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Lion Links: 1/5/18

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7 years ago

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It’s casual Friday here at Mane Land Towers, and as usual that means pants are optional. It also means that the weekend is upon us and even though many of us have enjoyed a couple of short work weeks, the weekend is always a welcome sight.

Hopefully you’re staying warm. We wouldn’t want you falling out of trees like the iguanas in South Florida.

While we anxiously await even more announcements from Orlando City, let’s kick back, put our feet up, and sink luxuriously into today’s links.

Budalic: More to Come

Alicia DelGallo spoke with Orlando City GM Niki Budalic and he said a lot of great things, but none greater than “There will be more announcements this week.” It’s already been a heck of a first week of 2018, with the Lions locking up Dom Dwyer for three more years and acquiring MLS assist king Sacha Kljestan. But about that more to come…

“That is the plan, yes,” Budalic said when asked if a centerback signing was coming. “We’re still looking to bringing in several players. We’re down the line with each of those positions. This window, a lot of players are in the middle of their seasons in Europe and because of that you can’t speak too soon.”

Budalic also spoke about Kljestan, not wanting to trade Tommy Redding, and a lot more, so check out the full story linked above. And you can check out how MLSsoccer.com’s Charles Boehm broke down the Kljestan deal and what it means for both teams. Boehm’s fellow MLS writer Sam Stejskal called the move the No. 4 deal of the off-season so far.

Orlando City’s 2018 Schedule Drops

The Lions’ schedule for 2018 came out yesterday and there are good and bad points to it. One of the bad things is that we’ll have to wait until 2019 to welcome LAFC to Orlando City Stadium. One of the good things about it is that City will get a bunch of home games early to try to build some momentum. Hopefully the team will be able to hold onto it this year. Other highlights:

  • Three games each against Atlanta United and New York City FC.
  • Very few midday summer games.
  • Only seven games in the heat of August and September combined, with four at home and all at night.
  • 13 nationally televised games.
  • The return of Adrian Heath in Week 2.

It’s shaping up to be an interesting and pivotal year for the Lions. I can’t wait to get this thing started.

Florida Cup to Support Hurricane Evacuees

The devastating hurricane damage in Puerto Rico has left many people without power and forced the evacuation of countless others. This year, Florida Cup is stepping up to help those who were evacuated from the island in the wake of the storm. The tournament will work with Orlando’s Hispanic Office for Local Assistance (HOLA) and the Department of Families, Parks and Recreation, and will offer more than 1,500 free tickets to Puerto Rican evacuees displaced to Central Florida, as well as children who participate in local after-school programs.

Additionally, the tournament will host evacuees at the Florida Cup Fan Fest at Universal on Jan. 13, and will collect sporting goods, coats, sweaters, quilts, and comforters at the Florida Cup All-Star Game at Montverde Academy on Jan. 9 (8 p.m., free admission). Fans are asked to bring any of the listed items for donation. Montverde Academy graduate and Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor will be on hand. The donated items will benefit CASA (Coordinadora de Apoyo, Solidaridad y Ayuda), which provides support to families still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Florida Cup and Adidas will also donate uniforms to local youth development soccer programs. It’s a lot of good deeds and everyone should come out to support the tournament in these efforts.

Will USMNT, Mexico Fight Over Jonathan Gonzalez?

Monterrey midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez, an 18-year-old dual citizen, is apparently on the radar of the Mexican National Team. and could be called in for a friendly Jan. 31 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Our friends over at Stars and Stripes FC lay it out like this:

It was widely reported that the USMNT considered Gonzalez but decided not to call him up due to Monterrey’s playoff schedule. Gonzalez said he didn’t get that call. That, coupled with the fact that the USMNT cannot cap-tie Gonzalez until possibly the 2019 Gold Cup means that every bit of news that links Jonathan Gonzalez to Mexico will only make us wonder what he will decide.

The USMNT January Camp roster will be announced on Monday at noon, so that will likely shed some light on whether Jonathan Gonzalez will remain in the United States player pool, but until then, fans just hope Mexico doesn’t beat the USMNT to the punch.

Hopefully the U.S. won’t lose a promising young player to its most bitter rival.

