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Lion Links: 1/13/18

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7 years ago

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Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I’m excited to be working on my first Lion Links and I hope the news is helpful for everyone.

Big news came out Friday about the future of Orlando City B as well as some eSports news. The MLS Combine matches begin today as well.

So let’s get on to the links.

OCB to take a 2018 Hiatus

As reported by uslsoccer.com and then by the club, Orlando City B will not be playing in the USL for the 2018 season. According to the USL, “Orlando City B elected not to participate in the USL at the Division II level in 2018 while it evaluates its future options.” The club went on to say that it will continue its discussions with USL to evaluate its options for the future participation in the league. Time will tell what this will mean for the main team and the organization as a whole. OCB tickets were offered to Orlando City season ticket holders as an incentive but were soon replaced with four Orlando Pride games instead. The Mane Land wrote up an extended piece on the OCB situation, so be sure to check it out for additional details.

PSV Draws Fluminense in Florida Cup, Then Wins Shootout

PSV Eindhoven had an exciting Florida Cup. Both of the Dutch side’s matches ended in last-second 1-1 draws and finished with 5-4 penalty shootouts. After scoring the equalizer at the death Wednesday and falling one penalty short against Corinthians, PSV flipped the script Friday night at Spectrum Stadium, allowing a last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Fluminense. PSV then went on to win the shootout, 5-4, to collect an additional point and end the team’s tournament run on three total points. Sam Lammers, a 20-year-old forward, was the star man for PSV, scoring both normal time goals for the mid-season Dutch Eredivisie leaders.

MLS Launches an eSports League for FIFA 18 World Cup

EA Sports and MLS have partnered together to create an organization that will compete worldwide in FIFA 18’s competition. The group named eMLS (not a real exciting name) will be structured like the NBA 2k league, where competitors will represent real-life sports teams. Of the 23 MLS teams, 19 will be represented, including Orlando City. Here’s another opportunity for Orlando City and MLS to be represented on the world stage. 

Pulisic: U.S. Should Copy Germany to “Conquer” Soccer

In an interview with ESPN, Pulisic touted the youth systems in Germany, saying “I would say the youth systems in Germany are the things that have impressed me the most…How they grow their youth players into full professionals… you’re fighting really for a pro contract [and] it’s something we can definitely learn from.” As the young talent of the USMNT, Pulisic’s words may create some ripples in the U.S. Soccer community.

Cyle Larin in Turkey?

According to BeIN Sports Turkey, Cyle Larin has made his way to Istanbul. At this point, we are not certain why Larin is in Istanbul but the Turkish Twitter community has claimed that Besiktas has reached a deal with the 22-year-old striker, but no such word has come from the U.S. side of the pond. As soon as we get more details we will be sure to share it with all of you. It has been rumored this transfer window that Larin could be on his way to Europe as he expressed interest in playing soccer abroad. 

Translated from Turkish to English via Google Translator

“Besiktas transfer on the agenda, Cyle Larin came to Istanbul.”

MLS Combine Matches Begin Today

The MLS Combine got underway this week but today the matches between the four combine teams kick off. Players were split into four teams: Nemeziz, Predator, X, and Tango. Today will feature two matches, one at 12:30 p.m. and one at 2:30 p.m. Matches will continue Monday and Wednesday as each team will play three times before the end of the combine. Details can be found on mlsoccer.com. Oh and if you wanted some good news about the combine:

If you can’t get enough of the combine news coming out, be sure to check out Matt Doyle’s latest article on the five things to look for at the combine. He puts together a few interesting points as to what you should look for when watching the combine matches.

ESPN FC Questions USSF Presidential Candidates

As the USSF presidential election approaches in February, various outlets have been questioning the candidates on soccer positions as well as a variety of issues pertaining to USSF. ESPN FC has the latest responses to their questions but with a bit of a twist. Each candidate was asked to answer the questions but in 150 words or fewer. The candidates interviewed were Paul Caligiuri, Kathy Carter, Carlos Cordeiro, Steve Gans, Kyle Martino, Hope Solo, Michael Winograd, and Eric Wynalda. This election will decide the future of U.S. Soccer for years to come so be sure to check out how each candidate responded to the various questions asked. 

