Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/22/18

Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. Let me start out today’s Links with a birthday wish to Orlando City’s first-ever MLS club captain, Kaká, who turns 36 years young today! The legend was probably smiling ear to ear during yesterday’s Orlando City match, as the Lions held on to their exciting early lead to down the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-2.
Today’s featured match comes later in the day as the Pride take on the Houston Dash at Orlando City Stadium. Unfortunately, there’s some time between now and then…so I’ll do what I can to distract you, even it only for a few minutes.
With that said, here’s your daily dosage of Lion Links:
Lions Win Fourth Straight
The Lions jumped out to an impressive early lead and then weathered the potential comeback storm from the Earthquakes to secure all three points and add to their growing winning streak. This one was full of captivating stories, including the continuing emergence of young Chris Mueller and star striker Dom Dwyer’s 100th career goal. The former, still only a rookie, is truly starting to shine in the squad as he netted yet another splendid goal, nabbing an assist to go along with it. Dwyer continues to put in glowing performances that display his importance to the club. Things are truly starting to come together for the Lions, and the Colorado Rapids, next up on the Lions’ schedule, would have been wise to have taken notes on the night.
- Michael Citro has your match recap.
- I doled out player grades and chose a Man of the Match.
And tune in later this morning for Guilherme Torres’ five takeaways from the match.
The High School Soccer Debate Rages On
Despite vast improvements in structure over the last few decades, high school soccer is still the topic of contentious debate. For some, it represents an irreparably broken system to youth development in this country. To others, it’s an infrastructure that should be heavily invested in due to its unique environment. It’s a topic that often incites furious disagreements among the footy faithful in the United States and it won’t be going away anytime soon. Mike Woitalla over at socceramerica.com provides his take on what should be done to emphasize high school soccer. What do you think?
Orlando City Youth Updates
The Orlando City youth teams were out in full force yesterday as the various age groups took on Weston FC. The young ladies took home only positive results, as the U-14s won (5-1), the U-15s won (5-0), and U-17s drew (1-1). The young men brought home a mixed bag of results as the U-15s lost (1-2) and the U-17s won (1-0). It’s always encouraging to see the young Lions perform well and put up results, and this update is no different. Keep it up youngsters, the future is bright purple!
Final: U16/17s finish on top with a 1-0 victory over Weston FC. u18/19s are on deck. #vamosorlando
— Orlando City SC DA (@OCSC_Academy) April 21, 2018
U.S. U-17s Off to an Excellent Start in World Cup Qualifying
The Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship kicked off this weekend and the ladies representing the U.S. showed up to play, winning their first group stage match against Costa Rica, 4-0. The tournament, which also doubles as World Cup qualifying, will serve as a measuring stick for the U-17 team, which has historically struggled since the inaugural 2008 U-17 Women’s World Cup. The bright start is painting a promising picture for the rest of the tournament. Tune in later this evening as the U.S. takes on Bermuda at 10 p.m. (ET).
🔝 of the group after last night's win. Our next #CU17W match? Bermuda at 10 pm ET Sunday on @go90. pic.twitter.com/xjHBVvZD7P
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) April 21, 2018
Free Kicks
- Don’t miss any more of the action! The folks over at mlssoccer.com put this handy little guide together to help fans tune in to out-of-market MLS action.
- MLS standout Marvell Wynne is calling it quits after an impressive 13-year career that saw him win an MLS Cup with the Colorado Rapids.
- Do you always root for the little guy? The underdog? Meet Dulwich Hamlet, a club with more than a century of history that’s fighting for it’s life.
- Tom Sermanni is just pure class. Here he is congratulating some of his Pride stars on their recent exploits in qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in France:
Congratulations to our @CBF_Futebol and @TheMatildas players on qualifying for @FIFAWWC! pic.twitter.com/N3vRkdcdxV
— Tom Sermanni (@TomSermanni) April 20, 2018
Congratulations, ladies!
- Mexico legend and former Barcelona defender Rafa Marquez has been given the green light to play in what would be his fifth World Cup, pending the manager naming him to the squad. The news comes after Marquez battled allegations of connections to drug trafficking groups. He intends to retire after hopefully captaining a World Cup team a record five times.
- FC Dallas hosted Chris Shiflett and the Foo Fighters for a scrimmage break from their Concrete and Gold Tour. They also went the full 90 — quite impressive for a couple of rock stars.
.@ChrisShiflett71 and the @foofighters crew enjoyed a day off from their Concrete and Gold Tour and went the full 90 on the pitch at Toyota Soccer Center. You gotta watch the highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EOQhB9OclJ
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) April 21, 2018
- And last but not least, here’s Christian Pulisic doing Christian Pulisic things:
Christian Pulisic finds fellow youngster Jadon Sancho to put Dortmund ahead 1-0!
How about that move to start off the play thoughh 👀 pic.twitter.com/NuaX8E9vpB
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 21, 2018
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. If you’re tailgating for the Pride match at 5 p.m., have a great time and be safe! It should be a good one with both the Pride and Dash still searching for their first wins of the season. They’ll be coming in with a purpose, and the tilt should prove to be an entertaining affair. I predict a 2-0 win for the Pride at home.
Enjoy the match and your Sunday evening, folks, and then 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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