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Lion Links: 2/3/18

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Happy weekend, Mane Land readers! Orlando City had a very busy week with signings galore, social media videos posted everywhere, and some great interviews. The Orlando Pride got in on the fun as well.

Orlando City has its first preseason match today against Jacksonville University, it’s the first whiff of true soccer for the Lions!

Oh, and in case you are keeping track, only a month until the kickoff of the 2018 season.

Now, onto the links.

Sydney Leroux Joins the Pride via Trade with Utah Royals

Ladies and gentlemen, the day has finally arrived! Sydney Leroux will be playing soccer in Orlando this year in the same stadium as her husband, Dom Dwyer, as the Orlando Pride have traded a 2019 first-round NWSL draft pick for the 27-year-old USWNT striker. Fans have yearned for this trade since Dwyer was added to Orlando City last year and he has said in multiple interviews that he hopes his family can join him in Orlando.

Leroux came to Orlando after FC Kansas City’s season ended last year and has been in Orlando with Dom for the holidays. Coming into the season, Leroux was contracted to the Utah Royals (previously FCKC before that team folded) and was going to have to travel to Utah so she could play this season. Sydney adds a physical, dynamic piece to the Orlando attack. The Pride struggled with physical play last year so Leroux should fix this issue on the forward line. Welcome to Sydney on her move to the Pride!

Orlando City Acquires Amro Tarek on Loan from Wadi Degla FC

Orlando City has made a much-needed addition to its back line by adding Amro Tarek, a 25-year-old center back/left back from Wadi Degla FC. Originally from Los Angles, Tarek also has Egyptian roots and has played for various teams in the country. He’s had a variety of appearances with teams like Real Betis, VfL Wolfsburg reserves, and Columbus Crew, among others. Tarek also has one cap with the Egyptian national team and is a former teammate of newly acquired winger Justin Meram.

Mohamed El-Munir Takes His First Touches with Orlando City

Mohamed El-Munir has not only landed in Florida but has also joined the team in Jacksonville ahead of its scrimmage against Jacksonville University today. El-Munir ran into some issues with his visa and travel pushing back his arrival in Florida by at least a week. Many fans were concerned that the Libyan international had not arrived in camp yet. Now, since he is in camp, it should take a few days for him to get acclimated with the squad and the training schedule. He won’t be playing today, having only spent one session with his new teammates. I, for one, look forward to seeing what he can provide for this team. Here’s an interview with the new defender to learn a bit more about him.

Former Orlando Pride Player Sarah Hagen Retires

As we’ve mentioned in previous Lion Links, Orlando City’s youth system is gaining a quality coach in its ranks, in former Pride player Sarah Hagen. Hagen, who has played eight years in professional women’s soccer, announced her retirement from playing yesterday via Instagram. She spent the 2016 season with the Orlando Pride, appearing 17 times and scoring two goals. Hagen also had two caps with the USWNT back in 2014. Congratulations to Sarah on her wonderful career and we can’t wait to see what she can do coaching at the youth level.

Today I announce my retirement from professional soccer. It’s been an amazing journey to this point but my heart is somewhere else. I’ve joined Orlando City Youth Soccer as a coach and couldn’t be happier! I would like to thank all 4 clubs (@fcbfrauen @fckansascityblues @orlpride @houstondash ) that let me be a part of teams with some unforgettable teammates, friends, fans, and coaches. A special thanks to @fcbfrauen for taking a chance on me straight from college. Bayern not only helped me grow as a player but also as a person. Looking back at my 6 year career, the thing I’m most grateful for is the quality of friends that I’ve made all over the world. I’m beyond excited for the next chapter in my life and can’t thank you all enough for making the last one so memorable!!! ❤️💙💜🧡🍎

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Report: Orlando City Attempted to Add Paulo Henrique Ganso

According to a Spanish newspaper, Orlando City was interested in the services of Paulo Ganso, the Brazilian footballer who is currently playing with Sevilla. It was reported that Ganso was falling out of favor with Sevilla and Orlando City reached out to inquire about his services. The club was allegedly offering a $2 million salary to the Brazilian but he was not interested in a move to Orlando. The club then turned its attention to other players, resulting in the addition of Josué Colmán. Ganso would have been a nice piece for Orlando City but, even if the report is true, the club has responded in an impactful way. 

Anti-stadium Protest Begins in Overtown

It appears that there are some Overtown residents that are not thrilled with the newly announced Miami MLS team. Announced on Monday of this past week, Miami will return to MLS under the ownership of David Beckham and a few others. During the group’s search for a stadium site, land in the Overtown neighborhood was selected.