Atlanta United Sets MLS-Record Highest Paid Transfer Fee for Barco

It would appear that the Ezequiel Barco saga is now coming to an end. According to ESPN, Independiente and Atlanta United have reached an agreement to send Barco to Atlanta United. Independiente has agreed to sell the 18-year-old for $15 million dollars plus 30% of any future transfer before December 2019. The highest fee an MLS team paid to bring in a player before this deal, was when Toronto FC brought in Michael Bradley for $10 million from Roma. ESPN says neither club will confirm the deal but sources say it’s close to being completed. This move bolsters an already impressive Atlanta United attack. Time will tell how Barco will translate to MLS.

Free Kicks

  • Follow up: As was previously reported, Dom Dwyer had left USMNT camp after dealing with a hamstring strain. Mike Gramajo of Orlando Soccer Journal reported that Dom would be undergoing tests on Friday and should be good to go for the preseason. Big sigh of relief.

  • The Montreal Impact are targeting a 31-year-old French center back, Zakaria Diallo. Diallo made two appearances in Ligue 2 for Stage Brestois.
  • Former (or maybe current?) Orlando City target Gregory Sertic has been linked to the Chicago Fire. Sertic was linked to Orlando City last winter window but the agreement fell through and Sertic went to Marseille. There have been rumors claiming that Marseille will be looking to get some players off the books and Sertics’ name has surfaced.
  • Though the merger between Orlando City and Montverde was reported a few days ago, Top Drawer Soccer goes a bit more in-depth about the relationship. 
  • The USL is closer to expanding into D.C. and Baltimore. According to USL President Jake Edwards, the league is looking closely at adding a team in D.C. by the 2019 season. This team would be owned by MLS side D.C. United, who have been looking for a USL side in recent years. 

That’s about it for today! Before I go, I leave you all with this wonderful image of Orlando City presenting the Puerto Rican governor with a check from the friendly fundraiser. It’s amazing to see this image, as Orlando City and its supporters have made a great impact on the Puerto Rican community. 

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Lion Links: 2/21/25

Marco Pasalic’s soccer journey, MLS storylines to watch, USWNT shuts out Colombia, and much more.

Published

3 days ago

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February 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to the final day before the MLS season kicks off! I don’t know about you, but the off-season and preseason flew by for me. I’m ready to throw on some purple and cheer this weekend, even if I won’t have the pleasure of being there in person. Before we dive into today’s links though, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride forward Amanda Allen!

Marco Pasalic Prepares for First MLS Season

Many eyes will be on Orlando City winger Marco Pasalic this season after the club signed him as its latest Designated Player. The 24-year-old spoke on how a strong work ethic was instilled in him at a young age from his parents while growing up in Germany. He also talked about his injury while with Borussia Dortmund and the difficulties he faced both physically and mentally to overcome it. He’s now in the City Beautiful after playing for Rijeka in Croatia and the dual-national shared some insight about his decision to become a Lion.

“I think getting the chance to see a new league, to make the next step in my career, for me, it’s a better step to come here than to stay in Croatia. That’s my opinion,” he said. “I like it here a lot so far. It’s an honor when a club really wants you, and I wanted to come here, also. My decision didn’t take long, either. Maybe one day before I said yes. Now, I want to bring this league to another level, to bring this club joy and play good games.”

MLS Storylines Ahead of 2025 Season

The 2025 MLS season is finally upon us and there are already plenty of storylines to keep an eye on after an interesting off-season. For Orlando, it’s a simple inquiry into if the club’s new players can truly replace the players who won’t be on the field for the Lions this year. Facundo Torres is gone and Wilder Cartagena is out for the season, and only time will tell if Pasalic and Eduard Atuesta can fill those voids.

There are many questions all over the league I’m looking forward to getting answers to as well. How quickly can Bruce Arena turn things around with the San Jose Earthquakes? Will Atlanta United’s attack live up to the hype? What will the Philadelphia Union look like without Jim Curtin at the helm? Can the Chicago Fire reach the playoffs under Gregg Berhalter? I have the feeling it’s going to be a really great season for the league.

