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Lion Links: 2/17/18

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9 years ago

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Happy Saturday, Mane Land readers! I’m glad that the weekend is here and I’m sure most of you feel the same.

Orlando City will have its fourth preseason scrimmage against Real Salt Lake today and it also signals that the season is only two weeks away!

Now on to the links.

Chioma Ubogagu Re-signs with Orlando Pride

Chioma Ubogagu will be in purple for the foreseeable future as the young attacking player inked a new deal with the Orlando Pride on Friday. No details of the contract were released but re-signing Ubogagu sets up the season nicely for the Pride. She contributed pretty heavily last year, playing in 20 games for the Pride as she scored four goals and added three assists. With Chi re-signed, the Pride has one remaining player to wrap up in Alanna Kennedy before their preseason. The Pride will get to work on Feb. 19, as preseason begins, and they will participate in a few preseason matches as well. Chi will look to contribute large minutes this upcoming season.

Pride Open at Home for the 2018 Season

For all of us National Women’s Soccer League fans, we have been waiting for the 2018 season schedule and it’s finally here (kind of — the league announced all the home openers). NWSL announced Friday that the Orlando Pride will open the 2018 season at home against Utah Royals FC on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. The following week the Pride will travel to Washington D.C. where they will take on the Washington Spirit in Washington’s home opener on March 31. After the FIFA break the following week, we also know that the Pride will travel to Portland to take on the Thorns on April 15, which will be Portland’s home opener. The rest of the NWSL schedule is expected to drop on Tuesday, Feb. 20, so expect more details then.

Another Move on the Horizon?

Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao dropped his classic eyeball emoji tweet on Friday about mid-afternoon, telling fans to look out for news on Monday. In the past, this normally signals some kind of move from Orlando City, so we’ll have to see what happens. It was announced at Media Day that the club was still looking to bring in a defensive piece but it has been relatively silent since the statement. Depending on the signing, this could be a great move for the club and solidify its back line going into the season which still remains a weak spot on the squad. 

Cyle Larin Could go out on Loan

Cyle Larin has had a rough couple of months and it appears to be getting worse for the young Canadian striker. After the Larin saga was resolved last month, he has been looking to get playing time with Besiktas but appears to be the fourth striker on the roster. According to reports, Larin could be on the move, as Besiktas is looking to loan him out so he can get playing time. China, Ukraine, and Russia are all leagues that are looking at his services. Regardless of what happens, it appears Larin’s tough beginning of the year will continue.

Kaku Saga Finally Comes to an End

The New York Red Bulls have been working on replacing Sacha Kljestan ever since he was traded to Orlando City and it appears they finally got their man. The Red Bulls targeted 23-year-old playmaker Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra to fill a need but there were some hiccups in the transfer. According to ESPN:

“the deal was held up while lawyers involved in the transfer refuted their payment for their participation.”

This saga has been going on for weeks and looked bleak for some time but they finally worked it all out between the club, the player, his agent, and the lawyers that were involved. This continues a trend of young South American players making the move to MLS this off-season. It should be fun to see what these young players can do in this league. 

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  • The first two teams have booked their tickets into the FA Cup quarterfinal with Leicester City edging out Sheffield United with a 1-0 victory and Chelsea blowing out Hull City, 4-0. The remainder of the round of 16 games will take place this weekend, so there will be some great soccer to watch. 
  • In a Ligue 1 match between AS Monaco and Dijon, the referee missed an obvious penalty kick call. In the 64th minute, Monaco’s Youri Tielemans was taken down in the corner of the 18-yard box. Tielemans immediately looked to the assistant referee and the head referee for the call but neither official called the PK. Take a look at the video and see what you think.

  • A few West Brom players allegedly stole a taxi from a McDonald’s drive-thru while in Spain. It was said that a few players took the taxi and drove it back to their hotel, where it was found parked outside a few hours later. The club acknowledged the incident and said that they would be investigating the situation.

Those are the links, but, as you all know, I like to end on a positive note, so I have a fun one for you. We know that a lot of fans out there have been wanting to see some preseason action and it looks like your wish is coming true. The Lion Nation Twitter account announced on Friday that the club will be streaming the final 15 minutes of the training scrimmage against RSL, for those that are Lion Nation premium members. So, be sure to tune in for the stream if you can!

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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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18 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.

Published

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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