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Lion Links: 5/12/18

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8 years ago

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Happy match day, everyone. The Orlando Pride visit the Portland Thorns today at 3:30 p.m. ET. Will today finally be the day the Pride’s offense gets on track? Will it be Orlando’s first ever win at Providence Park? A draw or better would be fine with me to wrap up the club’s longest road trip.

The men take the stage tomorrow, of course, with Orlando City battling Atlanta United in a search for the Lions’ first true signature win. We’ll have full pre- and post-game coverage of both matches and you can follow us on Twitter for everything in between.

I was delighted to hear our little merry band had been honored on this list even though I’m not familiar with the outfit handing it out. It’s a tribute to the good people who give their time to bring you anything they can think of regarding Orlando City and the Pride.

Now for the news.

Cristian Higuita Has Officially Turned the Corner

I have been quite critical of midfielder Cristian Higuita in the past. Like his Colombian countryman, Carlos Rivas, Higuita has tantalized fans for three previous seasons but hasn’t been able to make the leap and become a key player for Orlando City. With Rivas gone, Higuita reported to camp out of shape and it really seemed that his days in Orlando were numbered with the arrivals of Yoshimar Yotún and Uri Rosell. But Higuita picked himself up, worked hard, and has done so many great things over the club’s six-game winning streak — avoiding unnecessary petulant bookings, taking care of the ball, becoming a brick wall in the central midfield, covering for Yotún’s frequent forays into the offensive third, and even scoring a wondergoal. Seems like I’m not the only person who sees a whole new Cristian.

“Looks like different people,” Kreis said of Higuita. “He was probably 20 pounds heavier when he came in the beginning of preseason, and nowhere near as fit and nowhere near as hungry and nowhere near as professional as he’s proving himself to be right now.”

“Progress has been really good, I’ve matured and gained a lot of experience through playing with big players who have more experience than me,” said Higuita. “Those players usually help you become a better person, but also a better player, so I think it’s been a really good time of growth for me.”

Orlando: A Lions Town or a Magic Town?

Are folks in the City Beautiful more partial to Orlando City or the Orlando Magic? This is a question posed by Orlando Sentinel writer George Diaz. In the column, which includes a poll where you can vote your conscience, Diaz points out the pros and cons of both teams. Of the two, the Lions are seemingly more on the upswing but it’s still early in the season. My own anecdotal evidence would suggest it’s more an Orlando City town, based on the magnets, shirts, and hats I see and the general discussion I’ve witnessed in public places. But others may have different experiences. What do you think? And, more importantly, does it even matter? It doesn’t seem like it should.

Alex Morgan Discusses Her Involvement with UNICEF

Orlando Pride and USWNT star Alex Morgan continues to use her platform as a well-known athlete to help others in need. One of her projects is being involved in the UNICEF Kid Power. The program promotes physical activity in children and it’s tied to UNICEF’s greater goals. Alex talked about her good work over at The Players’ Tribune, and spoke out on what inspired her to be a part of something bigger and more global.

Atlanta United Injury News

Orlando City’s visitors on Sunday are formidable and ideally you’d like to see both sides enter such an important match with their full complements of players. However, we already know the Lions are still waiting for the return of Jonathan Spector and Scott Sutter, and Amro Tarek is working his way back from a knock as well. What about Atlanta United? They’ve gotten both good and bad news on the injury front entering this weekend.

NWSL Still Has No Commissioner…Is It Costing the League?

Howard Megdal over at Deadspin wrote this piece about the NWSL being more than a year without a commissioner now and how it could be hurting the young league. Megdal’s points out that the NWSL is not part of the SheIs partnership, which features the WNBA, NWHL, USTA, CWHL, Women’s Pro Fastpitch League, and WWE. The partnership is dedicated to promoting one another and raising the profile of all, but the NWSL is not a part of it because it has no clear-cut leadership (and hasn’t for more than a year). Personally, I thought that by now Amanda Duffy would have successfully landed the job but that hasn’t happened and it may never happen. Megdal further explained the league’s current position. 

But the real issue extends beyond a single missed partnership opportunity. For the large majority of NWSL players, the league itself is not a source of much money: team salary caps are set at $350,000 this season, with a minimum salary of $15,750 and a maximum of $44,000 for non-national team players. This is an implicit bargain: players are playing for relatively little money today because they want to see progress for the league in the future. This is an act of self-sacrifice in some senses, but it’s not just that—it’s a bet on the good faith of the people in charge of the league, and an implicit statement of trust on the players’ part that they believe the NWSL is doing all it can to grow as fast as possible. The SheIs misstep is not a fatal blow by any stretch, but it’s another reason to wonder if the NWSL is willing or able to hold up its end of the deal.

Hopefully the league will find someone capable of driving the NWSL forward. To me that means getting a TV deal on a higher profile network which would air more games and eliminate my need to use go90.

Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship to Resume in Florida

You might (or might not) remember that the Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship was underway and was postponed due to safety concerns in Nicaragua. To ensure the security of the players, the confederation halted the tournament on April 22. The tournament will resume June 6 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, to determine which teams will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay. Three teams will advance from Concacaf. The U.S. is 1-0-0 after a 4-0 win over Costa Rica and still has to play Canada and Bermuda in group play.

