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Lion Links: 1/19/18

Published

8 years ago

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Happy Friday! I am not your usual Links’ host today but I can assure you I still have a solid beard — just not as good — so I will do my best to carry the torch this week. Hopefully you had a good short week and you’re just a few hours from a great weekend when you’ll be outside to get a tan after this horrible 29 degree weather.

On to the links we go as it was a busy Thursday for both City and the Pride!

Lions Add Another Midfielder in a Busy Off-season

On a day we thought we were going to focus in on the Pride and the NWSL draft, Orlando City decided to steal the thunder early in the day as it acquired Homegrown player and midfielder Cam Lindley from the Chicago Fire for Rafael Ramos and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) — $50,000 in 2018, and another $50,000 in 2019.

This is a huge trade for Orlando. I know a lot of people will be hurt by the loss of one of the few USL holdovers left on the roster, but this is a very good move. Ramos was going to be buried on the depth chart after constant injury issues and the RJ Allen acquisition. Lindley undoubtedly would have been one of the best midfielders in this upcoming draft if eligible and was only on the market because of his openness on wanting to ply his trade in Europe. However, Orlando was able to secure him on a four-year deal and Lindley signed a four-year deal, so he’s on-board for the 2018 season:

As to how Lindley fits, Niki Budalic hasn’t been dragging his feet in acquiring midfielders this off-season to replace Kaká with recent additions Jose Villarreal, Sacha Kljestan, and Josué Colmán adding to expected starters Yoshí Yotún and Cristian Higuita. But I think this is a perfect spot for Lindley. He neither has the pressure on him nor will he be expected to contribute out of the gate as he transitions to MLS speed. Ultimately, he’s a very well-rounded player that could see time (assuming a 4-2-3-1) as a central midfielder, winger, or defensive midfielder.

Sermanni Nabs Versatile Player in the Third Round; Pride Trade Inoming?

The Pride were pretty quiet on Thursday during the NWSL draft that had us in our seats for two rounds until pick 23, where Tom Sermanni found BYU Forward, Nadia Gomes.

Gomes played all four years at BYU, totaling 23 goals and 23 assists in 83 games (62 starts), and amassing close to 5,000 minutes. She’s known for her explosive speed and left foot. In the NWSL draft coverage, there was mention that her speed and left foot could give her the ability to transition into a wingback, which would be very welcome on a Pride team that is currently thin at LB until — hopefully — Steph Catley re-signs. Tom echoed that sentiment in post draft interviews:

“She’s versatile, quick, very good technically, and left sided, so she’ll fit in well into the team amongst all our other left sided players,” Sermanni said, “I think her potential and versatility that she has I think will fit in well with us. From what we’ve seen, she’s got a good awareness of the game as well, so those are the kind of things we earmark.”

The question is if this is the only move for Sermanni in regards to draft day or is he still working. While nothing happened immediately during the draft, there were some interesting rumblings inside the draft on social media:

Andovski, the new Seattle Reign manager, selected defender Alyson Haran from Wake Forest who would fall in line as a player Sermanni could be looking at as the defense continues to need depth.

So stay tuned, as this week just may not be done on Pride moves.

Orlando City In On New CB Rumor

Could we be seeing a new center back into the fold soon? I don’t think anyone would argue center back is now top priority on what to attack from a free agency/draft standpoint. And here we have a potential international option with Brazilian defender Lucas as the newest rumor:

Translation: Two sources have informed me that Lucas de Lima, coming from the LDU de Quito is currently in negotiations with Orlando City SC. The Brazilian defence for 27 years, has gone through several leagues including the Scottish (Hamilton Academical FC). I’m waiting for more details from #MLS

If you listened to this week’s PawedCast, Budalic had some interesting things to say about Green Cards that could be coming our way, opening up a few international spots. This could be the first one to be filled and would be a welcome addition to the defensive depth chart.

NWSL Gets Its Second Blockbuster Trade of the Week

On Wednesday, we reported about the massive trade between the North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit as the Spirit gave away Crystal Dunn’s rights to the Courage in exchange for USWNT member Taylor Smith and Rookie of the Year Ashley Hatch (full details here).

