Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/16/17

Good Thursday morning to you, Mane Land readers. I hope you are in good spirits. There’s a young man on the Orlando City roster who could use your support, well wishes, prayers, good vibes, etc. More on that below.
On a selfish note, I hope you got a chance to hear me and Dave Rohe interview Jason Kreis on the latest PawedCast. He had some interesting things to say about what the club wants to do with Kaká’s DP slot, why we maybe shouldn’t be too attached to Cyle Larin as we head toward 2018, and a whole lot more. Give it a listen.
OK, now that the shameless self-promotion is out of the way, let’s get to today’s links.
Stajduhar Diagnosed with Bone Cancer
In the most terrible news out of Wednesday, 19-year-old Orlando City Homegrown goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar received a diagnosis that no teenager should ever have to deal with. The young Lion was being examined by team physicians when a lesion revealed an eventual diagnosis of Localized Ewing Sarcoma. Orlando City Medical Director Daryl Osbahr said the condition was discovered early, which should improve his chances of beating it. The young keeper will be placed on the team’s season-ending injury list for 2018. I think I speak for everyone here at The Mane Land when I say get well soon, Mason.
The Latest on the Columbus Crew Saga
Let’s just say the meeting didn’t go well. Depending on who you believe, either Anthony Precourt and Don Garber didn’t show up ready to commit to keeping the Crew in Columbus, or Mayor Andrew Ginther showed up with no real plan to somehow entice Precourt to stop his courtship with Austin. Both sides used the word “disappointed” about their meeting in New York City. It looks like it’s getting harder and harder to #SaveTheCrew.
#SaveTheCrew update pic.twitter.com/pA3beuyVmU
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) November 16, 2017
— Jack Straw (@Broth63) November 16, 2017
Atlanta Fans Stuff Ballot Box, Ruin MLS Awards
OK, that headline might be half-kidding. Or it might not. Brad Guzan (incorrectly) won MLS Save of the Year and Hector Villalba (maybe correctly) won MLS Goal of the Year on Wednesday. Now, we all know that Joe Bendik’s last-ditch tracking back to deny D.C. United was objectively better than anything Guzan has done in Atlanta. I mean, look at this thing:
That’s just too pretty to win, I guess.
Meanwhile, it takes a superhuman strike to score a game winner from distance against Bendik, so Villalba’s award makes more sense. I’m not sure it’s the best goal of the season but at least it has some logic to it.
Dempsey is MLS Comeback Player of the Year
It was a big day for Clint Dempsey yesterday. He was named the 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after his return from an irregular heartbeat that was treated in 2016. The USMNT striker also inked a one-year contract extension with the Seattle Sounders. Big day for Deuce. He and the Sounders will visit the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday for the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals.
NASL Champion Deltas Cease Operations
Life comes at you fast. On Sunday night, the San Francisco Deltas were capping their inaugural season by winning the NASL championship over the storied New York Cosmos. Yesterday, the Mercury News reported that the club has ceased operations. You never want to see this happen to any team, but the NASL is no stranger to financial problems and if the league’s hail Mary lawsuit doesn’t work out, the entire NASL could follow the Deltas in shutting down.
More USL News
The USL season ended Monday night — when James O’Connor became the first person to win the USL as both a player (with Orlando City) and a head coach (with Louisville City) — and yet the news has been flowing non-stop from the league ever since. Wednesday brought us the rebranding of the Harrisburg City Islanders, who will now be known as Penn FC. The Central Pennsylvania club has also partnered with the Rush Soccer organization, which should only add to the team’s resources. Personally, I think the new logo makes it seem like the club should be called FC Penn, but whatever.
Additionally, the Rochester Rhinos announced that they will need to raise $1.3 million in order to remain solvent enough to compete in the USL in 2018. Even worse, the last non-MLS side to win the U.S. Open Cup needs the money by Nov. 30 — just two weeks away. The club has seen a dramatic decrease in attendance in recent years and ownership is seeking 2,500 new season ticket holders in the next two weeks. The club averaged around 2,000 per game this past season. Good luck. #SaveTheRhinos
Free Kicks
- Orlando City’s Yoshimar Yotun is headed to the World Cup as Peru defeated New Zealand 2-0 in Lima last night to qualify for the country’s first WC in 36 years.
- It appears the NWSL’s FC Kansas City franchise may be headed to Salt Lake City.
- Speaking of the NWSL, Sky Blue FC announced that its new head coach will be Denise Reddy, formerly an assistant with the Washington Spirit. Hopefully she’ll be Reddy for the new challenge (see what I did there?).
- Why did Honduras bother advancing out of CONCACAF on the final day when it couldn’t even beat Australia? Los Catrachos lost the second leg (and the series on aggregate), 3-1. The Socceroos advance to the World Cup.
- Romelu Lukaku is recognized as Belgium’s all-time goal scorer by his country — but not by FIFA. The governing body nullified a 2014 friendly between Belgium and Luxembourg because the Belgians used seven substitutions instead of six, wiping out a Lukaku hat trick. Imagine that…repercussions for a team using an illegal player.
- Among those born on this date were former NASCAR driver Terry Labonte (1956), CSI actress Marg Helgenberger (1958), baseball’s Dwight Gooden (1964), Lisa Bonet (1967), Paul Scholes (1974), figure skater Oksana Baiul, The Deuce actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (1977), and basketball’s Amar’e Stoudemire (1982).
That’s all the time I have for today. Enjoy your Thursday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/3/25
Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!
Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials
Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.
Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty
Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.
Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.
USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season
American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
- San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
- New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
- El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
- Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/2/25
Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.
International Duty, Pride Edition
Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.
Pride Still on Top
It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.
Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties
You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.
On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.
USWNT Youth Movement
Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL is looking to expand its media rights deals to include Sunday nights beginning next year. It’s a growth league and a growth market, and I’m all for Sunday night matches.
- Power rankings have now made their way down to MLS NEXT Pro. Spoiler alert, Orlando City B comes in at fifth. Still, it’s nice to see a little love given to the development league. Maybe I should write a power rankings for the various power rankings.
- I’m always for more soccer, and we now know the USL Women’s Super League eight-team playoff dates and format.
- I know it can be hard to feel bad for people who make quite a bit money playing soccer, but I still side with them over the billionaire owners that pay them. Or don’t pay them in the case of Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
- Barcelona is trying to bring the NFL to Spain. If successful, it might be the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who make an appearance at Camp Nou. This will allow a bunch of Barcelona supporters the opportunity to ask if Taylor Swift will make an appearance.
- If you’re not watching the German Cup — and to be fair, I haven’t been either — you are missing some massive cupsets, including third-tier Arminia Bielefeld taking down Bundesliga champs Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to advance to the German Cup final.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/25
Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.
Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025
After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.
USWNT Announces Canada Match
The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.
Concacaf Champions Cup Preview
The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.
Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes
The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City jumped eight places to no. 11 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Meanwhile the Orlando Pride continue to hold sway at no. 1 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Germany great Thomas Muller has reportedly received offers from MLS teams.
- Tierna Davidson will not play in the USWNT’s upcoming games against Brazil due to a knee injury, with Gisele Thompson replacing her on the roster.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
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