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  • Those born on this date include Florence Nightingale (1820), Katharine Hepburn (1907), Yogi Berra (1925), George Carlin (1937), Steve Winwood (1948), Billy Squier (1950), 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey player Dave Christian (1959), Ving Rhames (1959), Emilio Estevez (1962), skateboard wiz Tony Hawk (1968), Jason Biggs (1978), Mr. Robot star Rami Malek (1981), and Emily VanCamp — a.k.a. Sharon Carter in the Marvel film universe (1986).

That seems like enough for one day. Don’t forget to check back for full coverage of the Pride at Portland today and Orlando City vs. Atlanta United tomorrow!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/16/26

Lions beat CF Montreal, Pride fall to Seattle Reign, OCB defeats Carolina Core, and more.

Published

22 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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Picture of Martin Ojeda celebrating one of his two goals in Orlando City's 5-1 win over Necaxa.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work covering high school water polo, soccer, and softball over the past week. Our Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Issah Haruna, who turned 22 Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Pick Up First Win of 2026 Against CF Montreal

Orlando City defeated CF Montreal 2-1 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to secure its first win of the 2026 season. In the first half, Duncan McGuire pounced on a rebound and slotted home his first goal of the season to give Orlando the lead. However, Montreal quickly equalized before Martin Ojeda drilled a shot past goalkeeper Thomas Gillier to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. Montreal almost scored an equalizer in stoppage time late in the second half, but the Lions held their ground and cleared the ball away. After the departure of head coach Oscar Pareja midweek, the Lions responded, securing a much-needed win under interim head coach Martin Perelman. Orlando City will be on the road Saturday to take on Nashville SC at Geodis Park. Before the match, Orlando City announced it had signed goalkeeper Tristan Himes and forward Pedro Leao to short-term contracts. Leao made his MLS debut as a sub on Saturday night.

Orlando Pride Fall to Seattle Reign in Season Opener

The Orlando Pride fell 2-1 to the Seattle Reign Sunday in their opening match to kick off the 2026 NWSL season. Seattle struck first to take a 1-0 lead and held on through halftime due to a controversial foul that prevented Rafaelle from equalizing. After a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, Barbra Banda scored the equalizer for the Pride early in the second half. However, Brittany Ratcliffe scored to give Seattle the lead late in the match and the Reign held on for all three points. Orlando dominated most of the match but wasted many scoring chances by firing shots off target or at the goalkeeper. The Pride will look to bounce back with another home match Friday, taking on the Denver Summit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Defeats Carolina Core FC on the Road with Wild Comeback

Orlando City B beat Carolina Core 3-2 Saturday at Truist Point Stadium to secure its second consecutive win and first road victory of the season. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime but responded with a late rally in the second half. Harvey Sarajian pulled one back for OCB and a few minutes later, Justin Ellis buried the equalizer off a Sarajian assist. In stoppage time, Caleb Trombino scored a late winner off a set piece to lift the Young Lions to victory on the road. OCB returns home Sunday to face Inter Miami II at Inter&Co Stadium rather than the Young Lions’ usual home in Osceola County.

NWSL Season Opener Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s opening matches to kick off the 2026 season are in the books. Olivia Moultrie scored the lone goal as the Portland Thorns beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 Friday night. On Saturday, the Boston Legacy fell 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC, while the Denver Summit fell 2-1 to Bay FC. The Kansas City Current overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first half to beat the Utah Royals 2-1. Ashley Sanchez scored twice as the North Carolina Courage defeated Racing Louisville by the same scoreline, while the Houston Dash beat the San Diego Wave 1-0. Angel City FC defeated the Chicago Stars 4-0 Sunday, and Savy King came off the bench to replace former Pride defender Emily Sams in the second half to make her first appearance after she collapsed on the field due to a heart condition last year.

Free Kicks

  • Forbes.com summarizes former Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja’s legacy in Major League Soccer after he and the club mutually parted ways last week.
  • The New England Revolution are bringing back Diego Fagundez and have signed the 31-year-old to a contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option for 2027. 
  • Sporting Kansas City has signed forward Capita Capemba to a contract through the 2028-2029 season with an option for 2029-2030. The 24-year-old spent two seasons with Radomiak Radom in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
  • Former England and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has landed his first managerial role, being appointed manager of Serie B side Cesena through the end of the season with an option to stay on.
  • In case you missed it, this is how Esporte Clube Vitoria showed its support for actor Wagner Moura’s bid to win an Oscar.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/13/26

Orlando Pride prepare for 2026 season opener, NWSL power rankings, Guro Reiten joins Gotham FC, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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March 13, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I’ve spent most of my free time this week getting some needed spring cleaning done before the weekend gets here. Kicking up dust while also dealing with all the pollen when I go outside probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but it’s nice to be productive. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Season Opener

The Orlando Pride are set to return to action on Sunday against the Seattle Reign in what should be an exciting season opener. It will be a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal between the two, which the Pride won 2-0 thanks to a strong defensive performance and goals from Haley McCutcheon and Luana. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team’s preparations for the season have gone, as well as the expectations to fight for titles after failing to win silverware last year.