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  • Current Orlando Pride Development Academy player Taylor Fox received a call-up for the U-16 USWNT. Fox is one of three goalkeepers called into camp which is taking place in Bradenton this weekend. Congrats to Taylor and here’s to hoping more Orlando Pride Development Academy players get called up in the future.
  • Diego Maradona, the infamous Argentinian footballer, was reportedly refused entry into the United States. Maradona was attempting to acquire a visa but, according to his lawyer, his request was denied because of his comments toward President Trump and the administration. He was attempting to go to Miami for a civil court case. 
  • Rubio Rubin signed with Club Tijuana. Rubin had a very nice camp and made a solid impact in the USMNT match against Bosnia on Jan. 28. The striker was being coveted by a few unnamed MLS teams but the salary was lower then expected with Club Tijuana swooping in at the last minute and grabbing him. He should have a good impact for the Liga MX side in their upcoming season. 

  • A special event will be held for a group of fans down at Lions Pride on Feb. 9. There will be players and coaches as well as the media team who will be hosting a Q&A. The club will also discuss the idea of “Face of a City.” Be sure to sign up!


As I always do, I like to end on a positive note and this week I have been very impressed with the way the team has bonded over this entire week. Players seem to be getting closer with each other, learning about each other, and even having a bit of fun at the others’ expense. My favorite thus far is #RichieCam. If you haven’t checked it out you need to! One relationship that appears to really be growing is the one between Yoshimar Yotún and Pierre Da Silva. Enjoy this clip of the two of them dancing in the halls of their hotel.

Have a great Saturday and an awesome weekend!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/1/24

Orlando City plays Charlotte FC tonight, Orlando Pride get ready for the Seattle Reign, NWSL playoff scenarios, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to November, Mane Landers! It’s kind of crazy that there are only two months left of 2024, and I’m not looking forward to the holiday shopping frenzy. I checked on how my resolutions are doing for this year and am going to have to pick up the pace if I want to reach my reading goals. Let’s get this November started with today’s links!

Lions Takes On Charlotte FC Tonight

Orlando City has a chance to book its spot in the next round of the playoffs tonight when it faces off against Charlotte FC at 7:30 p.m. This will be Charlotte’s first playoff game at home since joining the league and it will likely be a loud environment for the Lions to deal with. Charlotte is without Designated Player Pep Biel due to his red card, but midfielders Kerwin Vargas and Patrick Agyemang are more than capable of making an impact. The Lions will have to remain at the top of their game to avoid the series being sent back to Orlando for Game 3 on Nov. 9.

Orlando Pride Prepare for Regular Season Finale

The Orlando Pride will aim to get back on track Saturday night when they take on the Seattle Reign at home in their final game of the regular season. After a pair of losses, a match against the Reign presents a good chance for the team to return to its winning ways after securing its first NWSL Shield. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the international break gives the team a decent chance to reset, as well as how playing at home should give the team a boost.

NWSL Playoff Race Nears Its End

While the Pride secured the top spot in the standings weeks ago, a majority of the league has plenty on the line this weekend. There are three teams in contention for the final two playoff spots, and there’s a three-team race for the second seed in the playoffs. The Portland Thorns can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a result tonight against Angel City FC, while Bay FC can clinch with a result tomorrow night against the Houston Dash. If either team loses, it opens the door for Racing Louisville to snatch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday against the San Diego Wave. After last year’s drama that included the Pride narrowly missing out on the playoffs, I’m glad things are already locked up for Orlando this year.

USWNT’s New Era Off to Strong Start

One of the biggest takeaways from the United States Women’s National Team’s trio of victories in the recent international window was how many new players took the field and impressed. Head Coach Emma Hayes utilized plenty of rotation across the three matches, and Pride defender Emily Sams was one of seven players who made their debut. Sams received a rating of 7 coming off the bench in the team’s win over Argentina, a match that showcased just how deep the U.S. player pool is. It’s been a fantastic past few months for Hayes, who leaned on innovation and experimentation with Chelsea and has the U.S. rebuilding while still staying on top.

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  • Forward Diana Ordonez won’t play in the Dash’s final game of the season after undergoing successful surgery earlier this week.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and a relaxing weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/31/24

Orlando City focused on Game 2, USWNT beats Argentina, U.S. loses in U-17 World Cup, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Halloween! I don’t have any plans for the holiday beyond annoying my cat by dressing him up like a wizard for some photos. Scary movies aren’t exactly my thing either, but I hope you all have a fun time celebrating regardless. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira!

Lions Stay Focused Ahead of Playoff Match

Orlando City will aim to close out its playoff series with Charlotte FC on Friday when the two sides square off in North Carolina. The Lions may be riding high after a solid 2-0 win at home to start its playoff campaign, but Head Coach Oscar Pareja has the team focused on finishing the job to advance to the next round. Pareja spoke about how Orlando’s ability to react and solve problems is a strength and helped the Lions win the first game of the series.