USWNT Wins Against Colombia

In its first game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup, the United States Women’s National Team beat Colombia 2-0 in Houston. The first goal for the USWNT was wonderfully crafted and sparked by a nice ball over the top by Lily Yohannes to Yazmeen Ryan, who found Catarina Macario in front of the net. It’s great to see Macario scoring again for the U.S. after she missed out on the Olympics due to injury. Ally Sentnor scored her first international goal by doubling the USWNT’s lead with a great strike from distance that you can check out below.

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams didn’t come off the bench, but the defense still did well to shut out Colombia. The USWNT’s next match will come on Sunday against an Australian team that got beaten 4-0 by Japan.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

After a rough week that included many Americans getting eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, attention now turns to a weekend filled with soccer. Former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will host Oxford United on Saturday, with Josh Sargent, Brenden Aaronson, and Ethan Horvath as other Americans to watch in the EFL Championship. In the English Premier League, Antonee Robinson and Fulham will take on Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace. The usual suspects like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are also set to take the field. If looking for a game off the beaten path, Damion Downs could score his 10th goal of the season when Cologne faces Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday in Germany’s second division.

Luis Rubiales Guilty of Sexual Assault

Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As a result, he was ordered to pay more than $10,400 in fines and is prohibited from being within 200 meters of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a year. The prosecution had asked for a prison sentence of a year for sexual assault and a year-and-a-half for coercion, the latter of which he was acquitted of. FIFPRO issued a statement standing in solidarity with Hermoso and other victims of sexual assault, while also stating that the courts must send a stronger message in regards to the level of punishment.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City and the Orlando Pride announced a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I’ve actually never tried Jameson, as I’m a bit more of a tropical cocktail kind of guy when it comes to libations.
  • LAFC has a new Designated Player after signing Turkish winger Cengiz Under on loan from Fenerbahce through June 30, with an option to buy. He should add even more firepower to a potent LAFC attack that includes Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, and Jeremy Ebobisse.
  • This year’s MLS Competition Guidelines include an interesting addition where only a team’s captain should approach the referee. If crowded by multiple players, the ref is to signal that to the players and only the captain can be within four meters of the referee, with intruding players being shown a yellow card.
  • Former Orlando City B forward Ates Diouf is joining Detroit City FC on loan from Lexington SC for the USL Championship season.
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard has signed with Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links: 2/20/25

Marco Pasalic named an MLS newcomer to watch, Houston Dynamo sign Nico Lodeiro, USWNT takes on Colombia today, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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February 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? We’re only a few days away from the start of Orlando City’s 2025 season and I can’t wait. There’s also plenty of women’s soccer to enjoy thanks to the SheBelieves Cup. It’s a great time to be a soccer fan here in the U.S. Let’s dive right into today’s links!

Marco Pasalic Noted as MLS Newcomer to Watch

Orlando City signed Marco Pasalic as a Designated Player this off-season to help fill the void left by Facundo Torres, and he was noted as one of the top newcomers in the league for 2025. While I don’t think he’s expected to fully replace the goal contributions Torres provided, I’m hoping he can unlock defenses and am looking forward to seeing some overlapping runs between him and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson on the right wing.

The rest of the list has multiple players on Eastern Conference teams who could have Orlando fans reaching for the liquor cabinet this season, including Charlotte FC’s Wilfried Zaha, FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey, and Atlanta United’s shiny new striker, Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Nico Lodeiro Signs With the Houston Dynamo

Midfielder Nico Lodeiro, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Orlando City earlier this week, has officially signed with the Houston Dynamo on a deal through 2025 with an option for 2026. This signing was reported leading up to his departure from Orlando, and he should be able to get some solid playing time with the Dynamo. Lodeiro had 11 assists with the Lions last season and is great from set piece situations, so he should be able to help a Houston team that made the playoffs last season but only scored 47 goals.

USWNT Takes On Colombia Today

The 2025 SheBelieves Cup kicks off today and the United States Women’s National Team will face off against Colombia at 8 p.m. in Houston. It will be the USWNT’s first match of the year and Head Coach Emma Hayes’ first time coaching the U.S. during the SheBelieves Cup. The team will be without star players like Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, and Sophia Wilson (née Smith) but still has plenty of talented players to get the job done. Colombia should present a solid challenge for the U.S., as it reached the quarterfinals of both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. After this match, the USWNT is set to take on Australia in Arizona on Sunday before closing out the tournament in San Diego on Wednesday against Japan.