NWSL Power Rankings Ahead of 2026 Season

The Orlando Pride placed fifth in All For XI‘s NWSL power rankings before the start of the season. It’s a pretty fair ranking for the Pride in my opinion, as they were inconsistent last year but still managed to reach the semifinals in the playoffs. Whether or not they can stake a claim as a title contender may hinge on how well Jacquie Ovalle does now that she’s had time to settle in this preseason.

The Kansas City Current top the rankings, with defending champion Gotham FC in second and the Washington Spirit third. As for the new teams on the block, the Boston Legacy are down in 15th while the Denver Summit are in 10th. It should be an interesting season and I can’t wait for it to start tonight when the Spirit and Portland Thorns square off at 8 p.m.

NWSL Transfer News Roundup

The NWSL season is here, but teams are still bringing in some firepower to their rosters before things get underway. Gotham added Norwegian forward Guro Reiten on loan from Chelsea and she will join the club as a free agent once the loan expires, with that deal lasting through 2029. Reiten has been a force in England, recording 59 goals and 44 assists across 207 appearances and helping Chelsea win six Women’s Super League titles.

The Chicago Stars also strengthened their attack, sending $300,000 in transfer funds and $200,000 in allocation money to the Reign in exchange for forward Jordyn Huitema. The 24-year-old joins on a contract through 2028 and gives the rebuilding Stars an aerial threat to help fill the void left by Ally Schlegel leaving for the North Carolina Courage.

European Title Races to Watch Out For

While it may not be crunch time just yet for clubs in contention, it’s a great time to check in on how title races are shaping up across Europe. While it may take some intriguing results in Germany, Italy, and Spain for things to get interesting, the United Kingdom is rife with drama to look forward to. Celtic and Rangers are usually the contenders in the Scottish Premiership, but it’s Hearts that has a five-point lead with plenty to go. In the English Premier League, the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City may end up being dwarfed by a relegation fight involving Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham. Wrexham is right in the thick of a tight battle for promotion as well. Don’t sleep on the title race in France either, as Lens is hanging around just one point behind Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/12/26

Oscar Pareja and Orlando City part ways, Kay Rawlins announces her retirement, Orlando Pride roster unveiled, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

March 12, 2026

By

Image of Marta celebrating a goal.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Orlando City’s season continues to be something out of a fever dream, but at least Orlando City B won this weekend and we have the Orlando Pride to look forward to. This weekend will be the first time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action for competitive matches in quite some time, so hopefully it won’t be all be doom and gloom. That’s just how probability works, right? Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City and Oscar Pareja Part Ways

Oscar Pareja’s time as Orlando City’s head coach has come to an end after a mutual agreement between the two to part ways after six seasons with him at the helm. The decision comes amid three consecutive losses to start the season, including a 5-0 defeat to New York City FC on Saturday. The Lions won the 2022 U.S. Open Cup and also made the playoffs in all six years of Pareja’s tenure, which is the longest active streak in the league.

Martin Perelman will take over as head coach in an interim capacity, with OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg becoming an interim assistant coach and Julian Vergara now serving as OCB’s head coach. Given Wilfried Nancy’s availability, Orlando fans may need to keep fingers crossed for a Frenchman other than just Antoine Griezmann.

Kay Rawlins Announces Retirement

Orlando City SC Founder and Senior Vice President of Community and Social Impact Kay Rawlins stated that she will retire from her role on Friday. She co-founded the club alongside Phil Rawlins and has been with the club through it all, including the creation of the Orlando Pride and the opening of the club’s very own stadium. Along with her role in the front office, Rawlins has made a strong impact in the community through the Orlando City Foundation as well. We wish her nothing but the best in retirement!

Orlando Pride 2026 Roster Revealed

The Orlando Pride released their start-of-season roster for the 2026 NWSL campaign Wednesday, and there’s a decent mix of veteran starters and young depth players. Defender Hailie Mace is the most notable addition to the roster from this off-season and other new faces include rookie forwards Solai Washington and Seven Castain. Center back Emily Sams is gone after her trade to Angel City FC and forward Ally Watt is with Denver Summit FC, so we’ll see how well the Pride do at filling the voids left by their departures. Hopefully the triumvirate of Marta, Barbra Banda, and Jacquie Ovalle can have the offense firing on all cylinders.

Concacaf Champions Cup Roundup

The round of 16 of this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and the competition has been stiff over the course of the first legs. Nashville SC and Inter Miami battled to a scoreless draw and will settle things in the second leg in Miami on March 18. LAFC was held to a 1-1 draw against Costa Rican club Alajuelense, with goalkeeper Washington Ortega making 10 saves. The Philadelphia Union have a tough game ahead of them after falling 1-0 to Club America at Subaru Park. In the only matchup of this round that pits two Mexican clubs against each other, Cruz Azul beat Monterrey 3-2 thanks to a late goal from Nicolas Ibanez. The late games Wednesday on the west coast featured the LA Galaxy hosting Jamaican side Mount Pleasant FA and San Diego FC hosting Liga MX side Toluca.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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