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Lion Links: 12/30/17

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9 years ago

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Well, we’ve nearly run out of 2017. It’s been a crazy year and, like most, was full of ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad. The turn of the year is often a time of optimism and I hear a lot of people say things like, “well, it’s got to be better than this year was!” I think if you take a good, long look at the year that was, most years you can find plenty of good in them, but everyone’s different and has their own prism to see things through.

Anyway, it’s time to see today’s piping hot soccer news through the prism of these Lion Links, so let’s get right on it as we enjoy our final weekend of 2017.

Sacha Kljestan: How Would He Fit with Orlando City?

As we await word on whether the mustachioed assist machine from New York Red Bulls will be wearing purple next year — and please, don’t @ me with your scalding hot takes on how you don’t want him on your team, when he would clearly be an attacking midfield upgrade — Jeff Rueter put together a piece on how he might best fit into Jason Kreis’ scheme. You may recall that it was Rueter who broke the news that Orlando City was finalizing a deal to bring Kljestan to Central Florida. Yesterday there was this:

I personally take whatever this account says with a gargantuan grain of salt, but it occurs to me if the clubs were ‘finalizing’ a deal, then you’re talking details more minute than players at that stage. Pierre Da Silva is a talented young prospect who I’d like to see kept and developed into a starter here. However, he’s also a guy the Lions didn’t protect in the recent MLS Expansion Draft. We’ll find out how this plays out in due time and even if a Kljestan deal doesn’t go through, isn’t it good to know the club is showing ambition? So many people were complaining just over a week ago about how the Lions weren’t doing (or at least seeming to do) anything.

First Ever U.S. YNT Summit Coming to Florida

Tab Ramos has named 153 youth players to U.S. U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams for what the federation is calling the “first ever U.S. Soccer Men’s YNT Summit Camp.” The camp will be held Jan. 2-11 in nearby Lakewood Ranch, FL. The camp includes nine players native to the state of Florida including Orlando City U-19 midfielder A.J. Seals. Why are they doing this? Per the USSF:

With the 2018-2019 player cycle officially kicking off at the turn of the new year, Ramos and the coaching staff will look to continue fostering a program-wide effort to develop world class players, coaches at the summit, which represents a first its kind youth training camp that will focus on integration between players, coaches and staff from the five oldest Youth National Teams, while laying the first foundational elements for qualifying the U.S. for the 2019 FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups.

National Boys and Girls ECNL Events to Kick Off in Central Florida

Orlando City will co-host the inaugural boys ECNL Florida national event in Sanford, FL from tomorrow through Jan. 2. The girls ECNL Florida national event, entering its eighth consecutive year in the area, will be held from Jan. 6-8. Games will be held at Seminole Soccer Complex, Sylvan Lake Park, and Central Winds Park. While events like World Cup qualifiers, the College Cup, and SheBelieves Tournament grab all the headlines, it’s the large number of major youth events like this one that makes Orlando the soccer capital of the south, in my opinion.

Blockbuster NWSL Trade Involves Kelley O’Hara     

New NWSL franchise the Utah Royals and Sky Blue FC completed a blockbuster trade yesterday that sends USWNT fullback/midfielder Kelley O’Hara, midfielder Taylor Lytle, and the 25th pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft to Salt Lake City, in exchange for forward Shea Groom, defender Christina Gibbons and the fourth overall selection. This is an interesting trade that looks like it will help both teams. It will be interesting to see how Laura Harvey completes her Utah roster.

Free Kicks

  • Once rumored as an Orlando City target, it appears defender Jonatan Maidana may be headed to FC Dallas soon.
  • In case you’ve been busy, Charles Boehm gives an overview of the off-season signings so far.
  • ICYMI, Arsene Wenger equaled Sir Alex Ferguson's record of managing 810 Premier League games. That’s a lot of games (I’ll still take Fergie, though, despite the respect I have for Wenger’s accomplishments through the years.)

  • Those born on this date include Rudyard Kipling (1865), former Miss America pageant host Bert Parks (1914), Bo Diddley (1928), Sandy Koufax (1935), Michael Nesmith (1942) and Davy Jones (1945) of The Monkees, singer/poet Patti Smith (1946), ELO’s Jeff Lynne (1947), Tiger Woods (1975), Eliza Dushku (1980), Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk (1982), LeBron James (1984), and Carson Wentz (1992).

That’s all the time I’ve got for you today. Be sure to stick around this weekend to check out our top two moments of 2017 for Orlando City SC. In the spirit of these year-ending top 10 list thingies, here are my picks for best television shows of 2017:

10. Mindhunter
9. Better Call Saul
8. American Vandal
7. The Punisher
6. The Deuce
5. Legion
4. Game of Thrones
3. Stranger Things 2
2. Mr. Robot
1. The Leftovers

Honorable mentions: Fargo, Atlanta, The Expanse, American Gods, Lucifer, Friends from College, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Halt and Catch Fire.

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Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

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1 day ago

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October 23, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

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: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

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2 days ago

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October 22, 2026

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Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

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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: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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October 21, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

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

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