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Lion Links: 11/23/17

Published

9 years ago

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s that annual day we Americans like to sit around, eat and drink too much, watch sports on TV, and ignore all the annoying things our families are doing.

No no, the other day we Americans like to sit around, eat and drink too much, watch sports on TV, and ignore all the annoying things our families are doing. Anyway, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, we hope you have a great day.

Before we get into the news, I wanted to let everyone know about a big sale at our Mane Land shop that is good all day from Black Friday (tomorrow) through Cyber Monday (Nov. 27). By using the code SBNCYBER15 you can get a full 15% off your purchase of our various shirts. Here’s a link to our store. We’re working on some new designs but for now we have two. I’m partial to this one, which comes in various styles:

Now, here are some tasty Lion Links for you to chew on while you wait for the main course.

Kaká Could Go Work for AC Milan

According to Todo Mercado Web, former Orlando City captain Kaká was headed to Italy to discuss a possible executive position with AC Milan. According to the site,

A cordial talk between the parties is expected and a mutual collaboration for the future will be discussed.

The former Lion is also due to speak with Sao Paulo after the Brazilian side’s season concludes, so Kaká’s playing days may not necessarily be over. Stay tuned.

Orlando City Has Biggest Rebuilding Job

Old friend Paul Tenorio over at FourFourTwo wrote about the five biggest MLS renovation projects and he’s got Orlando City right at the top of his list. I don’t disagree that there’s a rebuild going on but I think it was a bigger one before 2017 than it is now, after the additions of Yoshimar Yotun, Jonathan Spector, Scott Sutter, and Dom Dwyer. As Tenorio points out, Dwyer is without a long-term contract but I remain convinced it will get done. Some of the dead weight is gone and I think a few more will go before March. How does Tenorio see the rebuild?

So, what does Orlando City have to do? They have some nice core pieces in place – Joe Bendik, Jonathan Spector, Yoshi Yotun, Will Johnson and Dwyer up the spine of this team. Scott Sutter showed well at right back. Donny Toia is a decent MLS left back. Everything else is up for grabs. Four starting jobs still need to be claimed, including a playmaker to replace Kaka, a center back to pair with Spector and two midfielders that can keep the ball and cover ground defensively.

He also points out the team’s depth, which is certainly an issue right now, but it remains to be seen if some players are brought back at a lower price and if Yotun is the kind of DP the club now covets, I think we’ll see a big upgrade at No. 10 for 2018. Of course, that might be my purple-tinted glasses.

Orlando’s Aussies Help Matildas Win Again

Orlando Pride stars Steph Catley and Alanna Kennedy both started for Australia in a 3-0 win over China in Melbourne in the wee hours of Wednesday morning Eastern Time. The Pride duo helped keep a clean sheet, while former Pride forward Lisa De Vanna also started and former Orlando defender Laura Alleway was on the substitute’s bench. Catley came off at halftime with her team ahead, 1-0.

Sam Kerr scored a brace and Tameka Butt added a goal as the Matildas won their sixth consecutive match. The teams will play again on Sunday in Geelong.

Pride Players Shortlisted for CONCACAF Awards

The CONCACAF Awards shortlists were announced yesterday and are available for fan and media voting. There are plenty of Orlando Pride folks to vote for, including Alex Morgan up for Female Player of the Year, Ashlyn Harris for Female Goalkeeper of the Year, Ali Krieger among the defenders, and Tom Sermanni for top coach in the women’s game. But, since CONCACAF included Aussie star Sam Kerr, who plays pro soccer within the CONCACAF footprint in the NWSL, it’s curious that the organization did not include Marta. [/CONCACAF’d] On the men’s side, you can vote for Christian Pulisic and several other MLS and USMNT players for the various awards.

Bradley Throws Shade at Columbus

Following Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw between the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC, midfielder Michael Bradley talked openly about how Columbus just isn’t getting it done and he wouldn’t blame ownership for moving the team to Austin. But sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it. Bradley, who had spent 90 minutes being booed by a crowd of 21,000+ had this to say:

“On one hand, you feel for the small group of loyal supporters that they have, who have been here since the beginning, who continue to support the team and come out week after week,” Bradley said.

“On the other hand, you can’t deny the fact that things here have really fallen behind in terms of the atmosphere in the stadium, the quality of the stadium, what it’s like to play here. I don’t know who’s at fault for that.

“From what I gather, there’s a lot going on and I get that and as an outsider I don’t know what that falls on, but again the reality is just that, as the league has continued to grow and grow, and this is not the only one, but this is one of a few markets that has not kept pace.”

Hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and in some ways the Crew haven’t grown like some teams have around the league — though you could argue fairly successfully that the man who wants to move the team is firmly to blame for some of that lack of growth — but to use words like “small group of loyal fans” is being intentionally nasty. Bradley’s next reception at Mapfre Stadium is likely to be a little frostier than the boos he got on Tuesday. Should be fun.

Free Kicks

  • Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann wants to follow in David Beckham’s footsteps and play in MLS some day. I’ve got a purple kit for him if he can be here by March.
  • Beverly Hills parents drive a kids’ soccer ref to quit. You don’t want to miss the parting letter to the parents.
  • Australia made the World Cup but manager Ange Postecoglou has stepped down as the team’s coach.
  • Those born on this date include 14th U.S. President, Franklin Pierce (1804), horror film star Boris Karloff (1887), Harpo Marx (1888), baseball’s Luis Tiant (1940), Bruce Hornsby (1954), Grease 2 and Empire Records actor Maxwell Caulfield (1959), Nerdist CEO and Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick (1971), hockey’s Saku Koivu (1974) and Nicklas Backstrom (1987), and Miley Cyrus (1992).

That’s all my time on this festive holiday. Please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. And if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, you could always celebrate Rex Manning Day.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/26

Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

Image of Angelina launching a long pass.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati

The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.

Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.

Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso

Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.

Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup

American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.

Free Kicks

  • MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/21/26

Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 21, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup

We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.

Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster

We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.

Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami

Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.

Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.

Free Kicks

  • ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
  • After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
  • MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
  • Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
  • Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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