Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/24/18

Published

7 years ago

on

Howdy, Mane Landers and happy Sunday! I trust that everyone’s been having a swell weekend, and if not, turn it around baby! We’ve got beautiful football at our fingertips basically every single day right now, and personally, I can’t get enough of it. I’m watching Mexico play South Korea as I start this column, and man, it’s tough not keeping my eyes glued to the other side of my browser…but I shall persist, I shall push through, because who else would be here to serve up your Sunday helping of Lion Links? There are quite a few of them, too. Bon appetite, folks.

Lions Fall Again to the Montreal Impact, 2-0

With interim head coach Bobby Murphy continuing to tinker with the lineup, the Lions came out in a 3-4-3 like they did Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Lions, the Impact took the full three points in Orlando City Stadium, winning 2-0, and the boys in purple have now fallen to a seven-game losing streak in league play. Michael Citro was on hand to recap the match for you.

The coverage will continue today with Guilherme Torres’ player grades and our bearded guy’s five takeaways.

Pride Take Down the Spirit on the Road, 1-0

My oh my, Alanna Kennedy. It didn’t take the Pride long to put one on the scoreboard in their away trip to Washington, and the way in which it occurred was just absolutely bonkers. Kennedy, operating out of the defensive midfield, intercepted a pass in the midfield, picked her head up and saw the Spirit’s goalkeeper off of her line, and launched a rocket that fell just behind the keeper and into the back of the net: that’s sure to be a candidate (if not winner) of the NWSL Goal of the Week.

It was her golazo that was the difference between the two sides. Marcus Mitchell has your in-depth match recap.

World Cup Goals and Physics: Don’t Defy, but Rely

In an insightful interview with John W.M. Bush, Ph.D. in Geophysics from Harvard, Chris Greenburg of SB Nation prodded the applied mathematics professor of MIT for information regarding how physics has affected some of the golazos we’ve been gifted with as World Cup supporters throughout the years. The common cliche is that a beautiful goal “defies physics,” but as John emphasized in his interview with Chris, they actually rely on physics.

“They shouldn’t say it defies the laws of physics,” he reminds us, “it just relies on relatively subtle physics that is well documented in the literature by now.”

He goes into depth with how several factors affect the resulting trajectory of a shot or cross, and even offers analysis of individual instances of goals, explaining exactly how physics has affected each spectacular goal. He covers both contemporary and historical memorable moments, and his knowledge and insight (especially since he was a player himself at some point in time) is truly compelling, and I’m grateful I was directed to the interview.

Meet Jay Taylor, Bringing Orlando City’s Supporters News…in England

Jay Taylor is a lot like you and I. He’s a die hard Orlando City supporter that doesn’t miss a clip of Lion action…but he’s completely different from you and I in one or two major ways: he lives in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and is one of the most trusted and established sources of OCSC news, mostly delivered through his popular Twitter account, @AllOrlandoCity. As detailed in an interview with UCFB, his alma mater, Taylor speaks on the difficulties of covering the Lions from across the pond.

“The time difference makes it extremely tough. The earliest kick-offs are usually 10pm UK time, but they are quite rare. The normal kick-off time is 12:35am, but it can go even later than that with the latest being 3:30am! Having a full-time job in social media which sees me work lots of hours in the day can make it challenging to run this channel. I get great interaction from the fans on social media and they seem to enjoy what I do and that makes it worthwhile for me. I also feel if you work hard enough you will get to where you want to be one day. I want to work in soccer media in the US and I hope to actually call Orlando my home one day.”

Cheers, Jay. I hope you get to call Orlando your home one day too.

A Brief World Cup Recap

Yesterday was a doozy…in the best type of way. The World Cup fixtures on the day began with Belgium’s 5-2 win over a resolute and surprisingly strong Tunisian side where the scoreline truly doesn’t reflect the way in which the match unfolded. Regardless, Belgium has all but clinched a spot in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Mexico continued their excellent start to the tournament, downing South Korea, 2-1, in what became a fantastic back-and-forth match that was wide open for large chunks of play. That win moves them closer to punching their ticket to the Round of 16, too. And finally, the final match on the day, Germany vs. Sweden, was a crucial one for Germany, and boy did Die Mannschaft pull the proverbial rabbit out of their hat at the last minute, as Toni Kroos’ goal from an indirect set piece gave them the lead and win within the closing seconds of the match. Germany is still alive, folks.

