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Lion Links: 4/6/18

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7 years ago

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Hey Mane Landers, I hope you’re having a good week so far. Thank gosh it’s Friday, right? Just a couple hours away from kicking back and relaxing for the weekend. We’ve got some Orlando City soccer this Sunday to look forward to and hopefully the Lions can get a win streak going. In the meantime, here are loads of links from yesterday to start your Friday off right.

Alex Morgan Scores Twice in U.S. 4-1 Win Over Mexico

If you watched last night’s U.S. Women’s National Team’s 4-1 win over Mexico then you probably have a hangover this morning because the game featured a lot of Captain Morgan. Wearing the armband for the USWNT, Morgan was giving Mexico fits with great runs and scored twice in the second half. Morgan’s first goal came after drawing and converting a penalty, her first penalty scored for the USWNT. Her second came only two minutes later where she beat her defender and fired a beautiful shot off the post and into the goal.

Mallory Pugh scored her fourth goal in 2018 to open the match’s scoring and Carli Lloyd scored quickly after Morgan to secure the win for the USWNT. Mexico’s only goal came off a good chip shot by Sky Blue FC’s Katie Johnson.

Kreis Prefers Orlando’s 2018 Start Rather Than Last Season’s

Let’s not beat around the bush here, obviously Orlando City’s 2017 MLS season start (6-1-0) is more desirable than Orlando’s current record in 2018 (1-2-1) if you’re looking at it from a raw stats perspective. But Head Coach Jason Kreis believes the team is off to a much better start this season compared to last year, and he might just be on to something. Sure, Orlando was at the top of the table early in the 2017 season, but the Lions frankly fell apart and missed the playoffs for the third straight time. It’d be great if Orlando could win every game, but I think success can be traced further than points and records. Here’s what Kreis said on the matter, let me know what you think in the comments:

“I felt like last year, we started out with tremendous results, but the truth of the matter is I don’t know if we necessarily deserved all of those results. I don’t know if we were a team that had more to give and to improve on [in] those performances.

“This year, I feel the exact opposite. I feel that our performances have been very good, haven’t gotten the results we deserve, and the fact of the matter is we have a lot of room to improve still. I think, for me, that bodes for incredibly positive things.”

Lions Loosen Up After First Win

Anyone in Central Florida could practically hear the collective breath taken by fans, players, and coaches the day after Orlando City’s 4-3 win over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday. The Lions came into the 2018 season with high hopes after a busy off-season, but a slow start had everyone a little on edge. Luckily, those nerves have been calmed after an impressive showing in last week’s match, which was the first time that all three of Orlando’s Designated Players were on the pitch at the same time.

Josué Colmán Settling in After First Orlando Goal

Piggybacking off of the previous link a bit, I don’t think any player was more relieved after last week’s win than forward Josué Colmán. Things haven’t been easy for the 19-year-old Paraguayan since coming to Orlando City. Colmán has had to adapt to his new team and league while dealing with both a nagging quad contusion and a significant language barrier. His hard work paid off Saturday when he not only started his first home game for Orlando City but scored his first goal as well. Okay, so maybe he didn’t conventionally score, but at the end of the day his name is on the stat sheet and he has something to laugh about with teammates at training. And he may not know much English, but he knew enough to accurately describe what it’s like playing in front of Orlando’s faithful: “crazy.”

Orlando Pride Focusing on Defense During Bye Week

With a whopping 10 players gone on international duty all over the world, the Orlando Pride are a little shorthanded at training and are focusing on individual drills to prepare for the April 15 road match against the Portland Thorns. After losing 2-0 to the Washington Spirit, both midfielder Christine Nairn and defender Toni Pressley are focusing on shoring up the Pride’s defense and becoming better in one-on-one situations.

Marta, Brazil Defeat Argentina 3-1 in Women’s World Cup Qualifying

In the 2018 Copa América Femenina in Chile, Brazil was able to open its tournament in impressive fashion by beating Argentina, 3-1. Orlando Pride players Marta and Monica both started for Brazil, while Pride defender Poliana was an unused sub. Neither Marta nor Monica found the score sheet, but it was a solid team effort from the Brazilian team, which will take the field again tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. ET.

Abby Elinski Capitalizing on Time as National Team Replacement Player

In order to replace the players serving their countries, the Orlando Pride signed four National Team Replacement Players. One of the four was midfielder Abby Elinski, who was originally drafted by the Houston Dash. With only nine teams in such a competitive league, Elinski has had to fight hard to get to where she is and her hard work is being rewarded so far.

U.S. U-20 Women Dispatch Sweden U-23 4-1

Over in Spain, the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team defeated Sweden’s U-23 team 4-1 in its first game of the 2018 U-23 La Manga Tournament. Forward Sophia Smith bagged a brace as she continues to impress in preparation for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup only four months away. On the other side of the game, Orlando Pride’s new Swedish defender Lotta Okvist started for her country and played the full game. You can catch the U.S. again tomorrow when the team takes on England’s U-23s. Okvist will also have a game tomorrow when Sweden faces off with France’s U-23 squad.

Zlatan Ibrahimovich Wins MLS Goal of the Week

Was there really any doubt who would win goal of the week? Zlatan rocked the country in his MLS debut after scoring an incredible volley for the LA Galaxy. Finishing second was Orlando City forward Dom Dwyer, who earned 13% of the vote for his strike against the Red Bulls. If Zlatan wasn’t Zlatan we would probably be celebrating Dwyer right now.

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  • Head to Orlando City Stadium to get some merchandise to represent the legendary Orlando Cty Sea Cows.

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Phew. That was a lot of links, but now you’re all caught up in everything from a busy day in soccer. I’ll send you off with the trailer for Alex Morgan’s upcoming film, Alex and Me.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/24/25

Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.

Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings

Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.

MLS Deadline Day Transfer News

The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.

The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.

Sources: Minnesota United in advanced talks to acquire Julian Gressel from Inter Miami.Nothing done yet. Still details to figure out. Optimism something gets done, but not there yet.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T00:25:26.971Z

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.

In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.

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That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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April 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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