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Lion Links: 6/9/18

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7 years ago

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Happy match day, cheerers for the lads in purple. The Lions are out in Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps tonight (7 p.m., WRDQ TV27) and it sure would be great if they could build off of Wednesday’s win in Miami — even if the level of the opponent is not comparable. It’s also a USMNT match day, as the Stars & Stripes are in France to take on…well, France.

I don’t want to waste any of your Saturday when you’ll be watching two (or more) matches later, so let’s get to our top stories at this hour.

Camila is Back

Orlando Pride midfielder/defender Camila tore up her knee in the final regular season match of 2017, which took some of the wind out of the team’s sails in the postseason. It’s been a long road to recovery, but Camila is finally available to play in Orlando’s next game — a week from today at home against Sky Blue FC. With the Brazilian international returning, it’s a good thing that her Brazil teammate Monica has gotten her green card, so the Pride will remain compliant with NWSL rules. Camila has flourished everywhere Tom Sermanni has deployed her — on the wing in the 4-3-3, in the midfield, and at right back. Let’s hope she quickly finds her form so the Pride can get back to the playoffs.

Pulse: Two Years Later

With Pride Month upon us and the club working on charitable endeavors to assist the LBGTQ community, the Orlando Sentinel’s Kate Santich penned this look back at the tragedy and how the survivors are coping two years after that horrible day rocked our community. It’s not soccer-related, but it’s a piece well worth reading for anyone who lives here in the Central Florida area. It contextualizes what survivors of mass shootings go through and how they’re forced to relive that experience every time this happens — no matter where.

“Every time there’s a shooting, we all feel like we’re reliving everything,” said Celia Ruiz, an Orlando attorney who lost her 22-year-old brother, Juan Ramon Guerrero, in the Pulse attack. “How do you move on from something when you’re constantly being reminded of it? I can’t say there’s been a healing process when nothing has changed.”

I’m not from Orlando, having moved here in 2004, but I can tell you that I never felt more pride in any community in which I’ve lived than I did at this city’s response to that event.

U.S. U-17 Women Win Group

Reilyn Turner’s header was the difference as the U-17 USWNT defeated Canada, 1-0, to win Group B at the 2018 Concacaf Championship. The U.S. had already clinched a berth in the semifinals after beating Bermuda, but winning the group is even better. The Baby Nats finished group play 3-0 with a goal differential of +14, mostly due to the 10-1 drubbing of Bermuda. The U.S. will take on Haiti Sunday, with the winner taking on either Mexico or Canada in the final.

Former Lion Kevin Alston Signs with Orange County SC

Fullback Kevin Alston has found a new team. The former Lion has signed with Orange County SC of the USL. Alston played in 24 MLS games with Orlando City in 2016, starting 21, without registering a goal or an assist and attempting just four shots. He was loaned to OCB in 2017, where he appeared in 12 matches (11 starts). Good luck to Kevin, who was always great to talk to during his time in Orlando.

Orlando SeaWolves Goalkeeper Called Up by Brazil

They have yet to play as a team, but Orlando SeaWolves goalkeeper Rainer Hauss has been called up to the Brazilian National Minifootball Team. Hauss joined Brazil for the Pan American Memorial Minifootball Cup, which is being held in Guatemala. Nine countries are competing to try to reach the 2019 World Minifootball Federation World Cup.

“It’s a great honor to represent my home country of Brazil,” said Hauss, “and it will also be the first time I can say I am there representing the Orlando SeaWolves as well, so I’m very excited.”

The tournament will be televised on Eleven Sports (channel 623 on DirecTV).

Free Kicks

  • If you like soccer and you enjoy traveling, here’s The Travel Channel’s list of 10 great American soccer bars — including our very own Lion’s Pride here in Orlando.
  • If you like podcasts, I jumped on with From the Backline this week to talk about Orlando City at Vancouver Whitecaps. They also got an interview with Caps midfielder Felipe.

  • Leicester City’s 32-year-old Austrian defender Christian Fuchs is interested in a move to MLS.
  • Soccer players in Georgia helped save a teammate who had a heart attack.
  • Those born on this date include guitar inventor Les Paul (1915), hoops broadcaster Dick Vitale (1939), former Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord (1941), former Major Leaguer Dave “The Cobra” Parker (1951), Michael J. Fox (1961), Johnny Depp (1963), Eric Wynalda (1969), former Germany striker Miroslav Klose (1978), former USWNT defender Heather Mitts (1978), Natalie Portman (1981), and Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder (1984).

