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Lion Links: 3/14/18

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7 years ago

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Happy Wednesday, folks! I’m back into travel mode, just getting back from good ole Cleveland, OH, and on to Dogfish Head Brewery this weekend. Meaning I will be having plenty of St. Patrick’s Day fun, hoping for some positive Twitter updates on Saturday. Hopefully you will be doing the same.

Let’s do this!

Rough Start Doesn't Mean Time to Panic for City

If we can’t be the voice of reason for the city of Orlando, we’re certainly trying. If you didn't like our stance, maybe you’ll take the players’ word for it instead. Will Johnson gave his take on the Lions so far this season, via ProSoccerUSA:

“Big-time disappointment,” Johnson said of the first two games. “Obviously we expected to get more out of those games, even with the injuries and suspensions, we still felt that there were enough guys that we had on our depth chart that could step on the field and get the job done.

Johnson understands — like we do — that building a winning culture doesn't happen overnight.

“We want to be a team that’s better in September and October than we are in March and April,” Johnson said. “That’s kind of where we are. There was a lot of turnover. A lot of new faces. That’s not excuses, that’s just the reality of this group right now and so we’ve got to be a better team in September and October.

“It’s not just going to be Sacha, Dom and Josué coming in and all of the sudden we’re just going to be the team to beat. That’s not how it works. It’s a progressive, long marathon of a season and we hope to peak towards the end. That being said, we’ve got to pick up points along the way.”

Orlando City to be Seen via Twitter Saturday

An always difficult find is your team’s out-of-market — or away — matches. While for right now you can still watch via MLS Live for free, there is now another method for you to utilize on the go as MLS has partnered with Univision to broadcast 24 matches, which began last weekend with LAFC at Real Salt Lake. This will be the Lions’ first appearance live on Twitter.

But if you’re lucky enough to be in New York this weekend, the club has offered some handy suggestions on what to look out for.

MLS and Liga MX Embark on New Partnership

Another big partnership news item yesterday was between the two top North American leagues, MLS and Liga MX (Mexico).

The three main components:

  • MLS All-Star Game inclusion; as well as the Homegrown Game (U-20s).
  • Campeones Cup: Where each champion will play a match in September. This year it will be in Toronto FC’s BMO Field against either the Apertura or Clausura champion.
  • Shared business practices/social responsibility.

Overall I don’t think is a bad move for the league in most respects. I’ll be providing a deep dive into all of these next week, so I won't steal my own thunder. But there are definite pros and cons here.

U.S. Soccer GM Positions Are In Trouble

One of the most interesting — and controversial — moves by the U.S. Soccer Federation and new USSF President Carlos Cordeiro was the announcement of the new U.S. Soccer general manager positions for the men and the women.

However, Grant Wahl reports that the federation is having trouble finding suitors for a number of reasons. It’s become clear that the roles might have been hastily put together to save face rather than being true impact positions. The combination of lack of responsibility in the full soccer pyramid (youth and pro), plus the question of true overall power while answering to a CEO, has given many reasons to hesitate in pursuing this role.

The question remains, if no one steps up, will U.S. Soccer amend the responsibilities or sweep this one under the rug? This position is supposed to hire the new men’s coach and therefore is paramount to moving forward this year, unless the plan is to wait until after the World Cup to see who’s available. Regardless, this isn't a great look for U.S. Soccer.

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And no matter how bad your day, or if you’re like me and sometimes miss your hair, remember: Nothing can be as bad as Marouane Fellaini doing his best Mickey Mouse impersonation:

Have a great day!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/18/25

Justin Ellis named U-19 MLS NEXT MVP, Orlando Pride announce historic apparel collection, landing spots for USMNT players, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Happy Friday! It’s been a long week, but the weekend is nearly upon us. My parents are in town on vacation, so I’m looking forward to having an excuse to go out to brunch. It should be a nice few days with plenty of soccer to keep us all entertained. Let’s get to the links!

Justin Ellis Named U-19 MLS NEXT MVP

Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis was named MLS NEXT MVP for the U-19 age group after a stellar season that included 18 goals for the Lions. The 18-year-old was the top scorer of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup to help his team lift the trophy and helped the team reach the semifinals of the MLS NEXT Cup. In MLS NEXT Pro action, Ellis has recorded seven goals and three assists in 11 appearances for OCB. It’s quite the accolade for the forward and hopefully he can continue to make strides in his development to make an impact with the first team.

Orlando Pride Announce Full-Team Apparel Collection

The Orlando Pride became the first NWSL club to offer a merchandise line featuring every player on the roster after announcing a new apparel collection. The Pride, in collaboration with apparel brand 500 Level, will offer over 500 player-specific items to form the largest player collection across the major U.S. sports leagues. As someone who is usually a fan of the unsung heroes when it comes to sports, I think it’s pretty great that fans are now able to get apparel representing their favorite Pride player no matter who that is.

Ideal Transfer Landing Spots for USMNT Players

ESPN took a stab at identifying the best fits for United States Men’s National Team players with transfer buzz following the Concacaf Gold Cup. Orlando City right back Alex Freeman was listed but could need a bit more time solidifying his game with the Lions before big clubs come knocking. Midfielder Diego Luna had a strong tournament with the U.S. this summer and could fit in well with Celta Vigo’s rebuilding plans. As for other intriguing things to keep an eye on, a move to MLS could give Giovanni Reyna the playing time he desperately needs; Ricardo Pepi may be best off staying at PSV Eindhoven; and Marseille may be just what the doctor ordered for Tim Weah.

