
Re-Entry draft 2 Dec. 21, 2 p.m. https://t.co/ARK5n48gmQ
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) November 14, 2017
Orlando Professional Teams Visit Orlando Health
Orlando City and Pride players visited Orlando Health Tuesday to check out the new South Seminole Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. While I’m sure it’s very nice, I’m going to hope these are the only types of visits of this kind.
Hadji, Richie and Will stopped by @orlandohealth’s South Seminole Hospital to tour the new outpatient rehabilitation center. 🏥 pic.twitter.com/Adf4v5s3ud
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 14, 2017
Aubrey and Kristen checking out the new digs in the outpatient rehabilitation center at @orlandohealth’s South Seminole Hospital. pic.twitter.com/gjKtHMkKiI
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) November 14, 2017
Nike Friendlies Kick Off This December
The official dates of the Nike Friendlies and U.S. Soccer Academy Showcase in Bradenton, FL have been released. If you want to catch up on some of the upcoming talent coming through the system, this is your chance.
The friendlies consist of men’s and women's U-17 teams competing in a round robin event. The U.S., Brazil, and England feature on both sides with the Netherlands and Finland rounding out, respectively, the men’s and women's fields.
Who: 217 Academy clubs 🙌
What: #WinterShowcase ❄️
When: Nov. 30-Dec. 11 🗓
Where: Lakewood Ranch, Fla. ☀️
Bonus: 2017 #NikeFriendlies 🇺🇸More info: https://t.co/2B2PFjlv23 ℹ️ pic.twitter.com/OcYjGdkUXS
— Development Academy (@ussoccer_acad) November 14, 2017
Fox Sports Involved in FIFA Bribes?
Not much has come on this story as of yet, but Fox Sports is being implicated in FIFA bribing scandals, among a handful of other networks.
BIG FIFA NEWS from trial today: Alejandro Burzaco said Fox Sports, Televisa, Media Pro, TV Globo, Full Play, and Traffic all paid bribes for soccer rights.
— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) November 14, 2017
Buddy Dyer In for Orlando Hosting the World Cup
Looks like Orlando City and the Central Florida Sports Commission have the backing of the city’s government. While this should be expected, you’d be surprised how often there can be disconnects between the two. So it’s good to see everyone on board with what will be a tough fight amongst the remaining 32 cities.
Joining @OrlandoCitySC and @CFLSports and other potential host cities to create a bid strategy for the 2026 World Cup. Orlando has become a top sports event destination and would thrive as a World Cup host. pic.twitter.com/uc49mStvmt
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) November 14, 2017
Free Kicks
- Florida Tropics SC player Lucas Montelares makes the MASL Team of the Week.
Congrats to all the players on the Week 3 Team of the Week!https://t.co/R09uRBMOEM pic.twitter.com/aiFWGow8Dn
— MASL (@MASLarena) November 14, 2017
- Everybody loves a comeback story, right? Well so does MLS as it names its top five comebacks of 2017.
- As a Cleveland fan, I’m all in for rooting for underdogs and magical coincidences, so it’s interesting to see the Detroit Lions not being Italy fans.
- Bobbleheads are making their MLS debut. Get. Excited.
Have a great rest of the week, and to leave you with a bit of humor I give you this:
Players going to 2018 World Cup.