Free Kicks

  • Props to one of my favorite Lions, Scott Sutter, for representing and honoring Orlando Police’s fallen heroes on his way into Orlando City Stadium prior to yesterday’s match. You’re the man, Scott (and I’ve found myself rooting for Switzerland during their group stage matches because of you).

  • Toronto FC and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore is nearing a return to training following a surgery on May 8 to remove bone fragments in his foot. Good for you Jozy, just don’t score on Orlando City when the two sides meet up in July, please.
  • A plane carrying Peru fans from Yekaterinburg to Tyumen in Russia experienced engine failure, causing smoke to billow into the cabin. The pilot landed the plane safely with one engine.
  • Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela’s sound spot kick helped his side win Mexico’s second consecutive World Cup match — it was an emotional goal for the striker too, as he dedicated the goal to his grandfather who passed away just last week. Well done, Carlos. Make em’ proud.
  • FC Dallas has announced that it is already moving on from off-season acquisition Anton Nedyalkov, transferring him to Belgium side Ludagarets.
  • Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has become the first player in World Cup history to score a brace in consecutive World Cup matches since Diego Maradona did so back in 1986. Others who have achieved such a rare feat include Brazil legends Garrincha and Pele, Englishman Gary Lineker, Argentina’s Mario Kempes, German striker Gerd Muller, and Portugal’s legend Eusebio.
  • Speaking of Gary Lineker…need I say more?

  • Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah has been granted honorary citizenship by Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. So, that’s a thing.
  • Great news is coming out of Jose Enrique’s camp, as word has spread that the ex-Liverpool defender is successfully recovering from surgery relating to a brain tumor. Cheers, Mr. Enrique.
  • And here’s an interesting (yet likely deflating to Germans) statistic that came from Germany’s 1-0 loss to Mexico…all I have to say is “Wow.” Vamos Mexico! Give me a hard time all you want, but I’m proudly supporting El Tri and I always have, except when they’re facing the USMNT or doing absurd things out of spite.

What a weekend, eh? That’s all I have on tap for you folks for now, but be sure to check back in with The Mane Land habitually as we keep you updated on Jason Kreis’ eventual replacement, OCSC and Pride news, World Cup updates, and all things soccer that you need to know about. Have an excellent week, Mane Landers. It shouldn’t be that tough: we have another week of mouthwatering World Cup fixtures ahead!

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/11/25

Anna Moorhouse garners recognition, Tyrese Spicer called up, USMNT roster updates, and more.

Published

21 hours ago

on

November 11, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It was a damn good weekend, as the Orlando Pride advanced to the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs and will actually host after Gotham FC pulled the upset against the Kansas City Current! That, combined with the international break, means we have lots to talk about today, so let’s jump right into the links.

Anna Moorhouse Earns Recognition

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse has been rewarded for her performance in the Orlando Pride’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over the Seattle Reign with a nomination for the NWSL Player of the Week. Moorhouse was instrumental in the Pride advancing to the semifinals, as she stood tall with eight saves in the match and kept a clean sheet in a closely fought game. Congratulations to the Pride’s shot-stopper and here’s hoping that the good work continues in the semifinal.

Tyrese Spicer Called Up

Continuing a recent trend of Lions getting called up by their national teams, Tyrese Spicer is on Trinidad & Tobago’s roster for its upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. T&T will face Jamaica at home on Nov. 13 and Bermuda at home on Nov. 18. With two matches remaining in the current stage, T&T is third in Group B with five points, while Jamaica sits at the top with nine. Two wins would give T&T 11 points and a real chance of winning Group B and qualifying directly for the World Cup, while finishing on eight or nine points would give it a decent shot at being one of the three best second-place finishers and advancing to an intercontinental playoff. Spicer has been in fine form for his country lately, as he scored a goal in each of T&T’s two October qualifying matches.

