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Lion Links: 1/21/18

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Hey Mane Landers, I hope you’re having a good weekend so far. Today’s the last day before you have to go back to the work grind tomorrow, so relax and kick back with some Lion Links.

But before we get to it, let’s wish a happy birthday to both Orlando City midfielder Will Johnson (31) and Orlando Pride midfielder/defender Alanna Kennedy (23)!

Yoshi Excited to Play With New Lions

Returning to Orlando in the coming days after traveling to Los Angeles for MLS Media Day, Orlando City midfielder Yoshimar Yotun said he is excited to see the 2018 roster starting to take shape. He and Sacha Kljestan will be quite the duo in the midfield and Yoshi was especially looking forward to getting the ball in the feet of young Paraguayan Josué Colmán. Although the team will look much different this season, Yotun says that the style of play will remain the same for the most part, so hopefully it goes better this time with a new group of talent.

Lindley and Ramos Trade a Win-Win, According to Fire GM

Earlier this week, Orlando City traded away Rafael Ramos and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money to the Chicago Fire in exchange for Homegrown midfielder Cameron Lindley. I’m sure you’ve heard ours and other Orlando City-focused takes on the swap, but Chicago Fire General Manager Nelson Rodriguez gave his thoughts on Lindley’s move down to the Sunshine State. Rodriguez revealed that while Lindley was a product of Chicago’s academy, the 20-year-old told Rodriguez that he did not want to start his professional career with the Fire. Following an ideology of putting the Homegrown player’s wishes first, Rodriguez was able to not only fulfill Lindley’s desires but get something valuable in return.

“I think this is an instance where it’s a win-win for Orlando and for us, they get a talented player, we get resources and an equally young player with pro experience who also can compete for a starting spot.”

Rafael Ramos Bids Farewell

It’s always bittersweet when a trade goes through and we have to say goodbye to one of our own. It’s especially bittersweet when that player has been a part of an organization as long as Rafael Ramos has. Ramos joined the club back in 2014 when Orlando City was kicking it at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. It’s unfortunate that his time with the Lions in MLS was plagued by injuries but hopefully he can have a promising future in Chicago.

 

This past few days have been overwhelming for me. Lot of emotions when I have to say good bye to what’s been my home for the past 3 years @orlandocitysc . I feel really thankful for the opportunity that I had to represent this club and get to know this amazing city! Special thanks to all members involved in this organization for believing in me since day one. I wish this story had ended differently but unfortunately and as you all know this last season wasn’t as I expected it to be. Lastly I wanted to send a huge thanks to all of the Orlando City fans for the unbelievable support that you’ve given me since the beginning!! It was a great pleasure to be able to play in front of you guys every weekend!! Now it’s time to embrace a new challenge in my career. Really looking forward to it!!! @chicagofire #RR27 #ThankYouOrlando 🙏🏼💪🏼🙌🏼👏🏼👊🏼⚽️♥️

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Hill Shines in W-League Round 12 Play

In a W-League match that pitted Orlando Pride players against each other, Rachel Hill put on a show as the Perth Glory and Canberra United played to a 4-4 draw. Perth forward Sam Kerr dominated the headlines with a hat trick, but Hill assisted Kerr’s first and last goals while adding one of her own in the eight-goal thriller.

Despite the performance, the draw means that Hill and the Perth Glory will likely miss out on the Finals Series with just 14 points and only one game left on their schedule. Toni Pressley and Canberra United fare slightly better on the ladder with 16 points and will fight with Melbourne City and the Newcastle Jets for one of the top four spots.

Speaking of Melbourne City, birthday girl Alanna Kennedy and City captain Steph Catley had a 0-0 draw with the first-place Brisbane Roar in a clash between two W-League heavyweights. Kennedy was able to get on the end of a few threatening corners, but she and the City offense were unable to get past the Brisbane defense. Although it now holds the coveted fourth spot with 17 points, City is in a tough spot on the ladder with both Canberra and the Newcastle Jets (third place with 17 points) having a game in hand over the defending champions.

Atletico Nacional Wins Florida Cup Title

The Florida Cup came to a close last night with Atletico Nacional beating Legia Warsaw 2-0 to take the Florida Cup trophy. Aldo Ramirez netted a brace in the thrilling win that resulted in a three-way tie at the top of the standings with Atletico Nacional, Rangers FC, and Barcelona SC all sitting on six points from two wins. But Nacional held the tie-breaker in goal differential to give the Colombian club the title in its first ever Florida Cup.

Bruce Arena Details U.S. Soccer Collapse

It’s been over three months since the USMNT was knocked out of World Cup contention, and now former coach Bruce Arena finally gives the details on what exactly happened. Speaking at the United Soccer Coaches convention, Arena went into depth on how the USMNT failed to get a point in its final game against Trinidad and Tobago.

“I felt if we went into halftime at 1-0, we had a chance to come back and get our point,” Arena said. “We read them the riot act at halftime. We told our guys they had to go out and battle, find a way to create chances. We get the early goal [by Christian Pulisic]. We feel if we get another goal, we get the point, we get the hell out of here. We’re going to World Cup. It never came.

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  • Word around the rumor mill is that Stoke City made a $4.5M offer for NYCFC’s Jack Harrison.
  • Stirring up some interest, the USL DIII tweeted that its first member will be from one of the following southern states:

The first founding member of USL Division III will be from either Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina or North Carolina!

Where do you think the first team is from? 🤔#USLD3 | #ProSocc3r pic.twitter.com/yruWCk4DTV

— USLD3 (@USL_D3) January 20, 2018

The most likely choice would be one of the Carolinas, with both the Myrtle Beach Mutiny and the Wilmington Hammerheads as Premier Development League teams that could make the jump. But I’m gonna place my bet on Hunstville, AL, after USL DIII Vice President Steven Short visited in December and said the city was “poised for tremendous success.”

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That’ll do it for links today. Remember to check out Ertz and the rest of the USWNT when they take on Denmark tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/24/25

Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.

Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings

Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.

MLS Deadline Day Transfer News

The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.

The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.

Sources: Minnesota United in advanced talks to acquire Julian Gressel from Inter Miami.Nothing done yet. Still details to figure out. Optimism something gets done, but not there yet.

Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T00:25:26.971Z

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.

In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.

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That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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