Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/8/18

Happy Sunday, Mane Landers, but more importantly, happy match day! It’s looking overcast outside today, so if you’re headed down to Orlando City Stadium to see the Lions host the Timbers, be sure to dress with the potential of rain in mind. Also, be sure to treat Mohamed El-Munir with extra love today as it’s his 26th birthday. It’d be pretty cool if the home supporters could get a happy birthday chant in at some point during the match, but I digress.
I’m really looking forward to this Timbers match, and I know you all are too, but here are some Lion Links to hold you over for a few hours:
Justin Meram Almost Didn’t Play College Soccer
The headline is almost unbelievable, but it’s true. One of Orlando City’s brightest players in 2018 so far, Meram wasn’t always on the road towards a career in professional soccer. In his interview with ESPN’s Taylor Twellman, Meram explained that it was by chance that he was spotted playing in a park by an alumnus of a local college. After collecting championships and personal accolades at Yavapai College in Arizona, Meram transferred to Michigan University, later making his jump into the professional game. It goes to show, folks, anything is possible. Maybe there’s someone watching your Sunday beer league matches, looking for the next Justin Meram. I mean, probably not…but you never know.
Orlando Pride Stars Contained by Korea Republic in Asian Cup Draw
Australia drew with a stout Korea Republic side yesterday, 0-0. The Orlando Pride’s Emily van Egmond made the starting 11 and Alanna Kennedy was brought on in the 57th minute. Australia was expected to win this Asian Cup opener against Korea Republic, so the result certainly comes as a surprise. Australia plays Vietnam in their next Asian Cup match on Tuesday. They then face off against Japan in what should be an exciting clash on Friday.
Speaking of Pride stars, Marta and Monica started for Brazil and although neither scored a goal, they got quite a result against Ecuador in Copa America Femenina action.
ACABOOOOU! A #SeleçãoFeminina aplica uma goleada histórica em Coquimbo! @CAFemChile2018
🇧🇷 8×0 🇪🇨
⚽ Cristiane
⚽ Bia Zaneratto
⚽ Andressinha
⚽ Formiga
⚽ Rafaelle
⚽ Bia Zaneratto
⚽ Debinha
⚽ Cristiane pic.twitter.com/PDc02FWyqN— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) April 8, 2018
An MLS First: Red Card Overturned by Video Review
For the first time in MLS history, a red card has been rescinded as a result of video review. During the opening minute of yesterday’s 5-0 Atlanta United thrashing of LAFC, Atlanta defender Chris McCann went in for a hard challenge on LAFC’s Benny Feilhaber. The initial call from head referee Ted Unkel was an immediate red card, but upon further video review, McCann was summoned back to the field and his sending off was downgraded to only a booking. It’s relieving to hear that video review is actually working for someone…even if it is Atlanta United.
Controversial Ex-Lion Cyle Larin Bags First Goal for Bestikas in Debut
Bittersweet isn’t quite the word I’m looking for, but it does apply. Former Lion Cyle Larin, now a reserve striker for Beşiktaş in Turkey, scored his first goal for his new club just three minutes into his debut off the bench. I can’t say I’m surprised, Larin has a very bright future ahead of him in Europe and I look forward to seeing him in Champions League matches one day. Congratulations, Cyle. For anyone who hates reading this, just envision the number nine kit with the name “Meram” on the back of it. Feeling a little better now? Good, now focus on that feeling as you watch the goal:
Cyle Larin finally made his #Beşiktaş debut today, and the #CanMNT striker scored in their 5-1 win vs #Goztepe. He waited 3 months to make his debut after moving from #OCSC, but it only took him 3 minutes to score his first goal after coming off the bench. #BJKvGSK #BJK #MLS 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/xy3H4ZANpP
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 7, 2018
Free Kicks
- Legendary college football coach Steve Spurrier is headed to Orlando to coach the City Beautiful’s new professional football team, the Orlando Alliance. Maybe he and Jason Kreis will grab a pint sometime soon.
- He’s been knocked out of the eMLS Cup, but Orlando City’s representative, Abraham Valbuena, still made a great run in the tournament. Here’s his Saturday tournament experience.
- Toronto FC and Club America have both been fined as a result of their clash in the tunnel of BMO Field at halftime of their recent Concacaf Champions League match. Chivas’ Jair Pereira has also been suspended for essentially choking another player off the ball. That’s a real no-no, Jair.
- MLS officials visited Detroit in their quest to find new cities for their league. The city will be competing directly with Cincinnati, which was recently buoyed by a decision that may pave the way for the construction of a downtown stadium.
- Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez has set an MLS scoring record by notching 24 goals through 25 games.
That’s about all that’s fit to print for today. I hope I’ve helped quell the Lions vs. Timbers anticipation for a little bit, but that feels hypocritical to be honest, because I can’t wait to soak this match in. The boys look good and they’re starting to gel. I predict a 3-1 win.
Have a great Sunday and enjoy the match, Mane Landers, and have an excellent week.
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.

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.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this intriguing article that shines a light on how MLS team administrators manage the chaos of the transfer window. I would devour a television series following these kinds of crises throughout the season.
- St. Petersburg is exploring demolishing Al Lang Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, to make room for an amphitheater. The proposed demolition would take place after 2028, so we’ll see if this comes to pass.
- Jamie Vardy is leaving Leicester City, ending a 13-year tenure there that will be remembered for winning the English Premier League title in 2016.
- Here’s everything you need to know before the second legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday. Chelsea will take on Barcelona before Lyon and Arsenal square off, with both English clubs trailing after the first legs.
- Real Sociedad announced that Head Coach Imanol Alguacil will step down following this season. Alguacil was hired in December of 2018 and led the team to victory in the 2020 Copa del Rey.
- Manchester United will take part in the inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament next month, joining Bayern Munich, Ajax, Benfica, and four other teams yet to be determined.
- NBA Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd has joined Everton’s ownership group. I too would be looking for anything to take my mind off of the Dallas Mavericks’ season.
- Former Pride players Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley announced a weekly podcast, with the first episode set for Monday.
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!
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.

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.
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.
Free Kicks
- German legend Thomas Muller, who is set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, reportedly rejected an offer from FC Cincinnati and Fiorentina.
- Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed strike against Atlanta. Seeing Atlanta get scored on really makes the goal that much sweeter to watch.
- Marcus Rashford is reportedly aiming to join a Champions League team after this season. The 27-year-old is on loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United and should be an interesting name to keep an eye on this summer.
- Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace kept a few champagne bottles corked, as Liverpool would have won the league title if Arsenal lost. Liverpool now just needs a point when it faces Tottenham at home on Sunday.
- Real Madrid beat Getafe 1-0, but it came at the cost of injuries to both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga. The Spanish club may now have a crisis at left back ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
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.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/23/25
The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

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.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City dropped a spot to No. 12 in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings. Three 0-0 draws in a row will do that.
- Michael Buxbaum is suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for $100 million because the USWNT didn’t try to win the SheBelieves Cup. I wasn’t happy with the result either, but this is the definition of frivolous.
- Nani and Ali Krieger are both participating in The Soccer Tournament on seven-on-seven soccer teams. The matchups for the $1 million tournament have been set.
- Speaking of Krieger, she is settling in at her new gig at ESPN as an analyst for NWSL matches and co-host of “FutbolW.”
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win Fourth Straight To Start The Season
-
Orlando Pride1 week ago
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 0-0 as 10-Man Lions Held at Home
-
Orlando Pride1 week ago
Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Final Score 1-0 As Pride Drop Points For First Time in 2025
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Five Takeaways
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match