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Lion Links: 4/21/18

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Happy match day, folks! The Lions are back in the purple palace tonight to take on the pesky San Jose Earthquakes, who have simply refused to let us have nice things over the past three years. Is the fourth time the charm?

It’ll be the first time the two teams have met at Orlando City Stadium and the fourth different venue to host the Lions and Quakes, joining Levi’s Stadium, Camping World Stadium, and Avaya Stadium. There was both bad and good news Friday morning on the Lions’ injury situation:

Ready to kill some time before your tailgating festivities commence? We’ve got some reading material for you to help with that. But…before we get to today’s top stories, let’s all wish a happy birthday to both Orlando Pride defender Monica, and Orlando City backup goalkeeper Adam Grinwis!

Sacha Kljestan Stands Up for LGBTQ Equality

Orlando City midfielder Sacha Kljestan has become a Professional Ambassador with Athlete Ally, as an advocate for equality for the LGBTQ community. Athlete Ally is an organization dedicated to education and the elimination of homophobia and transphobia in sports. Kljestan has been outspoken on the topic, including his recent rental of an entire theater back in late March, in an effort to get more people to see the film Love, Simon — a romantic comedy about a gay teenager. It’s good to see star athletes like Kljestan standing up for equality.

More Kudos for Orlando City Stadium

The Oregonian recently ranked the MLS stadiums and our own house finished at No. 2 on the list. This comes just a week or so since Portland played in town and the atmosphere was pretty good for that game, although it wasn’t a sellout. I won’t mention who the news organization picked for the top spot but suffice it to say it’s not a soccer-specific stadium and the grass is fake, so it should be instantly disqualified by any true measure.

Orlando Pride’s Aussies Come Up Short in Women’s Asian Cup

Despite dominating the match in all statistical categories, Australia fell to Japan in the 2018 Women’s Asian Cup final, 1-0. Kumi Yokoyama’s strike in the 84th minute broke a scoreless deadlock and led her team to a repeat as WAC champions. While Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond didn’t fulfill their quest to win the tournament, they still qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup and it will be nice to have both players on the pitch with their Orlando Pride teammates soon. Here’s a look at the cup-winning goal:

USMNT Defender Brooks Returns to the Playing Field

U.S. international John Anthony Brooks has been out since mid-December with a knee injury, but he made his return for Bundesliga side Wolfsburg on Friday in his team’s 3-0 road loss to Borussia Monchengladbach. Brooks picked up a yellow card for a scissor tackle in the 13th minute on a challenge that looked bad on first watch but replays showed nothing more than a booking was warranted. However, he also made a number of good plays before exiting after just 29 minutes. He wasn’t happy to come off but the change didn’t seem based on his play or an injury, as Wolfsburg switched shape from a three-man back line to a flat four. The move didn’t work at all, as the visitors were trailing 1-0 when Brooks went off and conceded twice more before halftime. It’s good to see Brooks back on the pitch. Let’s hope he can stay healthy.

I don’t think Brooks would have stopped this quick free kick, however:

#WengerOut Will Become a Reality this Summer

After 22 years, legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will leave the London club. ESPN’s Gabriele Marcotti writes that Wenger was asked to leave. Results haven’t been where Arsenal fans expect in recent years and the #WengerOut meme has been growing for some time, but it’s always kind of sad when a legendary figure leaves after a long tenure. He won’t get to leave Arsenal on the back of a Premier League title the way Alex Ferguson did, but he did a lot for the Gunners over the years and he’s earned the respect of the soccer world.

Some of the names popping up as Wenger’s potential replacement include New York City FC’s Patrick Vieira.

Free Kicks

  • #SaveTheCrew update: Precourt Sports Ventures filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that would keep the Columbus Crew from moving under Ohio’s “Art Modell Law.” The office of Ohio’s attorney general released a statement saying, “We will strongly oppose this motion to dismiss and respond further in court.” Stay tuned.
  • The Europa League trophy was stolen in Leon, Mexico but it was later recovered.
  • Former MLS goalkeeper Josh Wicks — not to be confused with John Wick — tested positive for cocaine while with his Swedish club and his contract will be terminated.
  • Joining Monica and Adam Grinwis among those born on this date are novelist Charlotte Brontë (1816), Anthony Quinn (1915), Queen Elizabeth II (1926), Charles Grodin (1935), Iggy Pop (1947), Tony Danza (1951), Andie McDowell (1958), The Cure vocalist Robert Smith (1959), hockey’s Ed Belfour (1965) and Vincent Lecavalier (1980), Tony Romo (1980), Carnell “Cadillac” Williams (1982), Montreal Impact midfielder Marco Donadel (1983), and Real Madrid midfielder Isco (1992).

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. From here on, how you spend the minutes between now and kickoff is all on you.

Don’t forget, the Lions will wear their Parley Ocean Plastic kits tonight and you can see all 23 teams’ Parley jerseys here. Before I go, let me just say I can’t recommend the movie A Quiet Place highly enough. I found it to be a master class in suspense. So…yeah, there’s my recommendation.

We’ll have all your pre- and post-match #content right here at The Mane Land, both for tonight’s Orlando City game vs. San Jose and tomorrow’s Orlando Pride match against the Houston Dash.

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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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!

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Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

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.

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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!

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Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

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.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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