Now we have an even bigger move with Sam Kerr, Christen Press, and Carli Lloyd all on the move in a three-team deal between Sky Blue FC, the Chicago Red Stars and the Houston Dash. There are a lot of moving parts with draft picks and “players to be named later” but here’s what we know as far as who gets who:

  • Chicago Red Stars: No. 24 draft pick (Megan Buckingham), Sam Kerr and (reportedly) Nikki Stanton.
  • Houston Dash: No. 7 draft pick (Haley Hanson), an international roster slot and Christen Press.
  • Sky Blue FC: No. 6 and No. 13 draft picks (Amandine Pierre-Louis and Casey Murphy), Carli Lloyd, Janine Beckie and another player to be named later from Chicago.

This means Lloyd goes home to Jersey, Press joins a formidable front line of Kealia Ohai and Rachel Daly, and the Red Stars only become stronger as they acquire the NWSL Golden Boot winner.

All in all, this appears to be a fairly equal trade for all involved with everyone getting a star player. It appears one of the catalysts here could have been manager Rory Dames’ and Press’ relationship:

MLS SuperDraft Today

It is MLS draft day and the Lions have the sixth pick in today’s affair. To follow along, here’s SuperDraft central where you can watch live. The draft kicks off at 11 a.m.ET with rounds one and two. Rounds three and four will follow at 2 p.m. ET via conference call.

With the multiple moves in the midfield and fullback areas this off-season, we at The Mane Land can’t help but root for either a potential center back or a defensive midfielder to help anchor the center of the field. Both of those options could be there at six. For a full list of draft eligible players go here.

Follow along at the Mane Land twitter for up-to-date news today on Orlando City’s pick and potential draft day trades.

Big Bank Has Its Hands Deep in MLS Pockets

Depending on your opinion on public vs. private funds and MLS stadiums, you may enjoy this news or you may not. Goldman Sachs, the New York powerhouse financial institution has loaned hundreds of millions to a host of MLS clubs in the recent year, including a $120 million loan to Orlando City. (Note that they have a free one-time trial that takes two seconds to read this article)

Personally, I think this news might shed some light on certain organizational moves regarding the Academy and OCB. When the stadium was being built, the organization announced it was going to privately fund the additional funds needed as it was waiting on public support. This could be the reason the club appears to be cutting back operational cuts in a variety areas.

Free Kicks:

  • It’s not easy protecting our new home stadium, what with seat thieves and the like running around, and Orlando City was justly rewarded by winning the Security Team of the Year award at the MLS Executive Awards. Thanks for keeping us safe.

And to not put the Bearded Guy’s links to shame, I have to include something musically inclined. So here’s a compilation of some of the best football chants this season. I promise you won’t be disappointed. PSA — might not want to watch with the kids.

Have a great weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/12/26

Barbra Banda up for weekly honors, Johnny Cardoso to have surgery, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

16 hours ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B both picked up victories, while Orlando City lost. There’s no rest for the wicked though, because the Pride take on Boston Legacy on the road tonight, while the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Barbra Banda up for Weekly Honors

Barbra Banda’s game-winning strike over the North Carolina Courage has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. Banda cut across her marker in the 87th minute with the match tied 0-0 and curled a great strike inside the far post to give the Pride a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. The victory got Orlando back on track after dropping two games in a row, and the goal was Banda’s league-leading eighth strike of the year. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Surgery for Johnny Cardoso

Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that midfielder Johnny Cardoso will have surgery to repair an injury to his right ankle. Cardoso was hurt during a training session, with Atletico classifying the injury as a “high-grade sprain involving joint damage.” The club’s statement did not specify a timeline for his return to the field and U.S. Soccer has not made any statement besides wishing Cardoso a speedy recovery. That said, with this summer’s World Cup less than a month away, its tough to imagine that he’ll be healed up and ready to be part of the United States Men’s National Team roster. If that’s the case, it’ll be a bitter blow for both the USMNT and a midfielder that looked like a sure bet to be on the squad.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s make sure we’ve got everything on the schedule. Things got started on Monday when Brenden Aaronson played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Action continues today when Aidan Morris and Middlesborough face Southampton in the second leg of an EFL Championship playoff promotion semifinal. Wednesday sees Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Motherwell in a game with massive ramifications on the title race in the Scottish Premier League. Wednesday also has Alex Freeman and Villarreal hosting Sevilla in La Liga play, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will try to play spoiler against Manchester City.