United States Men’s National Team Roster Adjustments

Speaking of national teams, the USMNT has announced some adjustments to its roster for the team’s two upcoming friendlies. Midfielders Tyler Adams and Sean Zawadzki have both been removed from the roster after the suffered injuries with Bournemouth and the Columbus Crew, respectively, over the weekend. In their place, LAFC midfielder Timmy Tillman has been added to the roster and joined up with the squad in Philadelphia on Monday. Tillman changed from representing Germany to suiting up for the U.S. in 2023 and has earned one cap with the USMNT since then. The team is set to play Paraguay in Philadelphia on Nov. 15, and Uruguay in Tampa on Nov. 18.

Mexico’s World Cup Updates on Schedule

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says that the country’s infrastructure projects for the 2026 World Cup are on track to be completed in time for the start of the tournament. Among the construction projects are the renovation of a pair of terminals at Mexico City International Airport and the building of a train line connecting Mexico City with another airport about 30 miles away. Additional government-sponsored projects will take place in Monterrey and Guadalajara, although details have not yet been made public. Meanwhile, Azteca Stadium has been closed for renovations that are being carried out by a private company.

Free Kicks

  • Gustavo Caraballo and Venezeula are on to the next round of the U-17 World Cup.
  • Have a look at Alex Freeman and the rest of the USMNT getting ready for the upcoming match against Paraguay.

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/10/25

Pride defeat Seattle Reign in the NWSL playoffs, several young Lions receive U.S. youth national team call-ups, Americans abroad, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

November 10, 2025

By

Image of Haley McCutcheon, Luana, and Angelina celebrating Orlando's win over Portland.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy at work and covered high school hockey this week. The Pride continue their playoff run in the National Women’s Soccer League, and we’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Defeat Seattle to Advance to NWSL Semifinals

The Orlando Pride defeated the Seattle Reign 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday in the NWSL playoff quarterfinals. Haley McCutcheon scored the opening goal in the first half to give Orlando the lead. Late in the second half, Luana scored her first NWSL goal from the spot to seal the win for the Pride. Orlando secured its fourth consecutive playoff win in two seasons and looks to take another step towards defending its NWSL crown. After Friday’s match, Haley McCutcheon and Marta discussed welcoming doubters and being motivated to prove them wrong as the Pride move on to the next round. The Orlando Pride will host NY/NJ Gotham FC in the semifinals Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium at 3 p.m. after Gotham’s win at Kansas City over the weekend.

Several Lions Receive Call-Ups to U.S. Youth National Teams

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the rosters for several upcoming youth national team training camps and several young Lions got the call. The USSF announced that Orlando City Development Academy products Justin Ellis and Colin Guske have received call-ups to the U-19 team for the November FIFA window, while midfielder Jacob Ramirez was also announced as a call-up for the U-17 U.S. squad. The U-19 U.S. Men’s National Team will travel to Wales to participate in the UEFA U-19 Youth Tournament from Nov. 10-17. The squad will face Germany on Nov. 12, Wales on Nov. 15, and Japan on Nov. 18. The U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team will travel to Dubai as that squad prepares for qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The U-17s will play friendlies against England on Nov. 13, Australia on Nov. 15, and the Ivory Coast on Nov. 18. Meanwhile, Homegrown fullback Tahir Reid-Brown has gotten the call from the U.S. U-20 side, coached by former USL-era Lion Rob Valentino, for a camp from Nov. 10-18 in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The U.S. will play a pair of matches against Costa Rica in that camp.

MLS Playoff Roundup

The first round of the 2025 MLS playoffs wrapped up over the weekend. On Friday, New York City FC beat Charlotte FC 3-1 to win the best-of-three series and advance to the conference semifinals. Saturday featured three matches, with plenty of drama. Minnesota United edged the Seattle Sounders 7-6 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw. Minnesota trailed 2-0 and fought back to take a 3-2 lead, before Jordan Morris scored the equalizer late in the second half to send the game to spot kicks. FC Cincinnati beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 with a late winner from Brenner to advance. Inter Miami avoided a repeat of last year’s first-round exit and cruised to a 4-0 victory over Nashville SC. San Diego held a 3-0 lead in the late game with less than 20 minutes to play against the Portland Timbers Sunday, with the winner facing Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals. The matches set for the next round are the Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC, Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati, and LAFC vs. the Vancouver Whitecaps.