❌ Gareth Bale
❌ Gianluigi Buffon
❌ Alexis Sanchez
❌ Arjen Robben
❌ Edin Dzeko
❌ Marco Verratti
❌ Riyad Mahrez
❌ Arturo Vidal
❌ David Alaba
❌ Henrikh Mkhitaryan
❌ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
❌ Antonio Valencia✅ LORD BENDTNER pic.twitter.com/ZGJtx5lemr
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) November 14, 2017
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/17/25
Lions draw in Tampa vs. Inter Miami in final preseason match, Pride sign Cori Dyke to a new contract and add Oihane Hernandez, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers, and happy President’s Day! I hope you all are doing well down in Florida over the holiday weekend. I’ve been covering high school playoff basketball and hockey over the past week. Orlando City’s home opener is coming up Saturday, and like many of you, I look forward to seeing what the Lions can do during the 2025 MLS season. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Draw Inter Miami 2-2 in Final Preseason Match
In its final preseason match, Orlando City could not hold onto the lead and got out of Tampa with a 2-2 draw against rival Inter Miami Friday at Raymond James Stadium. The Lions were up 2-1 with goals from Martin Ojeda and Ramiro Enrique, but Fafa Picault scored the equalizer in stoppage time. Orlando finishes its 2025 preseason without a win for the first time in club history. The 2025 MLS season will kick off this weekend as Orlando City will face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando Pride Add Defender Oihane Hernandez
On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced a new addition as the club signed defender Oihane Hernandez from Real Madrid Femenil for an undisclosed transfer fee. The contract is a two-year deal through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027. The 24-year-old right back played two seasons with Real Madrid Femenil, notching two assists in 31 appearances. Hernandez also brings international experience playing with the Spanish Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hernandez’s joins a growing right back position group, which includes Brianna Martinez and…
Orlando Pride Sign Cori Dyke to Contract Extension
The Orlando Pride extended the contract of defender Cori Dyke after a stellar rookie year last season. Dyke’s new contract is through the 2027 season. The 24-year-old defender made 26 appearances, started 21 matches, logged 1,095 minutes, and stepped up to play right back to help Orlando win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last season. It’s the third contract she has signed with the club in less than a year. Dyke’s role with the club for 2025 remains to be seen, but she has proven to be a versatile player.
MLS Transfer Roundup
We are four days away from kicking off of the 2025 MLS season, and there are still some notable transfer moves happening across the league. The Colorado Rapids have reportedly acquired midfielder Josh Atencio from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for $1.3 million in General Allocation Money plus add-ons. Atencio will be an MLS U22 Initiative player on the Rapids roster. Meanwhile, Brazilian side Botafogo is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Santi Rodriguez from New York City FC.
Toronto FC has signed forward Ola Brynhildsen on loan for the 2025 season from Danish side FC Midtjylland, which includes a purchase option. LAFC has transferred forward Cristian Olivera to Gremio in Brazil for a reported $4.5 million, which includes a sell-on fee. Lastly, Palmeiras is reportedly finalizing a deal with the Houston Dynamo to sign center back Micael for a club record fee.
Free Kicks
- The District Press released its 2025 MLS jersey rankings, and Orlando City was ranked 19th on their lists.
- Former Lion Daryl Dike returned to the pitch for West Brom over the weekend, coming off the bench in the second half against Millwall after being sidelined for over a year dealing with multiple injuries. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
- Former Orlando Pride defender Carrie Lawrence has found a new role after retiring from professional soccer at the end of last season. She was named the director of global women’s soccer recruitment for Young Money APAA Sports.
- Check out this article from Goal.com on how Orlando has established itself as a soccer city over the years.
- Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland announced her retirement from professional soccer after a 10-year career in which she won four NWSL championship titles.
- Manchester United forward Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury while training and will likely be out for the remainder of the season.
- New York City FC midfielder James Sands, who is on loan at St. Pauli, underwent surgery on Sunday to repair a serious right ankle injury he suffered during their match on Friday against Freiburg that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. No timetable is set for his return.
- The U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Cuba 2-0 to wrap up Group F play and has qualified for the U-17 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in November in Qatar.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/14/25
Nico Lodeiro linked with Club Libertad, Emily Sams signs contract extension, Orlando City B signs Bernardo Rhein and Justin Ellis, and more.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope your day is spent with plenty of chocolate and time with loved ones as we get ready for the final weekend before Orlando City’s season kicks off on Feb. 22. The Lions are taking on Inter Miami today at 7:30 p.m. in Tampa in a friendly that will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Hopefully the Lions can close out their preseason schedule with a win. Let’s jump into today’s links!
Nico Lodeiro Linked With Paraguayan Club
Rumors were swirling Thursday morning that Orlando City midfielder Nico Lodeiro would join Paraguay’s Club Libertad, but the club’s president, Ruben Di Tore, provided some clarification on the radio. He confirmed the club’s interest in Lodeiro, but that the move would not be taking place this window and may happen in the summer.
In his first season in Orlando last year, Lodeiro played in every game and posted 11 assists and a goal. His performance triggered the 2025 option on his contract, which would conclude after this upcoming season. It would make sense for the club to transfer the 35-year-old before then, but it looks like we won’t see if that move comes to pass until the summer.