Free Kicks

  • One of the things lost in last weekend’s W-League action is that Orlando Pride defender Steph Catley played in her 100th league game.
  • It got so cold that Orlando City’s grounds crew covered the field at the stadium on Thursday.

  • One of Orlando City’s founding fathers, Steve Donner, has taken over as president and CEO of the ECHL’s Greenville (SC) Swamp Rabbits after the minor league hockey team was sold to a new ownership group.
  • Apparently it’s not just Orlando fans who yell “Knights!” in place of “night” during the national anthem at MLS matches (although not for the same reasons). So, congrats to those of you who do it, you’re just like Atlanta fans!
  • Details about Memphis’ USL team are expected on Monday.
  • Columbus unveiled a new black secondary kit that some Crew fans are referring to as the “funeral kit” in a bit of dark humor about the continuing dire possibility of the club moving to Austin, TX, after this season.

  • Those born on this date include TV’s Superman of the 1950’s, George Reeves (1914), Jane Wyman (1917), Robert Duvall (1931), longtime Steelers coach Chuck Noll (1932), legendary sound engineer and record producer Phil Ramone (1934) — his work on Billy Joel’s 52nd Street is top notch and won him one of his 14 Grammys — Diane Keaton (1946), The Love Boat actor Ted Lange (1948), Blondie guitarist Chris Stein (1950), Marilyn Manson (1969), Bradley Cooper (1975), and January Jones (1978).

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Bundle up, enjoy your weekend, and check The Mane Land regularly for those additional announcements Niki Budalic mentioned.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/25

Orlando City ousted from U.S. Open Cup, OCB’s Justin Ellis named Player of the Matchweek, Tottenham wins Europa League, and more.

Published

7 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Well, that could have gone better. It’s understandable to feel a bit deflated after Wednesday night’s game, especially after so many positive Orlando City results as of late. The good news though is that we’re another day closer to a holiday weekend that should include some good times or at least rest and relaxation. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Eliminated from U.S. Open Cup

The Lions lost 3-2 at home to Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16, ending the team’s run in the tournament. Orlando struck first in a rollercoaster of a match, and Ramiro Enrique pulled the Lions level after they fell behind, but rookie Wyatt Meyer scored the winner for the visitors. The loss snapped Orlando’s 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions and Orlando looked like a team that played five other matches already this month. Orlando will need to shake off this loss as it prepares to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Justin Ellis Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek

Orlando City B midfielder Justin Ellis was selected as MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek for his role in the team’s 3-0 win over Inter Miami II. Ellis, who turned 18 years old last week, assisted on both of OCB’s first two goals before scoring from the penalty spot himself. It’s been quite the year so far for Ellis, as he also scored six goals in the Generation Adidas Cup to help Orlando win the U-18 title in April. The Young Lions are back in action Friday with a road match against rival Atlanta United 2.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Results

Comebacks were a theme throughout the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16. Minnesota United took the lead, gave it up, and ultimately advanced thanks to defender Anthony Markanich scoring two late goals to beat St. Louis City 3-2 at Allianz Arena. Markanich was traded from St. Louis to Minnesota last year, adding a little salt in the wound for the visitors. D.C. United and Charlotte FC battled in a back-and-forth match that ended up with D.C. winning the penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. The match between the New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas also went the distance, with the Red Bulls winning the shootout. The Philadelphia Union won 4-1 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to eliminate the last team from outside MLS. The draw for the quarterfinals will take place this morning.

Tottenham Hotspur Wins Europa League Final

Tottenham prevailed in this year’s Europa league final, winning 1-0 against Manchester United in Spain. Brennan Johnson’s goal was enough for Tottenham to end its 17-year wait for a major trophy. It was a bit of an underwhelming finish to what was a fairly exciting knockout stage, and this was United’s only loss in this year’s tournament. Tottenham has now qualified for next season’s Champions League despite currently being 17th in the English Premier League standings.

Free Kicks

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: 5/21/25

The U.S. Open Cup journey resumes tonight, Javier Otero signs a new contract, Pride’s Sams and Abello called up, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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May 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is match day with Orlando City hosting Nashville SC tonight in Inter&Co Stadium. I hope you are able to make it out to support the club, since I will have to watch it on television. If you listen to The Mane Land PawedCast you know how much I want Orlando City to focus on the U.S. Open Cup — even at the expense of the Leagues Cup. For now, let’s get to the links.