That’s all from me today. Enjoy your match day and check back here for full coverage of both the USMNT and Orlando City.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/5/25

Orlando City rising, Ally Watt is staying, the Challenge Cup looms, and more.

Published

6 hours ago

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March 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! We’re almost completely back. Orlando City is playing matches, with the Orlando Pride and OCB slated to start their respective 2025 slates this weekend. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year. So without further ado, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City on the Rise

It should come as no surprise to longtime readers that I find the idea of power rankings to be the junk food of sports journalism. Sometimes it’s fun to indulge, but ultimately it’s just empty calories. That being said, Orlando City rose six spots in MLSsoccer.com’s rankings this week. The site is also enamored with right back Alex Freeman, making him one of the big stories in MLS in Week 2. They might actually be right on that account.

Ally Watt is Staying

The Orlando Pride announced that the club exercised Ally Watt’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Watt played her part in the Pride’s historic 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship run. Watt produced seven goal contributions last year. Now the attacker will look to increase that production as the club attempts to repeat the success of last season.

The Challenge Cup Approaches

It’s been 102 days since the Orlando Pride last lifted a trophy. Friday, the club will have a chance to do so again in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but this time it features a rematch of the NWSL Championship match between the Pride and the Washington Spirit. The format is supposed to be the Shield winner against the Championship winner, but since the Pride won both, the runner-up gets a shot.

NWSL Roster Moves

The NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement has changed how the clubs in the league manage their rosters and acquire new talent. Big names like Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) are able to have agency in where they want to play when being traded. There were several big inner-league signings in the off-season, though not all saw a player move. One of the biggest was when the Orlando Pride gave Marta a contract extension. The landscape has changed for the league, and that’s not a bad thing.

Free Kicks

@houstondash.com forward Yuki Nagasato, 2011 World Cup winner and 2012 Olympic silver medalist, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-03T21:26:32.770Z

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for all the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/4/25

Lions earn weekly recognition, U.S. women announce friendlies against China, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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March 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! What a happy Tuesday it is, too, as Orlando City bounced back in a big way to earn its first victory of the season on Saturday. As if that wasn’t enough, the Lions will be back in action again on Saturday, while the Orlando Pride will return to competitive action in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit on Friday, and OCB kicks off its season Sunday against Columbus. Before we get started, let’s wish Pride midfielder Ally Lemos a happy 21st birthday! We’ve got plenty to talk about this morning, so let’s get cracking.

Lions Earn Weekly Plaudits

A pair of Lions have been rewarded for their performances in Orlando City’s 4-2 triumph over Toronto FC with places in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Cesar Araujo finds himself in the starting lineup after notching a spectacular goal and assist, while Alex Freeman makes the bench after marking his first senior start with his first professional goal. Freeman also earned a shoutout as one of the standout Young Players of the Matchday. Both men turned in impressive performances during the win, with Sean Rollins grading Araujo a 7.5 out of 10 and naming him the Man of the Match, with Freeman close behind on a 7 out of 10. Congrats and keep up the good work!

U.S. Women Announce China Matches

The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of friendlies against China at the end of spring. The USWNT will play the Steel Roses on Saturday, May 31 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN, and then on Tuesday, June 3 at Energizer Park in St. Louis. While China is the team that the U.S. has played second most behind only Canada, it will be the first meeting between the two nations since the end of 2023. The St. Louis game will also have a pre-match celebration for Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced her retirement at the end of last year.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in games during the working week, with European cup action once again featured prominently. Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund will host Lille in the Round of 16 tomorrow, while Richy Ledezma and PSV Eindhoven will welcome Arsenal. Thursday sees Tanner Tessman and Lyon traveling to face Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Europa League, while Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis take on Vitória Guimarães in the UEFA Conference League. Things finish on Friday with the red-hot Josh Sargent and Norwich City hosting Oxford in Championship play, while Mark McKenzie and Toulouse face off against Moncao.