Emily Sams Signs Contract Extension
The Orlando Pride and defender Emily Sams have agreed to a contract extension that will last through the 2027 NWSL season. Sams was one of the best players in the league last year, earning the title of NWSL Defender of the Year and helping the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. The 25-year-old was also recently called up by the United States Women’s National Team for the SheBelieves Cup later this month. NWSL stars leaving the league has been a major talking point this off-season, so it’s nice to see Sams extend her contract with Orlando by another year.
OCB Signs Bernardo Rhein and Justin Ellis
Orlando City B signed a pair of academy players, with midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis both joining on MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Both players are 17 years old and featured in Orlando’s friendly against CF Montreal on Feb. 8. Ellis appeared in 18 matches and scored two goals for OCB last season, while Rhein (who you may remember as Bernardo Goncalves) came off the bench six times for some valuable minutes. With Jack Lynn retired and Shak Mohammed possibly giving the first team some depth due to Duncan McGuire’s injury, Ellis should be an interesting player to keep an eye on this season. It’s great to see young players take the next step from the academy, and hopefully they can make the most of their playing time in 2025.
OCSC Showcasing Its Youth This Preseason
Ellis and Rhein aren’t the only academy players who have been taking the field for the Lions this preseason, as the club has used these matches to give opportunities to the club’s youth. Winger Gustavo Caraballo, who is just 16 years old, started in the club’s friendly against Atletico Mineiro last month in a special moment for both him and his family. The academy has grown in recent years and other players like Colin Guske and Alex Freeman could contribute to the first team this year. Orlando City Academy Director Javier Carillo spoke on the impact of the club’s pathway for young players to develop.
“We’re exposing players to individual fundamental skills to help them to compete and then to learn how to win games, and I think the fact that we have this clear pathway between first team, second team and Academy is allowing us to promote players and expose players at an early age to new challenges, where the players continue to reach new heights. And I think that’s what’s really making the big difference for us.”
USL Plans First Division League in 2027
The United Soccer League announced that it will launch a first division league in the U.S. that would operate separately from MLS. It plans to make the most of the sport’s growth in the U.S. due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with this new league of 12 or 14 teams intended to start in 2027. If this ends up happening and the league gets division one sanctioning from U.S. Soccer, it would give the USL a three-tier pyramid of soccer. USL President Paul McDonough, who was Orlando City’s general manager during the club’s transition from the USL to MLS, talked about this next step for the league.
“It’s a key moment for soccer in this country, and as we see where this game is going, we want to be a part of it,” McDonough said in an exclusive interview with The Athletic. “Taking this big initiative allows for the growth of the game throughout the country.”
I think it will be most interesting to see which existing USL teams would initially join this new league, and if promotion and relegation will actually happen. All of this coming on the heels of the antitrust lawsuit filed by the North American Soccer League is also intriguing. We’ll see how the USL’s quest for sanctioning goes.
Free Kicks
- Marta made it clear that she’s staying well hydrated. I’m now wanting a version of Space Jam but with Marta and her bottle of secret stuff.
- More MLS jerseys were unveiled and I really like the colors that the LA Galaxy opted for with their new secondary kit. The Seattle Sounders’ new kit also looks great and was designed in collaboration with native tribes. Real Salt Lake’s new look reminds me of Croatia, but it totally works in my opinion as well.
- In the Europa League knockout phase playoffs, AZ Alkmaar, Fenerbahce, and Ajax enjoyed solid victories. AS Roma was reduced to 10 men but held on for a 1-1 draw against Porto, while Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored in stoppage time to give Twente a 2-1 win over Bodo/Glimt.
- Kai Havertz is out for the rest of Arsenal’s season due to a hamstring injury sustained during the club’s training camp in Dubai.
- Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with his $260 million income last year. The list includes athletes from eight different sports and 27 countries, but no women.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/13/25
Orlando City unveils 2025 primary kit, Orlando Pride sign two players to short-term contracts, FC Dallas signs Luciano Acosta, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a fairly busy week for me, but it’s at least made the week fly by as we get another day closer to the return of Orlando soccer. In the meantime, I’m knocking out some more books for my reading goal this year and have a bachelor party of all things to attend this Valentine’s Day weekend. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!
Meet Orlando City’s Perfect Storm Kit
We now know the new primary jersey Orlando City will wear for the 2025 season, as the club revealed the “Perfect Storm” kit. The most notable feature is that each jersey will have a unique design of the purple storm pattern meant to reflect Central Florida weather. It also features Orlando’s area code on the back of the neck arranged to look like a lightning bolt, which is a nice touch. Ultimately, I think I like the previous The Wall kit a bit more, but I do like the colors and how easily you can tell the difference between each jersey. It’s available now online and you can also head to Inter&Co Stadium to pick it up in person.
