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Lion Links: 5/23/18

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8 years ago

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I am jacked up for this Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but the holiday weekend combined with two home matches this week has me flying high. Not to mention the Champions League final on Saturday — that’s a full weekend of awesomeness right there.

Today is a bit slower on the docket, but there’s still plenty to read below like the preview on tonight’s Pride match against the North Carolina Courage and a few soundbites from around City and the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Pride Look to Continue Their Streak While Ending the Courage’s

Last week I gave my thoughts in a preview of tonight’s match between two teams riding hot streaks and clashing for the first time this season. The Courage are undefeated on the season while the Pride are unbeaten in their last five, which means tonight should have plenty of fight. North Carolina is coming off another win where Crystal Dunn was named NWSL Player of the Week and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland won NWSL Save of the Week. This promises to be a tough battle between two of the NWSL elite, and you don’t want to miss this match. In fact, you should go see it live if you can as the game will feature as many as nine U.S. Women’s National Team players.

If I’m being brutally honest, I expect this to be a tough match for the Pride. The Courage are firing on all cylinders and match up great against the Pride. A draw could be a huge result tonight. Regardless, I’ll be there in the stands enjoying $4 wine down Wednesday! There’s always a silver lining people.

Player Updates for the Weekend

If you watched last Friday’s match, it was one that you'll want to forget if you’re a Stefano Pinho fan — or, you know, if you’re him. He wasn't able to hold the ball up and consistently lost physical battles all over the pitch. To be fair, it was just a day he needs to move on from and he knows it.

“It was a bad day for me [in Toronto,]” Pinho said. “You have to keep working. Everybody has a bad day, you know? You can’t always be perfect. I’m [working] for a new chance to start. I think I have to improve every day, every training, so I’ll keep doing that.”

But with Dom Dwyer questionable for this Saturday, Pinho and the team have to be ready to avoid dropping three matches in a row. Pinho says they are hungry.

In other news:

Dom and Lamine trained inside on Tuesday, but Head Coach Jason Kreis is expecting both to be available this Saturday.

ESPN Lists 100 Most Famous Athletes

ESPN engaged in its annual ranking of the World Fame 100 and, no surprise, there are plenty of soccer players listed. In fact, Cristiano Ronaldo takes the top spot, Lionel Messi comes in third, and Neymar sits fourth as soccer dominated with seven of the top 25.

ESPN determines the rankings based on how often the athlete is searched, their endorsements, and their social media following. So to be fair, there’s not much gray area to argue with.

Alex Morgan made an appearance on the list as the seventh-most famous female and the 88th-ranked athlete overall.

Weston McKennie Looks to Make an Impact in Second USMNT Camp

We all know of the teenage superstar in the making over in Germany competing week in and week out in the Bundesliga. But for those that don’t know, there’s another teenager getting as much time, only a stone’s throw away from Christian Pulisic. 19-year-old Weston McKennie has already made his USMNT debut, but he’s looking for more in his second camp.

In a side with an average age of 22 years and 286 days, McKennie may be one the youngest players, but that's not going to stop him.

I’m very excited for next week’s match against Bolivia. The combination of McKennie and Pulisic in the middle of the park should excite all fans for the future of the U.S. midfield. These are two dynamic and creative players honing their skills in one of the best leagues in the world. Some may say these matches are meaningless, or that they don’t care. That would be a mistake. The future is bright and this is the first time we really get to see a majority of the youngsters together.

Brandi Chastain’s Hall of Fame Plaque Draws Plenty of Jokes

Many know of Cristiano Ronaldo’s statue debacle, but now we have a new one to discuss as former USWNT player Brandi Chastain got her own “treatment” in the form of an interesting plaque.

While it will be redone, that hasn't stopped the internet from doing what the internet will do. Enjoy!

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So that’s it! Come out to the game tonight, come out to the game on Saturday. But most of all, have a safe holiday weekend! Cheers!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/26

Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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Image of Angelina launching a long pass.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati

The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.

Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.

Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso

Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.

Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup

American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.

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  • MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links: 5/21/26

Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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May 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup

We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.

Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster

We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.

Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami

Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.

Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.

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  • ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
  • After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
  • MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
  • Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
  • Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.

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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

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That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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