Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/2/18

Welcome to another Friday adventure in internet land, Mane Landers. I hope you have survived this monstrous week filled with loads of Orlando City and Orlando Pride transfers. Personally, I am still trying to catch my breath and rest my fingers. I don’t think the front office is done yet, but we may have to wait. In the meantime, let’s dig right in to the best of the best links from around the web.
Mohamed has Landed
The long awaited day has finally come. After signing the left back from Serbian side FK Partizan Belgrade back in December, Orlando City has just been waiting for everything to clear for Mohamed El-Munir. Well, it definitely appears as though the paperwork concerns are over and everything is great.
Check who just landed in Orlando. 🛬
Hey, Mohamed! 👋 #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/wQwXgNYekY
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 1, 2018
Welcome to Orlando, Mohamed. Now please grab your things and get to Jacksonville as quickly as you can, good sir! Preseason training is already underway.
Kreis Discusses Team on Extra Time Radio
This has been the most heart-wrenching and agonizing off-season I can remember, and these are good things. I also believe that there is more to come. While we continue to wait with baited breath for the next hint or crumb of who the next Lion will be, I guess we will be forced to snack on the nuggets of information sneaking out of training camp. One such nugget comes straight from Head Coach Jason Kreis himself as he recently sat down with Extra Time Radio to discuss Orlando City’s apparent all-or-nothing roster shake-up, where Sacha Kljestan may play, and other items I will not spoil. Listen for yourself.
In Regards to Those Additional Transfers
Dusan Cvetinovic, the Serbian center back rumored for a few weeks now to be in talks with Orlando, may not be coming after all, at least not yet. According to some European papers, Orlando City’s offer was short of the requested amount to secure the transfer of Cvetinovic. Does this mean that the deal is completely dead? You can never count any transfer dead. We here at The Mane Land are watching intently and will keep you updated as this progresses, if it progresses.
USSF Now and Tomorrow
Sunil Gulati, the current president of USSF, recently spoke at the U.S. Youth Soccer Hall of Fame ceremony in Philadelphia. Part of his speech was spent defending himself and the choices made from the barrage of accusations from the current batch of presidential candidates.
Outgoing #USSF President @sunilgulati at the @USYouthSoccer HOF dinner in PHL gives a comprehensive and fascinating rebuttal to misrepresentations, misstatements, and falsehoods made by candidates. https://t.co/rOYqdbnQA1 pic.twitter.com/cCuMmT9GTW
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) February 1, 2018
Speaking of the candidates, half of them have been asked to speak with the Athlete Council. As a quick refresh and primer, the Athlete Council is made up of 20 current and former national team players and collectively holds 20% of the vote because of their status as a voting bloc.
Kathy Carter, Carlos Cordeiro, Kyle Martino and Michael Winograd were all asked to take part in calls today, although a representative for the Council warns that these four do not necessarily represent the top four candidates for the Council at this time.
Geoff Cameron Lets it all Out
USMNT center back Geoff Cameron, one of the most experienced and athletic center backs currently logging caps for the team, has come forward to give some of his thoughts on how the USMNT missed punching its ticket to Russia. According to Cameron, who was left out of the starting XI for both of the final qualifying matches against Panama (a 4-0 win for the U.S.) and Trinidad and Tobago (a 2-1 loss for the U.S.). A lot comes out in the interview and it is very interesting to see a player’s perspective on the entire story. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to see Geoff’s side, love him or hate him.
Free Kicks
- Are you a fan of #RichieCam yet? Do you even know about #RichieCam? Hop on board with Dom Dwyer and Scott Sutter to learn all about it.
Join the movement #RichieCam pic.twitter.com/lgTGs4sO3C
— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) February 1, 2018
Be smart…..be like Richie #richiecam @Ddwyer14 @OrlandoCitySC pic.twitter.com/t4qMW8Ofm2
— Scott Sutter (@scott_sutter) February 1, 2018
- Get to know Eddie Hawkins, the first African-American to earn a cap for the USMNT. The year was 1984. Let that sink in for a few minutes. I was a 9-year-old.
- Want to know how Orlando’s whirlwind off-season compares to that other team that joined MLS almost four seasons ago? Here you go.
- When you play for Swansea and score a brace against Arsenal in a comeback victory at home, you should be careful how you celebrate the goals.
- Toronto FC has signed Gregory van der Wiel, a defender with World Cup experience. Van der Wiel now becomes the 13th player in MLS history to have played in a World Cup final.
- Stuart Holden in a dress for his daughter’s birthday party might be the best thing ever. I have done the same thing and rocked the hell out of the princess dress too, Stuart.
That is it for today folks, except for this little nugget of fun. You know I can’t help but drop a little music in that is somehow tied to the week’s events. Welcome to Black History Month, and let me please introduce you to Zeal & Ardor. They’re what happens when the internet dares a composer to create an album mashing up traditional slave hymnals and black metal. This album was one of my favorites of 2017, as it is one of the most creative albums I have heard in some time.
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.

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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/2/25
Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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
- The NWSL is looking to expand its media rights deals to include Sunday nights beginning next year. It’s a growth league and a growth market, and I’m all for Sunday night matches.
- Power rankings have now made their way down to MLS NEXT Pro. Spoiler alert, Orlando City B comes in at fifth. Still, it’s nice to see a little love given to the development league. Maybe I should write a power rankings for the various power rankings.
- I’m always for more soccer, and we now know the USL Women’s Super League eight-team playoff dates and format.
- I know it can be hard to feel bad for people who make quite a bit money playing soccer, but I still side with them over the billionaire owners that pay them. Or don’t pay them in the case of Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
- Barcelona is trying to bring the NFL to Spain. If successful, it might be the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who make an appearance at Camp Nou. This will allow a bunch of Barcelona supporters the opportunity to ask if Taylor Swift will make an appearance.
- If you’re not watching the German Cup — and to be fair, I haven’t been either — you are missing some massive cupsets, including third-tier Arminia Bielefeld taking down Bundesliga champs Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to advance to the German Cup final.
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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/25
Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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
- Orlando City jumped eight places to no. 11 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Meanwhile the Orlando Pride continue to hold sway at no. 1 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Germany great Thomas Muller has reportedly received offers from MLS teams.
- Tierna Davidson will not play in the USWNT’s upcoming games against Brazil due to a knee injury, with Gisele Thompson replacing her on the roster.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
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