England Comes Back to Reach Euro Semifinals

England secured its spot in the Women’s European Championship semifinals in dramatic fashion, advancing on penalties against Sweden after a 2-2 draw. A pair of goals in the first half by Sweden had the Scandinavian nation on top for most of the match, but Lucy Bronze scored in the 79th minute, before 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang scored the equalizer in the 81st. The penalty shootout included nine misses, but the defending champs prevailed in the end. It’s a brutal way for Peter Gerhardsson’s tenure as Sweden’s head coach to come to a close. England will face Italy in the semifinals on Tuesday.

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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

Lion Links: 7/17/25

Orlando City falls apart at home, Orlando Pride players in action abroad, Charlotte will host 2026 MLS All-Star Game, and more.

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2 days ago

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July 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Sometimes the Cardiac Cats are fun to watch, and other times they really do just stomp your heart into pieces. We’re unfortunately in the aftermath of the latter after Orlando City’s rough defeat last night. The good news is that the Lions can’t lose today as well. Let’s jump right into today’s links.

Orlando City Beaten by New York City FC

The Lions’ summer struggles continued with a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to New York City FC. Robin Jansson scored his first goal of the season, but Orlando collapsed late at home yet again, suffering from an own goal and a winner from Alonso Martinez in stoppage time. Orlando City is now winless in its past four games and has not won at home since May 24. There’s not much time to shake off this loss, as the Lions are back in action on Saturday for a tough road match against the New England Revolution.

Keeping Up With the Pride Players Abroad

Marta came off the bench and provided a pair of assists in Brazil’s dominant 6-0 win over Bolivia in the Copa America Femenina’s group stage. Kerolin had a hat trick and the result keeps Brazil at the top of its group for the time being. The Brazilians will be back in action on Tuesday to face Paraguay.

The CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals kick off on Friday with a great matchup between Zambia and Nigeria. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji have each scored three goals this tournament and both were named to the Best XI of the group stage. Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse likely won’t play, but England takes on Sweden today in the Women’s European Championship quarterfinals.

Charlotte Will Host 2026 MLS All-Star Game

MLS announced that Charlotte will serve as the host of the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, the 30th in the league’s history. Charlotte FC joined the league in 2022 and this will be the first time the event is held in Charlotte. It’s always nice to see a smaller market receive its day in the sun, and Charlotte has really embraced soccer over the years. But if Sir Minty doesn’t take part in the skills challenge next year, then what are we even doing?

D.C. United Hires Rene Weiler

Rene Weiler is officially the next head coach of D.C. United and will take over once he receives a U.S. work permit. The 51-year-old brings plenty of European experience to the nation’s capital and won the Swiss Cup with Servette FC last year. He replaces Troy Lesesne, who was fired by the club after its exit from the U.S. Open Cup earlier this month. It’s a new era for one of the league’s older clubs, and it will be interesting to see how aggressive D.C. will be to bring in talent during the upcoming transfer window.

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  • Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has reportedly agreed to terms with Inter Miami and could be with the club in time for the Leagues Cup. He also reportedly won’t need to take up a Designated Player spot this year, because of course.

That’s all I have for you this time around, Mane Landers. Stay hydrated and have a great Thursday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/16/25

Orlando City faces NYCFC, Marco Pasalic is an All-Star, OCB’s Jhon Solis transfers out, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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July 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s matchday in the City Beautiful as Orlando City hosts New York City FC in a crucial Eastern Conference bout. I know I’m in the minority, but I love Wednesday matches since I’m off work on Thursdays. That being said, if you have the opportunity, you should definitely head down to the match tonight. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions Host the Pigeons

Orlando City welcomes New York City FC to Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The midweek match comes after a short turnaround following Saturday’s draw against CF Montreal. The Lions will need to get the offense back in gear to take all three points from NYCFC. Our own Ben Miller joined Hudson River Blue to answer questions for the opposition. Check back later today for our detailed preview of the match.

Pasalic is an All-Star

Marco Pasalic was named to the MLS All-Star squad by coach Nico Estévez. Pasalic joins Alex Freeman as the second Lion to represent Orlando City in the match. The MLS All-Stars will play a team of All-Stars from Liga MX. Pasalic is tied with Martin Ojeda for the team’s goal-scoring lead with 10. He also has four assists for the Lions. Pasalic is a worthy addition to the MLS All-Star Team, but it does beg the question why Ojeda didn’t also get an invitation.

So Long, Solis

Orlando City B has transferred midfielder Jhon Solis to Fortaleza C.E.I.F. of Liga BetPlay Dimayor — Colombia’s top tier. Solis made 70 appearances for the Young Lions since joining prior to the 2023 season. As a native of Medellín, Colombia, the 26-year-old is returning to his home country to continue his career. Solis wasn’t able to make the jump to Orlando City’s first team, but he was a consistent starter for OCB.

U.S. National Team News

Fresh off his appearances in the Concacaf Gold Cup, Patrick Agyemang has been transferred from Charlotte FC to Derby County in the English Championship. In sadder news, Aaron Long is out for the season after having surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles.

On the women’s side, USWNT coach Emma Hayes has great praise for Sam Coffey and her presence in the U.S. midfield.

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That will do it for today. Check back later as we prepare you for tonight’s match, and don’t forget to follow The Mane Land on Bluesky to get match updates. Vamos Orlando!

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