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Lion Links: 2/1/18

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Happy Thursday, everyone and welcome to February! It’s the final month without Orlando City regular-season matches. We’re now just 30 days away from the Lions’ opening match against D.C. United and hey, wouldn’t it be great if the squad had more than two center backs?

OK, so we’ve all been a little impatient and it will happen in due time, but instead of focusing on the moves that are still to come, we can bask in the glow of an endless parade of talented midfielders arriving daily in the City Beautiful (or, for now, Jacksonville, anyway).

Here are our top stories at this hour:

Yet Another Trade for Orlando City

While it didn’t add a player to the roster (yet), the Lions made another deal on Wednesday, sending an international roster slot for 2018 to the Montreal Impact for $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Apparently those Garberbucks won’t be in Orlando very long.

I am afraid we will trade this guy GAM very quickly . Don’t be excited with him . https://t.co/LHWilBsd1U

— Alex Leitao (@alexleitao) January 31, 2018

I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Orlando Closing in on a Center Back?

RC Lens center back Dušan Cvetinović could be the next off-season signing for Orlando City. According to this Ligue 2 site (that I didn’t know existed until yesterday), the Lions may be close to paying a release clause in the 29-year-old Serb’s contract that would free him for a move to MLS. Lens may be replacing Cvetinović with former Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle.

Meram’s First 24 Hours in Purple

It was a whirlwind for Justin Meram with Monday’s trade and he wasted no time getting to Jacksonville to meet his new teammates and get preseason with Orlando City started. This video hits the highlights of his first 24 hours as a Lion.

We’re running back the clock on Justin Meram’s first 2⃣4⃣ hours with City. #WelcomeMeram | #LionsInJax pic.twitter.com/SeWcdMPJNP

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 31, 2018

Goodbyes Galore

The two Pride players who left Orlando this week did so in a much more normal matter than the Orlando City striker who transferred out. All three offered their goodbyes on social media but one of them seemed completely out of place to me. I’ll let you decide which one.

Thank you @orlpride for the past two years, it was an honour to play in the city of Orlando. A big thank you to @TomSermanni in particular for supporting and guiding me all of these years. It’s extremely hard to say goodbye but I’m very excited for my new chapter at @reignfc 🙂

— Stephanie Catley (@stephcatley) January 30, 2018

Orlando I cannot thank you enough for all the amazing memories I’ve made the past two seasons. It has been an absolute honor to rep this city with you and you’ll always hold a special place in my heart!! That being said I’m sooo excited to start my new journey in Seattle !!

— Jasmyne Spencer (@Jas_it_Up) January 30, 2018

pic.twitter.com/XJ5XACphbI

— Cyle Larin (@CyleLarin) January 31, 2018

Look, I’ve made my thoughts quite clear on the way Larin chose to force his exit from a team that was already willing to move him to a European club and looking to do just that. But it seems incredibly tone deaf to me that Larin didn’t at least apologize to the club’s fans for his part in the way things ended. Our friend Paul Tenorio had other things to say on the topic of Larin and how this whole mess could affect MLS rules moving forward.

Lions Learn Leadership

Six Orlando City players designated as core leaders for the 2018 squad — Jonathan Spector, Joe Bendik, Will Johnson, Yoshimar Yotún, Dom Dwyer, and Sacha Kljestan — visited Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The trip was the idea of Spector and his friend, Lt. Commander Mike Garcia.

“He’s a pilot in the Navy,” Spector said. “Him and I were talking and I got the idea to get a group of guys over there, sit down with the commanding officer of his squadron and a few other hand-picked members and just have a discussion on some of their core values, their culture, their leadership, how they establish teamwork and commitment that they have and how it can relate to us.”

Inchy Lauds Lions’ Off-Season

Christian Bruey from WFTV caught up with former OCSC gaffer Adrian Heath at Minnesota United’s training camp and discussed Larin’s prospects at Besiktas, among other things. Among the things that stuck out to me in the excerpt below (full interview to air this weekend) is “I think [Orlando City has] probably had the best off-season of anybody in MLS.”

Former @OrlandoCitySC head coach Adrian Heath believes Besiktas is a perfect landing spot for Cyle Larin.

Look for my complete conversation with Heath on @WFTV this weekend.#MLS #Besiktas #Orlando pic.twitter.com/OY9ZAzYtrL

— Christian Bruey (@CBrueyWFTV) January 31, 2018

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Carlos Rivas scored a goal on a free kick in his New York Red Bulls debut, because of course he did. The Red Bulls, however, blew a 2-0 lead and lost to the New England Revolution, 4-3.
  • MLS and Liga MX are discussing an annual match between the two leagues’ champions. But, in true MLS fashion, it’s going to end up being weird.
  • The U-17 USWNT’s matches are set for the 2018 CONCACAF Championship. The matches begin April 20 with a match against Costa Rica. The U.S. will also play Bermuda and Canada in Group B. The tournament is being held in Managua, Nicaragua. The 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be held from Nov. 13-Dec. 1 in Uruguay.
  • The USL instituted a few rule changes for 2018.
  • Among those born on this date include: Clark Gable (1901), SNL alum Garrett Morris (1937), The Jeffersons star Sherman Hemsley (1938), Monty Python’s Terry Jones (1942), Rick James (1948), Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell (1950), Warrant frontman Jani Lane (1964), former UCF and USWNT star Michelle Akers (1966), Pauly Shore (1968), Scottish footballer Darren Fletcher (1984), Ronda Rousey (1987), and Genoa forward Guiseppe Rossi (1987).

That’s all my time this morning, folks. Enjoy your Thursday. I’d tell you to get ready for Orlando City’s preseason opener in Jacksonville this weekend, but the club doesn’t want any of us to see it because reasons. I leave you with this screenshot from Dom Dwyer’s Instagram video where he smiled, then threw the focus onto the Pride magnet and then back to himself. He’s either very hopeful, a huge tease, or subtly leaking info on a Tom Sermanni target. You decide.

re you trying to tell us something, Dom?

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

Free Kicks


That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

Free Kicks


That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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