MLS Clubs Begin Champions Cup Campaigns

The Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and there are many MLS sides aiming to start the tournament off on the right foot. The Seattle Sounders’ new signings from FC Dallas linked up for a goal just three minutes into their match with Guatemalan club Antigua GFC, with Jesus Ferreira teeing up Paul Arriola’s goal at the top of the box. Antigua equalized later in the first half, but the Sounders struck twice in the second half for a 3-1 victory. In Costa Rica, Real Salt Lake and Herediano battled to a scoreless draw. Lionel Messi scored the lone goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in a bitter cold game that exemplifies why MLS should not switch to a winter schedule.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

Only 16 teams remain in the UEFA Champions League after the latest round of matches. Most of Wednesday’s drama was in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 win over Juventus. American forward Tim Weah scored for Juventus, but PSV advanced thanks to a goal from defender Ryan Flamingo in extra time. In Spain, Kylian Mbappe had a hat trick in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Manchester City, eliminating the English club from the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain booked its spot in the round of 16 in convincing fashion as well, with seven different players finding the back of the net in a 7-0 home win over Brest. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, a scoreless draw at home against Sporting CP was enough for Borussia Dortmund to advance to the next round too.

The draw for the round of 16 is on Friday and should deliver on some fun matchups. Either Barcelona or Liverpool will face PSG, with the other getting Benfica. We may also get Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen.

Free Kicks

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

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Lion Links: 2/19/25

Halliday and Lodeiro are out, Cartagena’s season is over, the SheBelieves Cup starts tomorrow, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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February 19, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! Orlando City continues to see more departures than arrivals to the roster with the season opener looming this weekend. Sure would be cool if the Lions added an experienced MLS striker this week. Alas, I feel it’s not in the cards. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

In better news, it’s Marta’s 39th birthday! Happy nirthday to the captain from all of us here at The Mane Land. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Say Goodbye to Halliday, Lodeiro

Both Michael Halliday and Nico Lodeiro have departed Orlando City. Halliday was traded to the Houston Dynamo for a first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. With Dagur Dan Thorhallsson starting at right back and Alex Freeman moving into the number two spot behind him, it made sense for Halliday to try to get minutes elsewhere.

Nico Lodeiro mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club. Lodeiro’s departure will free up $800,000 salary for the club and allow Lodeiro to pursue more playing time at another club. According to Tom Bogert, that club may also be the Houston Dynamo. Given Lodeiro’s role off the bench for Orlando City, this is a move that makes sense for both the player and the club.

Cartagena Out for the Season

While the news was expected, Orlando City officially placed Wilder Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury list. The midfielder suffered the injury in the preseason match against Atletico Mineiro. The surgery on his left Achilles tendon was successful, but he will still be out for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, the Lions brought in Eduard Atuesta to shore up the midfield. While Orlando City may even be better with Atuesta on the pitch, losing Cartagena still hurts the team depth.

Orlando City in the Top 10?

The off-season was not as long as usual, thanks to Orlando City’s run to the Eastern Conference final. Despite the shorter time frame, I had forgotten how useless, dumb, and yet fun power rankings can be. I’d warn you against spoilers, but these rankings mean absolutely nothing — especially before a match has been played — so I’ll just tell you that the Lions came in at number nine. However, I won’t spoil why they made the top 10, nor which Ft. Lauderdale based club is in the top spot.

SheBelieves Cup Starts Thursday

The USWNT plays its first match of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup Thursday at 8 p.m. The match will take place at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Unless you plan on traveling to Texas, you’ll have to watch it on TV or streaming. The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams is on the squad and will hopefully see some minutes for Emma Hayes.

Free Kicks

  • In the “isn’t that mildly interesting” category, Pete Mangione will appear for FC Cincinnati.

That will do it for today. Check back everyday as we get you ready for the season opener on Saturday. Vamos Orlando!

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