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Lion Links: 11/17/17

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9 years ago

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Welcome to another Friday, everyone. It’s been a very interesting week, and if you have been keeping up with everything with us at The Mane Land, you would know exactly what I am referring to. If not, well, you should be ashamed of yourself, because we have been tirelessly scrounging the interwebs to bring you the freshest of banter, the newest of gossip, and keeping you on top of everything that is the world of domestic and international soccer. So let’s dive in and see what is on the reading menu today.

Fuerza Puerto Rico Friendly Donation

The tally is finally in folks. With 100% of the net proceeds being donated, the Fuerza Puerto Friendly match at Orlando City Stadium raised $327,530 for the United for Puerto Rico Fund. It just goes to show you what can happen when this community gets together to help support each other and a great cause.

Orlando City sleeping on the Street

It is the time of year when the weather is changing, it is getting darker by the day, and the holidays are right on top of us. Some people in our area are going to have a much harder time getting into the holiday spirit, and some will be even more pressed to get a simple meal, and even some will be searching for a simple safe place to sleep at night. A team from Orlando City is planning on sleeping on the street for one night to help raise awareness and money to help battle youth homelessness.

Porter, Timbers Parting Ways

In shocking news that broke late last night, Caleb Porter is reportedly out as head coach of the Portland Timbers. Paul Tenorio broke the news around 10:30 p.m. ET last night. Porter has won an MLS Cup and led Portland to two first-place finishes in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference in his time with the Timbers. It’s unlikely that Porter will be out of work for long.

Yoshi Punched his Ticket; What Else is Up with the World Cup?

As noted yesterday morning, the Lions’ very own Yoshimar Yotun is going to World Cup Russia 2018. All 32 teams are now set, so now we are in a holding pattern until June 14, 2018. There is a lot that still has to happen from today until the first whistle blows, and fan guides are starting to pop up all over the place. The pots have been filled, and it is just a matter of time before the groups are pulled and the bracket challenges can begin. I am just hoping that Peru can avoid one of the “Groups of Death,” get a decent draw, and work its way deep into the tournament.

North Carolina FC Joins USL for 2018

In yet another blow to what seems to be a daily sucker punch to the survivability of the NASL, it has been announced that North Carolina FC will join the USL beginning next season. NCFC, formerly the Carolina Railhawks, announced the move away from the NASL to the USL, bringing the number of new teams in 2018 to five. The USL has also already confirmed three more teams coming into the league in 2019. What does this mean for the NASL?

NWSL headed to Salt Lake

In even more league news, It has been announced that the “we will insert a name here shortly” will be joining the NWSL in 2018, playing in Rio Tinto Stadium. The new women’s team is being launched by Real Salt Lake, and they promise there is plenty more information to come in the next few weeks, namely a name.

Tim Melia Wins MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Congratulations to Tim Melia of Sporting Kansas City after being named the 2017 MLS Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year (but did he get a safe driver discount?). Tim ran away with the overall vote with just over 50% of the average vote. Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union was runner-up, and Stefan Frei of the Seattle Sounders was third in voting. Sporting has now swept the defensive awards combining this with Ike Opara being named 2017 MLS Defender of the Year.

Free Kicks

  • We knew in August that Brianna Scurry was elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame (becoming the first black female to be so honored), but now we know that the ceremony will take place in Orlando on Feb. 10.

  • MLS listed its top 10 acquisitions of 2107. No players from Atlanta or Minnesota were chosen, understandably (because their entire rosters were 2017 acquisitions), but we also question the lack of seeing Jonathan Spector or Yoshimar Yotun on this list.
  • In even more interesting, yet completely random, World Cup news, here is the breakdown of teams by kit manufacturer. I may need an Errea designed kit before June!
  • In 2018, the USMNT will be in a new tournament, the Nations League. What is that, you say, and what does it mean for the U.S.? It is a new tournament for the 41 countries that fall within CONCACAF, with three divisions based on “sporting level,” some level of promotion and relegation, and will serve as a way to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
  • Rumors abound about Cristiano Ronaldo wanting out of Real Madrid. The 2017 Ballon d’Or winner is apparently upset because the club pursued a player that likes to operate in the wide left, right where CR7 plays now.

That is what I found to serve you today folks. As always, enjoy these delicious morsels of info on your fine Friday. And keep Mason Stajduhar in your thoughts. Cancer sucks, and I say that as someone who currently has a family member battling cancer, and knowing that you are not alone in the battle is key. Have a great weekend, everybody!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

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

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Lion Links: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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