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For the first time in MLS history, a red card has been rescinded as a result of video review.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: 4/3/25
Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!
Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials
Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.
Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty
Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.
Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.
USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season
American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
- San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
- New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
- El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
- Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/2/25
Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.
International Duty, Pride Edition
Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.
Pride Still on Top
It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.
Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties
You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.
On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.
USWNT Youth Movement
Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL is looking to expand its media rights deals to include Sunday nights beginning next year. It’s a growth league and a growth market, and I’m all for Sunday night matches.
- Power rankings have now made their way down to MLS NEXT Pro. Spoiler alert, Orlando City B comes in at fifth. Still, it’s nice to see a little love given to the development league. Maybe I should write a power rankings for the various power rankings.
- I’m always for more soccer, and we now know the USL Women’s Super League eight-team playoff dates and format.
- I know it can be hard to feel bad for people who make quite a bit money playing soccer, but I still side with them over the billionaire owners that pay them. Or don’t pay them in the case of Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
- Barcelona is trying to bring the NFL to Spain. If successful, it might be the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who make an appearance at Camp Nou. This will allow a bunch of Barcelona supporters the opportunity to ask if Taylor Swift will make an appearance.
- If you’re not watching the German Cup — and to be fair, I haven’t been either — you are missing some massive cupsets, including third-tier Arminia Bielefeld taking down Bundesliga champs Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to advance to the German Cup final.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/25
Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.
Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025
After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.
USWNT Announces Canada Match
The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.
Concacaf Champions Cup Preview
The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.
Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes
The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City jumped eight places to no. 11 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Meanwhile the Orlando Pride continue to hold sway at no. 1 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Germany great Thomas Muller has reportedly received offers from MLS teams.
- Tierna Davidson will not play in the USWNT’s upcoming games against Brazil due to a knee injury, with Gisele Thompson replacing her on the roster.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
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