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Lion Links: 1/5/18

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9 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: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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3 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

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: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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