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Lion Links: 2/15/18

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9 years ago

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So you’ve survived Valentine’s Day and the candy coma that accompanied it? Good, because it’s Thursday and we’ve got plenty to talk about, as usual, as we hurtle toward the weekend and Orlando City’s preseason date with Real Salt Lake.

We’re just 16 days away from the Lions’ 2018 MLS opener, and there are just a few remaining preseason scrimmages for Jason Kreis to figure out where all the pieces fit best heading into the season. And not everyone is even in camp yet!

Lions Best Philadelphia

Orlando City played four different sessions against the Philadelphia Union in yesterday’s scrimmage and although the club does not consider these legitimate preseason games due to various reasons — odd timing structures, players subbing off and back on, etc. — we as fans do not have much else to judge the team on in these early days before the season. So, to that end, we’ll continue to bring you the final goal total and who scored them out of context, since we’re not permitted to watch these training scrimmages. Yesterday, the Lions scored three times and the Union only once. Maybe it wasn’t a legit game, but to me Orlando City won the scrimmage on aggregate, 3-1.

As usual, Orlando City says there’s no official score from today’s scrimmage but the Lions won 3-1 in our book by virtue of scoring three times and conceding once. Yoshi (pen.), RJ Allen, and Chris Mueller scored.

— The Mane Land (@TheManeLand) February 14, 2018

As mentioned in the tweet, your goal scorers were Yoshimar Yotun (from the spot), RJ Allen, and Chris Mueller, who is having himself one whale of a preseason. Cory Burke scored for Philly.

Getting back to Mueller for a minute, it seems he might be a long-lost clone of the gaffer.

Kreis was asked if @cmueller1662 reminded him of a younger version of himself. Kreis smiled, saying, “Yeah. Yeah he does. I couldn’t be happier with what he’s all about. I knew from the moment I spoke to him at the combine, he reminded me of me.”

— Austin David (@AustinDavid22) February 14, 2018

This is how I like to imagine Kreis greets Mueller every time he comes off the field after scoring a goal.

Laryea Wants More Minutes

Richie Laryea is more than just the star of #RichieCam, my favorite new show of 2018. He’s also a soft-spoken Canadian soccer player with a hunger for more minutes after finishing the 2017 season as a regular contributor off the bench for Jason Kreis. Those minutes will be more difficult to come by with all the additions to the Lions this off-season but that doesn’t mean he’s not going for it, as he told ProSoccerUSA’s Jordan Culver.

“Orlando City B helped me last season to get minutes,” he said. “It’s not around this year so I’m looking mainly to get my minutes with the first team and have a real breakthrough season and show everyone what I can do.”

He also discussed Cyle Larin’s exit from the team and, of course, RichieCam.

Pride’s Offense Gets Even Better

The Orlando Pride entered yesterday with such goal-scoring threats as Alex Morgan, Marta, Sydney Leroux, Rachel Hill, and (the currently injured) Camila. But that offense got even better when the club added Australia National Team No. 10 Emily van Egmond. The attacking midfielder will certainly mitigate Camila’s absence to start the season and will provide yet another creative attacking threat to Tom Sermanni’s side. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch the Pride in 2018, folks.

By the way, van Egmond along with Pride teammate Alanna Kennedy, made Australia’s Algarve Cup roster, along with former Pride players Lisa De Vanna, Steph Catley, and Laura Alleway.

Morgan, Harris Named to USWNT’s Preliminary SheBelieves Roster

To no one’s surprise, Orlando Pride stars Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris have been named to Jill Ellis’ preliminary roster for the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. Ellis has named 26 players to the preliminary roster for the four-nation friendly tournament, which will conclude in our very own Orlando City Stadium on March 7. The tourney kicks off on March 1 in Columbus and the roster will be down to 23 by then.

We can probably assume Morgan will get some minutes but with three matches to play in just a week, will Harris get a run-out? Alyssa Naeher has gotten the bulk of the work since Hope Solo was dismissed from the team but Jane Campbell is pushing for minutes as well.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City released its first video in a three-part series called “The Road to March 3rd.” The seven(ish)-minute video is worth a look.
  • According to ESPN FC, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is preparing for life after Manchester United by house hunting in Los Angeles. That seems like an oddly long commute to his future job in Orlando, in my opinion.
  • Those born on this date include Galileo (1564), piano company founder Henry Steinway (born Heinrich Steinweg in 1797), Susan B. Anthony (1820), polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874), original Batman series actor Cesar Romero (1907), Harvey Korman (1927), former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson (1949), singer Melissa Manchester (1951), Jane Seymour (1951), The Simpsons and Futurama creator Matt Groening (1954), Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee (1957), football’s Darrell Green (1960), Chris Farley (1964), basketball’s Mark Price (1964), and hockey’s Jaromir Jagr (1972).

That’s all my time for this morning. Happy Lenten season for those of you who celebrate Lent (and good luck with those sacrifices and/or spiritual disciplines).

In honor of birthday boy Galileo, I leave you with this lyrical meme.

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Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

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16 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

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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Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

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2 days ago

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October 22, 2026

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Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

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

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Lion Links: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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October 21, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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