NWSL Quarterfinals Recap

In other NWSL playoff action from the weekend, the Washington Spirit beat Racing Louisville 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to move on to the semifinals. The top-seeded Kansas City Current fell to the eighth-seeded Gotham FC 2-1 after extra time. Katie Stengel scored the game-winning goal late in extra time to help Gotham FC pull off the upset and move on to the semifinals against Orlando. The Portland Thorns also needed to go to extra time to defeat the San Diego Wave 1-0 as Reilyn Turner scored the lone goal. The Portland Thorns will face the Washington Spirit at Audi Field in the other NWSL semifinal matchup on Saturday.  

Americans Abroad

It was a busy weekend for Americans in Europe. Folarin Balogun scored his fourth goal of the season in Ligue 1, but Monaco fell 4-1 to Lens. Patrick Agyemang scored his second goal of the season for Derby County as his side defeated Blackburn 2-1 Saturday and secured a fifth straight win in the EFL Championship. Alyssa Thompson played 86 minutes and scored her first goal in the WSL for Chelsea.

However, Chelsea couldn’t hold onto the lead as Arsenal found a late equalizer, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. In the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat Tajikistan 2-1 with a goal from Cavan Sullivan. With the win, the U.S. booked a spot in the Round of 32 and will face the Czech Republic in its final group stage match Tuesday.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/7/25

Alex Freeman called up, Orlando Pride host Seattle tonight, Pride players nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s 11, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

November 7, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Not only is it Friday, but it’s also game day! The Orlando Pride’s playoff campaign kicks off tonight and I’m a bundle of nerves and excitement. If you’re headed to the stadium for tonight’s game, make sure to stay warm and hydrated. Have fun too! Let’s get to the links.

Alex Freeman Called Up for Friendlies

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman was one of 25 players called up by United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino for friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay this month. Freeman has made 11 appearances for the USMNT this year, but we’ll see how much action he sees with both Sergino Dest and Joe Scally returning to the fold. Giovanni Reyna is also back with the team, while Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah are a few of the notable omissions. The USMNT will take on Paraguay in Pennsylvania on Nov. 15 before coming to Florida for a friendly against Uruguay in Tampa on Nov. 18.

NWSL Playoffs Kick Off Tonight

The Orlando Pride host the Seattle Reign at 8 p.m. tonight in the first game of this year’s NWSL playoffs. Although the Kansas City Current are the favorites heading into the postseason, any team can make a run at lifting the trophy. The defending champion Pride enter tonight’s game on a five-game unbeaten run with some needed momentum for a tough match against a Reign side that has found results despite struggling to create chances this year. Orlando will need to be at its best this month in order to win it all for the second year in a row.

Pride Players Nominated for FIFA Awards

The Pride’s Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, and Anna Moorhouse were all nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s 11, which honors the top performers in the world from Aug. 11 of 2024 to Aug. 2 of this year. The Pride had a historic season last year, with Banda, Marta, and Sams all being named to the 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines is nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach as well, while Moorhouse is also nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper. Make sure to vote!

Bradley Carnell Named MLS Coach of the Year

Speaking of awards, Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell was announced as the winner of the 2025 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Award. In Carnell’s first year as head coach, the Union won a club-record 20 games this season and won the Supporters’ Shield. Philadelphia’s defense conceded just 35 goals this season and the team only lost once at home. Carnell garnered 37.78% of the total vote to win the award, with Vancouver Whitecaps Head Coach Jesper Sorensen coming in second with 26.53% and San Diego FC Head Coach Mikey Varas finishing third with 19.82%.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City defender David Brekalo was called up for Slovenia’s World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden this month. Slovenia is third in the group and will need a win against Kosovo on Nov. 15 to remain in contention to qualify.

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

Continue Reading

Trending