MLS Matchday 12 Lessons

Matchday 12 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, Jack McGlynn was imperious in his second game back from injury, as his brace helped the Houston Dynamo knock off LAFC on the road while USMNT assistant Jesus Perez was watching from the stands. The New England Revolution are now unbeaten in the club’s last seven league games, and Carles Gil was a big reason why, as he nabbed a goal and an assist in the Revs’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. He’s got four goals and four assists so far, and the Revs are sitting pretty at second in the Eastern Conference.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

European seasons aren’t quite wrapped up yet, but that isn’t stopping transfer rumors from flying thick and fast. We start with the Premier League, where Manchester City is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, before immediately sending the player on loan to continue his development. Elsewhere in England, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said to be interested in signing Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso. Switching lanes to the managerial side of things, Chelsea has reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the team, with the Spaniard said to be open to taking the job. Finally, Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the Real Madrid job, although he reportedly has a couple conditions that he wants met first.

Free Kicks

  • Kickoff times have been set for Orlando City’s three group stages matches in this year’s Leagues Cup.
  • The Lions will be launching a new merch collection Friday at The Final Whistle.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/11/26

Lions fall to CF Montreal, Pride defeat North Carolina Courage, OCB beats Atlanta United 2, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda taking a shot against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.
  • James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
  • Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
  • Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/8/26

Orlando City prepares for CF Montreal, Pride host North Carolina tonight, Johnny Cardoso injured, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 8, 2026

By

Image of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! We have some exciting games ahead of us over the next few days, with three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy. It all starts with the Orlando Pride’s game tonight, with Orlando City playing Saturday afternoon, and Orlando City B wrapping things up on Sunday. Make sure to plan your weekend accordingly! Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Gets Ready for Road Match

The Lions are on the road this weekend for a game in Canada against CF Montreal on Saturday. Orlando is coming off of a dramatic 4-3 win over rival Inter Miami, with Martin Ojeda scoring a hat trick. Ojeda has had Montreal’s number in recent years, scoring at least once against the Canadian club each year for the past three years. Orlando hasn’t lost to Montreal since 2023, but it also hasn’t won on the road against Montreal since 2021. Saturday’s match will also be a reunion of sorts for goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who joined Montreal’s academy at age 15 and played there for nine years. He was excellent in Orlando’s win in Miami, so hopefully he can keep it up in his home country.

Orlando Pride Host North Carolina Courage Tonight

The Orlando Pride are back in action tonight with a home game against the North Carolina Courage. Both teams are coming off of losses last week, with the Pride falling 4-2 to the Washington Spirit. Tonight’s match will pit the league’s top two scorers against each other, with Barbra Banda scoring seven so far while Ashley Sanchez has scored five. The Pride will play three consecutive road games after tonight, putting an emphasis on a strong showing at home. It’s also Survivor Night at the stadium, so make sure to bring any immunity idols if you’ll be in attendance. The Pride could use any advantage they can get.

Johnny Cardoso Injured Ahead of World Cup

Atletico Madrid announced that American midfielder Johnny Cardoso was diagnosed with an ankle sprain he sustained in training, casting doubt on his availability for the World Cup next month. He’ll now work on rehabilitation before the club provides a timetable for his return. The 24-year-old started in the United States Men’s National Team’s game against Belgium in March, but he had to exit that camp due to injury as well. Hopefully he has a smooth and successful recovery from this.

English Clubs Reach European Finals

Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the Europa League, overcoming a loss in the first leg to secure a spot in the final. John McGinn scored twice to help his team reach its first major European final since 1982. Villa will play in the final on May 20 against SC Freiburg, which also bounced back from a loss in the first leg by beating Braga 3-1 in Germany. A red card to Mario Dorgeles in the sixth minute reduced Braga to 10 men early on and Lukas Kubler bagged a brace for Freiburg.

In the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace won 2-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk to advance to the final on May 27 against Rayo Vallecano. As a result of this week’s semifinals across the continent, English clubs are in contention to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.

Free Kicks

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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