Nashville is Next

As I mentioned above, the Lions take on Nashville SC in a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match tonight. Orlando City is riding a 12-match unbeaten streak through all competitions and has scored 14 goals in the past four games going back to its 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions will look to continue their goal scoring ways to advance to the quarterfinals.

Javier Otero Has a New Contract

Orlando City signed goalkeeper Javier Otero to a new contract through the 2026 season with options for 2027 and 2028. Otero joined the Orlando City Academy in 2017, moving his way up to Orlando City B and, eventually, the first team. The signing secures Orlando City’s backup keeper for the immediate future.

Pride USWNT Call-Ups

Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up to the USWNT training camp. This is Abello’s first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sams and Abello make up two of Emma Hayes’ 24-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica. Other notable players include Naomi Girma, Lynn Biyendolo, and Lo’eau LaBonta.

FIRST USWNT CALL UP FOR BELLO 🗣️

— Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-05-20T15:06:37.081Z

USMNT Gold Cup News

Mauricio Pochettino has yet to name the final 26-player list for the Gold Cup. He has even put out there that he may give playing time to a goalkeeper other than Matt Turner. Pochettino sees the Gold Cup as a great opportunity for the team to bond during the last competition before the World Cup. Prior to the Gold Cup, the team has friendlies with Türkiye and Switzerland.

Free Kicks

  • The Kansas City Current may have defeated the Pride last match, but they paid dearly for it.
  • In sad news, former Sporting Kansas City player Gadi Kinda passed away. Kinda had been dealing with “a complex medical battle.”
  • In the “I’m not at all surprised” category, Lionel Messi was not fined by the league for any of his antics during or after the loss to Orlando City, including his criticism of officials, which is usually an automatic fine.

That will do it for today. Check back for our pre-match and post-match coverage tonight. You can also follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/20/25

Lions earn weekly recognition, preliminary Gold Cup rosters released, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Life always feels a little brighter after your team wins a soccer game, even more so when it’s against a hated rival, so I hope you’ve had as good a start to your week as I have. We have no time to rest on our laurels though, because Orlando City is straight back into action tomorrow with a U.S. Open Cup match at home against Nashville SC. Let’s get into today’s links.

Lions Earn Weekly Recognition

Several Orlando City players are getting some deserved plaudits following the team’s 3-0 win over Inter Miami on Sunday. Pedro Gallese has been named to the starting XI of the MLS Team of the Matchday, while Joran Gerbet is on the bench and Oscar Pareja is the coach of the side. Gallese made four saves while keeping a clean sheet and also assisted Luis Muriel on the first goal of the game. Gerbet did an excellent job of helping to minimize the impact of Lionel Messi, while Oscar Pareja was the man who who masterminded it all. Alex Freeman got some love as one of the standout young players of the matchday, and also had a nice piece written about him in The Athletic (paywall). All the Lions are deserving of their praise, and here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we see them getting some love.

Freeman Named to USMNT Preliminary Gold Cup Roster

The preliminary rosters have been announced for the 16 teams set to participate in this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. Most of the usual suspects are present for the United States Men’s National Team, with the exceptions of Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna, whose teams are participating in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Of note for Orlando City fans is Alex Freeman’s inclusion on the preliminary roster. That being said, this early list contains 60 names and will need to be cut down to 26 by June 4. With Sergino Dest and Joe Scally both on the 60-man list, Freeman is probably an outside shot to be included, but you never know.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans playing matches during the working week, so make sure you have everything marked down on your calendar. Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their penultimate Premier League game later today, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth do the same against Manchester City. Wednesday has Jordan Pefok and Reims visiting Metz in a playoff to decide which team will play in Ligue 1 next season. Alex Zendejas and Club America take on Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura final on Thursday, and Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Valencia in La Liga play on Friday.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be upon us before we know it, so let’s take a look at what the transfer rumor mill is saying these days. Manchester United is said to be on the verge of signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and has reportedly agreed to terms on a deal. Man City has reportedly ended its interest in signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, and has instead turned the club’s attention to Barcelona’s Dani Olmo. Finally, Rodrygo is reportedly considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer, with some outlets saying that he “has one foot out of Real Madrid”.

Free Kicks

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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