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Lion Links: 1/13/18

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9 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: 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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2 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

3 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

Lion Links: 8/19/26

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

Published

4 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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