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Lion Links: 1/4/18

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8 years ago

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Happy Thursday, folks. It sure was a busy day yesterday. I wonder what today will have in store for us. We’ll be getting the full MLS schedule release this afternoon, but what about more player announcements? You never know, so check The Mane Land early and often.

The past couple of weeks have been quite rewarding and I’m hopeful that everyone will remember next year not to freak out if Orlando City doesn’t make any moves right away.

We’ve got plenty to discuss, so let’s dive into your morning Lion Links like it’s a big pile of crispy bacon.

Kljestan is Officially a Lion

Rumor became a report and that report is now a reality. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan officially became an Orlando City player yesterday and he’ll bring $150,000 in Targeted Allocation Money with him from Red Bull Arena to Orlando City stadium. Original MLS Lions Carlos Rivas and Tommy Redding head north to Harrison, NJ, in exchange. The Lions left from Orlando City’s inaugural roster are now just Earl Edwards Jr., Cristian Higuita, Cyle Larin, and Rafael Ramos, and there’s a chance that all of them will move on before opening day, particularly Larin. Life comes at you fast.

The New York Red Bulls and MLS each put out a video about Kljestan yesterday, in case you want to see more of what the new Lion brings to the team (he victimized Orlando in a couple clips in the MLS video).

For his part, Sacha seems like he’s ready to come to Orlando and become a contributor for his new team.

Tommy Redding took to Twitter as well, to say goodbye to Orlando City and to the fans who have supported him since the USL days.

Dwyer Now a DP After Signing New Deal

As if the Kljestan news wasn’t enough, the club announced Dom Dwyer has signed a three-year contract that will make him a Designated Player and keep him hanging around his spiritual home for a few more years. This is great news. It was always going to be a priority for Niki Budalic to re-sign Dom after shelling out $1.6 million in total Allocation Money for the former and current Lion. But for nervous types like me, it’s good to have the deal done. Dwyer and Yotun are currently the team’s DPs but with potentially more moves on the horizon and extra TAM lying around, it remains to be seen just how that will all play out before the season kicks off.

Is Josué Colmán Signed, Sealed and Soon to be Delivered?

We might not have to wait long for the next big announcement. TigoSports.com says that Josué Colmán is heading to Orlando City and the deal will become official in the coming hours. According to the site, the Lions are shelling out $3 million for the 19-year-old Paraguayan midfielder to his club, Cerro Porteño. The story further states that the deal will be fore five years and that Colmán will join his teammates in Orlando on Jan. 22. It’s really hard to judge a player by highlight videos but I like the quick, darting movements he makes.

Orlando City Ranked Among World’s Most Valuable Clubs

SoccerEX put out its list of the 100 top-ranked clubs financially and Orlando City comes in at No. 37. MLS put five clubs in the top 30 and Orlando finished sixth among the league’s teams after the LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders, New York City FC, and New England Revolution.

SoccerEx worked with independent academics to compile the list, which analyzed the assets of each club, their economic power for future investments and their net debts. For the 2018 rankings, SoccerEx analyzed the 2015-16 financial year, meaning newer MLS clubs like Atlanta, Minnesota and LAFC were not eligible to be included.

The final rankings were compiled by assigning a weight to and adding together the following four factors: 1) Playing assets 2) Fixed assets (stadium, training centers, etc.) 3) Cash in the bank and 4) Owner’s potential investment. The club’s net debt was then subtracted from that weighted sum.

The EPL was the only league with more teams in the top 30 than MLS, which placed 13 teams in the top 100. The top three, in order, were Manchester City, Arsenal, and French side PSG.

Here’s where you can see the full list of 100.

Pride’s Morgan, Harris Called Up for USWNT January Camp

Jill Ellis has called up 26 players for inclusion in the USWNT’s January camp — and for the friendly against Denmark on Jan. 21 — and Orlando Pride teammates Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris made the cut. Hopefully Morgan can add to her 80 career international goals in the Denmark friendly and Harris will be looking to add to her 14 career caps. Three players who got invited participated in the 2017 Women’s College Cup at Orlando City Stadium — Stanford teammates Andi Sullivan and Tierna Davidson and South Carolina’s Savannah McCaskill. Injured players Tobin Heath (ankle), Samantha Mewis (knee) and Rose Lavelle (hamstring) would have been selected but will not be able to participate. 

Free Kicks

  • This story about Ticketmaster mentions how Orlando City Stadium was the first big test for the Ticketmaster Presence system. It also says the club more than tripled the number of new fan names in its customer database and increased mobile entry to 61 percent from 11 percent.
  • Folks are getting restless about how FIFA is dragging its feet in its anti-doping inquiry as the 2018 World Cup inches closer and closer.
  • Sporting Kansas City traded midfielder Benny Feilhaber to Los Angeles FC for $200 in TAM and $200 in GAM.
  • Those born on this date include Sir Isaac Newton (1643 — going by new calendar date style), legendary football coach Don Shula (1930), R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe (1960), Liverpool’s James Milner (1986), IndyCar racing’s Graham Rahal (1989), and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos (1990).

That’s all from me this morning. I’ll be back again tomorrow for the vacationing bearded guy, so I’ll see you then!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

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23 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 28, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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