Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/1/17

Well Mane Landers, here we are at the start of December. The MLS Cup Final is set, the winter transfer window opens in nine days, and the “group(s) of death” will be known later this morning.
I don’t know about you, but I haven’t even begun getting in the whole Christmas spirit yet. I have zero decorations up, I have not begun shopping for my wife and daughter, and I have already gotten in trouble with my in-laws for requesting the Christmas music at dinner a few nights ago be turned off. No, I am not a Scrooge. I just want to get through my birthday before I get geared up for Christmas. In the meantime, let’s dig into what we are here for.
What is Rafael Ramos Really Saying?
If you were paying attention on social media yesterday morning, you may have seen this social media post from Orlando City right back Rafael Ramos.
— The Mane Land (@TheManeLand) November 30, 2017
Shortly after the rumor frenzy and Twitter storm that erupted trying to decipher what the message meant, the club answered:
Per a club spokesperson regarding Ramos' post: "He is our player. We confirmed his option for next year and he is under contract. For us it just means that he is leaving for his vacation in Portugal." https://t.co/zDaYtWGgCt
— The Mane Land (@TheManeLand) November 30, 2017
The message on the photo posted by Rafa has many still scratching their heads, as it seems to be the harbinger of finality, although Orlando City exercised its option on Rafa’s contract after the season. This will be something to watch, and if any more information can be dredged up, we will certainly let you all know.
2017 NCAA Women’s College Cup Stage is Ready
Orlando City Stadium received a bit of a makeover this week in preparatiuon to host the 2017 NCAA Women’s College Cup. Teams from Duke, South Carolina, Stanford, and UCLA will battle it out in The City Beautiful. We wish all the ladies good luck in the tournament (Go Gamecocks, because if I don’t say that my family in South Carolina might disown me. The only worse offense would be to cheer for Clemson). Check back later for our preview and how to watch the College Cup, as well as full coverage of both matches tonight.
Good morning from Orlando! #WCollegeCup pic.twitter.com/L0GHyIWWR7
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 30, 2017
Seattle Returns to MLS Cup Final
After beating the Houston Dynamo on the road 2-0 last week, the Seattle Sounders took care of business at home with a 3-0 win to advance to the 2017 MLS Cup Final. The Sounders won their semifinal on an aggregate score of 5-0 and will face Toronto FC in a rematch of the 2016 MLS Cup Final, which ended with the Sounders winning in a tight penalty shootout. The defending champions are riding high and haven’t conceded a goal in MLS play since early October. The stage is now set and the MLS Cup Final will take place on Dec. 9 in Toronto.
Contract Deadline Day has Come and Gone
For all non-playoff MLS teams, this past Monday was the deadline to pick up or decline player contract options for the 2018 season. Some clubs, Orlando City included, made their decisions weeks ago. Other teams waited until the deadline. Here is a good breakdown of what went down for many clubs on Deadline Day.
USL Rochester Rhinos to Take a Hiatus
Even with a community that rallied to help raise funds, the Rochester Rhinos have decided to take a one-year hiatus from competing in the USL. As the only non-MLS club to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since the formation of MLS, the break will not hurt the club’s standing with USL as the Rhinos try to solidify a stable environment from which to operate for the 2019 season.
Baby Yanks Open the Nike Friendlies with a Loss
The U-17 USMNT opened up the Nike Friendlies against England in a hard-fought 1-0 loss to England at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, FL. Brazil played the Netherlands in the other match which saw Brazil win, 2-1. The Baby Yanks play again tonight at 7 p.m. and look to bounce back as they face the Netherlands. Never heard of Lakewood Ranch? Here is a map to show you just how close the matches really are.
Free Kicks:
- The 2018 World Cup group draw is today. Keep your eyes fixed on The Mane Land for coverage and breakdown a little later this morning. Do you have any guesses on the Group of Death? I think there will be two.
- Vancouver Whitecaps announced the addition of Venezuelan International striker Anthony Blondell through 2020, with an option for 2021. The Caps sent TAM and GAM to FC Dallas for his rights to make the deal happen.
- Atlanta United signed defender Greg Garza to a multi-year contract.
- Keaton Parks might be a name to keep track of over the next few years. American, 20 years old, central midfielder, and traveling with Benfica on the first team roster for the Portuguese club’s match against FC Porto.
🚨📋 CONVOCADOS #FCPSLB! #VamosBenfica pic.twitter.com/VvcQ60UA51
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) November 30, 2017
That’s it for today. I hope you have a fantastic Friday, have some amazing plans with friends and family, and get to enjoy this beautiful season in Florida I like to call “not summer.” I’ll be watching soccer, planning a beard competition, watching more soccer, and enjoying the weekend as much as I can. Oh, I almost forgot, if you are going to Jacksonville this weekend for WVRM FEST 5, do not miss Dark Castle (no people hiding in caves were hurt by the CIA using this track). My 9-year-old daughter thinks it is pretty cool that this is just a girl on guitar/vocals and a guy on drums/vocals. What can I say? We listen to music and watch footy on weekends.
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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/31/25
Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road
On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home
The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.
NWSL Weekend Recap
The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.
FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap
The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
- Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.
- Antoine Griezmann is reportedly staying at Atletico Madrid next season despite being linked to a potential move to join LAFC in MLS.
- RB Leipzig has fired manager Marco Rose, as the club is sixth in the Bundesliga table and has appointed Zsolt Low as interim manager until the end of the season.
- David Blitzer is reportedly close to selling his majority ownership stake in the Utah Royals and Real Salt Lake after owning both clubs since 2022.
- Sports Illustrated released its list of MLS Coaches on the hot seat after poor starts, mentioning Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, the LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney, and the New England Revolution’s Caleb Porter.
- FIFA is reportedly considering having a one-game playoff between LAFC and Club America, with the winner replacing Club Leon in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
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