Orlando Pride Sign Two Non-Roster Invitees
The Orlando Pride signed midfielder Aryssa Mahrt and goalkeeper DeAira Jackson to short-term contracts ahead of the 2025 season. Both were non-roster invitees at Orlando’s preseason camp this year and fill a couple of active roster spots for the time being. Mahrt joins the Pride after recording 21 goals and 15 assists across 62 matches at the University of Wisconsin, leading the Badgers with 10 goals last year. As for Jackson, she had nine shutouts last year with Grand Canyon University and was named 2024 WAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She had a total of 16 clean sheets during her two seasons at Grand Canyon, breaking the school record.
Luciano Acosta Heads to FC Dallas
Midfielder Luciano Acosta was officially traded by FC Cincinnati to FC Dallas in exchange for just $5 million and up to another $1 million if performance-based metrics are reached. Cincinnati will also retain a percentage if Acosta is traded within MLS for cash in the future. The 30-year-old is one of the best playmakers in the league and had 14 goals and 19 assists last season. He now joins a Dallas team that missed the playoffs last year and bid farewell to Jesus Ferreira, Alan Velasco, and Paul Arriola in the time since.
As for Cincinnati, it will reportedly replace Acosta with Portland Timbers star Evander for $12 million, along with add-ons. Evander’s 19 assists last season was tied with Acosta for the league’s most, and he had a whopping 15 goals as well. The dominos continue to fall from there, as the Timbers are reportedly close to signing David da Costa from RC Lens for a $6 million transfer fee. Gosh, if only Orlando City had a major sale this winter so that it could get in on this kind of spending as well.
More MLS 2025 Kits Revealed
Orlando City isn’t the only club showcasing its new kit this week, as several clubs across the league shared new looks. My favorite of the bunch belongs to Portland, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a green and gold design using a tree ring pattern to literally show the club’s age. I also like the Columbus Crew’s oozing “Goosebumps” kit designed by Columbus native R.L. Stine that has a slime pattern when under UV light.
The New England Revolution’s new secondary kit looks nice but feels like something plucked from Nigeria’s cutting room floor. LAFC’s 2025 kit is as blindingly white and gold as expected, and FC Dallas’ lacks red for something called “The Inferno” kit, apart from a hellish version of its badge that I do like. While the shades of pink in Inter Miami’s new primary reminds me of someone mixing red into a load of white laundry, my least favorite kit so far belongs to the Philadelphia Union. The yellow meant to represent electricity just isn’t bold enough in my opinion. I’ve seen some people say it looks like streaks of urine in snow and it’s difficult to see anything else after that.
Free Kicks
- Retired defensive midfielders Dax McCarty and Osvaldo Alonso are two of the five new faces joining the MLS Season Pass broadcasting team for 2025. Former Lion Miguel Gallardo will remain part of the Spanish language coverage as an analyst.
- The LA Galaxy officially acquired Christian Ramirez from the Crew in exchange for up to $500,000 in General Allocation Money. The 33-year-old has scored eight goals in the past two seasons.
- Christian Pulisic stated he’s focused on his play on the field amid reports that AC Milan is nearing a contract extension with him through 2028 that would include a hefty pay raise.
- In the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge beat Atalanta 2-1, thanks to a penalty kick in stoppage time; Benfica won 1-0 against Monaco; Bayern Munich beat Celtic 2-1; and Feyenoord managed to win 1-0 over AC Milan in the rain in Rotterdam.
- Here’s what to watch for in today’s slate of Europa League action. The first leg between Porto and Roma should be a close affair in Portugal, while Galatasaray will be without suspended forward Victor Osimhen when it takes on AZ Alkmaar.
- Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom revealed that alcohol will not be sold at the 2034 World Cup, including at hotels.
- The final Merseyside derby match at Goodison Park was a memorable one for the home fans, as Everton’s James Tarkowski scored a late equalizer to draw 2-2 against Liverpool. After the final whistle, four people were sent off, including Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
- The U-17 USMNT took care of St. Kitts & Nevis 7-0 and has now outscored its opposition 29-0 through two matches. The Baby Nats will face Cuba Saturday. The U.S. would win the group with a draw or better.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!
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