Women’s Club World Cup Could be Delayed

FIFA had intended on starting a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2026, but that plan may be facing delays. While the tournament reportedly has plenty of support within FIFA and its various federations, there are said to be ongoing discussions about pushing the start date back a couple years to allow more time for preparations to be made. Initial plans called for the tournament to take place between January and February 2026, but that date is fast approaching and no concrete plans have been made. A possible solution could be holding a four-team mini-tournament in 2026, with the full 16-team version then debuting later down the road. Who knows, if the Orlando Pride can have a 2025 campaign similar to last year’s, maybe we’ll see them there.

Free Kicks

  • Forgive my language, but Eduard Atuesta positively ran his ass off on Saturday, covering 8.18 miles — the most of any MLS player on Matchday 2.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/3/25

Lions defeat Toronto FC, MLS weekend recap, Americans abroad, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

March 3, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I got a break from covering high school sports, and I finally got to see Captain America: Brave New World and catch up on some shows. It was a fantastic weekend for our Lions to get their first win of the 2025 season. This weekend, we have the Lions, Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B are all in action. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Defeat Toronto FC for First Win of MLS Season

Orlando City bounced back from its opening day loss with a 4-2 win against Toronto FC on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium and secured its first win of the 2025 season. Cesar Araujo, Alex Freeman, Martin Ojeda, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson scored for the Lions. Toronto FC scored two late goals in the second half, but Orlando was in control at that point. The Lions scored six goals across their first two matches this season, the most scored in their first two games since the team joined Major League Soccer. Orlando City will have its first road test of the season on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, taking on New York City FC.

Orlando City Signs Three Players to Short-Term Deals

Before Saturday’s match against Toronto FC, Orlando City announced that the club had signed midfielders Colin Guske and Gustavo Caraballo and defender Zakaria Taifi to short-term contracts. All three players were on the bench for Saturday’s match. Caraballo came off the bench late in the second half to make his MLS debut, becoming the youngest player to ever get MLS minutes with OCSC. Taifi and Guske did not get into the game. Guske and Caraballo were signed to short-term contracts the previous week and were on the bench for the Lions’ opening day match against the Philadelphia Union but didn’t play.

MLS Weekend Recap

Week two is in the books after another exciting weekend of Major League Soccer action. Wilfried Zaha scored his first MLS goal and added an assist as Charlotte FC defeated Atlanta United 2-0. Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls won their matches with the Seattle Sounders and Nashville SC, respectively, by the same score. The Columbus Crew, Minnesota United, LAFC, and the Portland Timbers all won 1-0 matches over the New England Revolution, CF Montreal, New York City FC, and Austin FC, respectively. The Philadelphia Union cruised past FC Cincinnati 4-1, while the San Jose Earthquakes edged Sporting Kansas City 2-1. The Colorado Rapids had a 2-0 lead with Rafael Navarro scoring twice, but FC Dallas fought back in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Hugo Cuypers scored twice for the Chicago Fire, but D.C. United grabbed a late equalizer for a 2-2 draw, while San Diego FC and St. Louis City ended scoreless. On Sunday, the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the LA Galaxy 2-1, while former Lion Nico Lodeiro scored his first goal for the Houston Dynamo, but Inter Miami won 4-1 on the road.

Americans Abroad

Two Americans squared off in the EFL Championship as former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom battled Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United. Aaronson played 72 minutes while Dike came off the bench late in the second half as the match ended in a 1-1 draw. In the FA Cup, Antonee Robinson and Fulham defeated Manchester United 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the round of 16. Matt Turner started in goal, and Chris Richards recorded an assist as Crystal Palace defeated Millwall 3-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals. Fulham will face Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals on March 29. Ethan Horvath started in goal, but Cardiff City fell 2-0 to Aston Villa while, Tyler Adams’ Bournemouth side defeated Wolverhampton 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and will face Manchester City in the quarterfinals. Johnny Cardoso scored his first league goal in La Liga as Real Betis defeated Real Madrid 2-1 on Saturday. Naomi Girma made her debut for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on Sunday but suffered an injury and came off the pitch in the second half in a 2-2 draw against Brighton.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride wrapped up their preseason over the weekend. The Pride will open their 2025 season against the Washington Spirit on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium in the NWSL Challenge Cup.

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

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