As for Charlotte, MLSsoccer.com‘s Joseph Lowery has it as one of the more likely clubs to turn things around and force a Game 3. Charlotte will have to keep Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda from running rampant if it wants that to happen. Orlando also won’t have to deal with Charlotte midfielder Pep Biel in Friday’s match, as the appeal for the Designated Player’s red card was rejected.

USWNT Shuts Out Argentina

The United States Women’s National Team closed out the international window with a 3-0 win over Argentina in Louisville. Naomi Girma got the scoring started in the 37th minute, nodding in an easy goal after some poor defending from Argentina for her first international goal. An own goal doubled the USWNT’s lead right before halftime, and then Girma secured her brace with another header in the second half. Goalkeeper Mandy Haught made her USWNT debut, making one save in the shutout. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams did not start this time around, with Head Coach Emma Hayes choosing Eva Gaetino to start alongside Girma in the center of the U.S. defense. However, Sams did enter the game in the second half, coming on in the 70th minute. The USWNT will play its final games of the year when it travels to take on England on Nov. 30 and the Netherlands on Dec. 3 in a pair of tough friendlies.

U.S. Falls in U-17 World Cup Semifinal

The U-17 USWNT lost 1-0 to North Korea in the U-17 World Cup semifinals. After a scoreless first half, Ro Un-hyang scored a great goal to give North Korea the win. The U.S. struggled to get much going on offense and didn’t get a single shot on target in the match. There’s still a chance the U.S. can leave the Dominican Republic with silverware, as it will play for third place against either England or Spain on Sunday.

UEFA Invests in Women’s Soccer

In an effort to grow women’s soccer in Europe, UEFA has pledged $1.08 billion towards all levels of the sport over the next six years. Part of the organization’s goals is to double the number of fully professional national leagues and increase the number of professional players. The plan also includes developing more ways for girls and women to play, coach, and referee, starting at the grassroots level. Although this is a hefty amount of money devoted towards women’s soccer, there’s still plenty of work to do in regards to ensuring women can make a living from soccer.

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  • The City Beautiful is looking good in celebration of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride being in the postseason this year.
  • MLS Save of the Year went to FC Dallas’s Maarten Paes for his double save to deny Gabriel Pec from the penalty spot. I still prefer Pedro Gallese’s acrobatic double save that was nominated, but this was still nice work from Paes.
  • FC Cincinnati’s Luca Orellano won MLS Goal of the Year for his strike from 79.81 yards out to beat CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois on Aug. 31.
  • Weston McKennie scored his first goal of the Serie A season by getting his head on the end of a nice cross from fellow American Tim Weah, who later scored the equalizer in Juventus’ 2-2 draw with Parma.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a happy Halloween and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/30/24

Orlando City prepares for Charlotte (again), the Pride ready for playoffs, Ballon d’Or issues, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I hope you have your costume ready for tomorrow, and the candy ready for the kiddos. In addition to Halloween, it’s a big week for the club as Orlando City prepares for playoff match number two, and the Pride finish the regular season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Ready for Charlotte, Part Deux

Orlando City is heading into the second match against Charlotte FC riding the good vibes of a 2-0 victory in the first match. Facundo Torres and company executed Oscar Pareja’s game plan to perfection and will look to do so again this Friday. The second match will pose a bigger challenge as this will be the North Carolina-based club’s first-ever home playoff match. The crowd will be big and loud in this must-win match for the home team.

Pride Await Playoff Opponent

We’ve known for weeks that the Orlando Pride will be the number one seed in the NWSL playoffs. What we don’t know is which team the Pride will be playing. If the standings remain the same after this weekend, it will be Bay FC. The other two possibilities are the Portland Thorns or the Chicago Red Stars.

Orlando’s Gone But Not Forgotten

There have been many professionals who have played for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride over the years. While they may no longer wear purple, we still like to keep track of their comings and goings. For example, former Orlando Pride forward Sydney Leroux has signed a new three-year contract that will see her end her career at Angel City FC. Likewise, former Orlando Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod, has signed with Canadian Northern Super League side Halifax Tides FC.

In not-so-great news, former Orlando City striker Daryl Dike, has to endure yet another setback on his way back from injury for West Bromwich Albion. Dike suffered a mild hamstring issue in training with the first team. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.

The Ballon d’Or Problem

The Orlando Pride’s Marta was seemingly quite upset with Vinícius Júnior not getting the Ballon d’Or this year. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but given Marta’s accomplishments, her opinion carries more weight than many others.

Of course that isn’t the only criticism being leveled at the award. The women’s side of the award has been treated with disdain and marginalized consistently over the years. This year was no exception. Given that the award ceremony took place during the women’s international break. Many nominees and winners for the various awards, including USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes, were unable to attend. Given how fast the women’s game is growing, it’s time for those giving out the accolades to treat the women equally.

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That will do it for today. I hope everyone has fun and stays safe tomorrow for Halloween. Also, remember to check back as we get you ready for the upcoming Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches. Vamos Orlando!

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