Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/1/18

Happy July, Mane Landers. The heat is sweltering, the rain is random, and the humidity is borderline oppressive…but we do live in Florida, so this is to be expected. I trust that you’ve all been having a great weekend, maybe some of you are in preparation for your Fourth of July plans?
It should be a nice and relaxing break on my end, so I hope you all enjoy your plans, family, and friends in this time of patriotic celebration. It would have been much cooler to be celebrating this weekend with a Round of 16 fixture featuring the USMNT, but alas, we don’t have that. Regardless, it’s been a fantastic treat to have the World Cup back in our lives. Not only that, but there’s been obviously club-altering decisions announced with the appointment of the new head coach, James O’Connor. I can’t wait to see what he brings to the club, and I hope the supporters are patient and show their full support. We’ll see what happens.
Anyway, here’s your Sunday serving of Lion Links, Mane Landers. Enjoy.
Lions Drop Eighth Straight MLS Match
In what was interim head coach Bobby Murphy’s last match in charge, the Lions started on the back foot but were solidly in the game at halftime before getting blown out, 4-0, at Atlanta United. The game was pretty much summed up with Will Johnson missing a wide-open empty net from just a few yards out. The team has been shut out in three straight MLS matches, getting outscored 9-0 in those games.
- Scott Crumbly has your match recap.
- Ben Miller dished out player grades and Man of the Match.
Also keep an eye out for our very own bearded guy’s Five Takeaways this afternoon.
Pride Drop 3-0 Home Match vs. North Carolina Courage
The Pride did their best imitation of the Lions, turning the ball over three times in a four-minute span and watching all of them turn into North Carolina Courage goals in a 3-0 home loss. The Courage were the better side, but Orlando also couldn’t finish, rattling the woodwork twice — once via Marta and once through Alex Morgan. Scott Carnevale has your match recap and highlights.
Jason Kreis Says Goodbye to Orlando City
After taking some time to decompress, former OCSC gaffer Jason Kreis posted his goodbye to Orlando City on Twitter yesterday.
Thanks, good bye, and good luck! pic.twitter.com/ejCbzth3nM
— Jason Kreis (@JasonKreis) June 30, 2018
The things that stick out are his obvious regrets about not getting to see this season through as he was let go just as guys were returning from injury and prior to Yoshimar Yotún’s return, as well as his class in thanking literally everyone involved in his time in Orlando.
Orlando City’s New Head Coach to be Missed in Louisville
James O’Connor will be missed tremendously in Louisville, that’s for sure. Speaking briefly at the official groundbreaking ceremony on FC Louisville’s new stadium, O’Connor emphasized his gratitude for the opportunity granted to him by the city, even going as far as to state that he wanted his gratitude “on record.” His message was well received, and his legacy of bringing silverware to the city will never be forgotten. Now he’s on to bigger and better things, and the supporters would be wise to throw their full support behind him as he makes his transition into the nuances of coaching an MLS club.
O’Connor’s old club built a 2-0 lead but fell behind New York Red Bulls II last night, before dramatically pulling back a late equalizer in his final match in Louisville. The game ended in a 3-3 draw.
World Cup 2018: The Round of 16 Begins
Well folks, the Round of 16 is here. It started with fireworks, too, as France came back from a second half deficit to win a thriller against Lionel Messi’s Argentina side, 4-3. Kylian Mbappe was truly the star of the show though, as his brace was crucial in his country’s triumph. France (which I picked to win it all in our bearded guy’s World Cup piece) advances to the quarterfinals now, and will play Uruguay; which was carried by Edison Cavani’s brace to a 2-1 win over Portugal. Cavani may have picked up a knock in this one though, so that’s something to keep an eye on in the quarterfinal.
Today’s fixtures include Spain (which I have winning the tournament in my office bracket pool) playing Russia, and Croatia (my secret dark horse) playing Denmark. Ah, what a time to be alive. This tournament still feels wide open, and I love it.
Free Kicks
- Think you’ve got what it takes to play professional soccer? See below.
Looking for an opportunity to play pro soccer? July 21st & 22nd in Orlando at @XLSoccerOrlando with 20 year Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s National Futsal Team Keith Tozer in attendance evaluting talent. Winningest coach in North American soccer history. https://t.co/hjMvgVLi9X. pic.twitter.com/sl9OcYcTIW
— Orlando SeaWolves (@MCOSeaWolves) June 30, 2018
- Christine Nairn…I love you so much. Just keep being you, please. You’re a role model in so many ways.
“I’m done with living the life that is acceptable to someone else’s standards of ‘normal’.” -Christine Nairn pic.twitter.com/K46mlZrc5W
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) June 29, 2018
- France star Mbappe is donating his World Cup earnings to a charity, Preiers de Cordees, a charity that aims to organize sporting activities for children with disabilities. Kudos and cheers, Kylian, especially after yesterday’s breakout performance!
- FC Cincinnati has formally announced a timeline for the construction of their new stadium in Cincinnati’s West End. The name of the stadium and its official capacity has yet to be revealed, but a range of 21,000-30,000 seats was unveiled. FC Cincinnati will begin its MLS journey in 2019, but the stadium isn’t expected to host matches until 2021.
- FIFA is planning on reviewing the current rule that decides a tie in a World Cup group stage — much like the one that occurred in Group H between Senegal and Japan — which saw Japan advance because of fewer bookings over the course of their matches. FIFA has already indicated that the measure is unlikely to change.
- Brazil will be without Douglas Costa and possibly Marcelo (my favorite player still playing) for the clash against Mexico in the Round of 16.
- After Argentina’s Round of 16 exit at the hands of France, 4-3, Javier Mascherano has urged global superstar Lionel Messi to remain with the national team and not make any rash decisions about international retirement. Messi has yet to win a major tournament with Argentina. Mascherano, however, has retired from international duty, along with Lucas Biglia.
- Russian and Mexico are the latest countries to be he hit with fines due to their supporters. For Russia, the country was fined $10,100 for the display of a discriminatory banner by the team’s fan base. For Mexico, it was a $15,149 fine for crowd disturbance during their 3-0 loss to Sweden.
- I’ll end with this excellent Sydney Leroux reaction to a recent booking.
Well, that’s all that I’ve got for you today, Mane Landers. Remember to check back in periodically for news and updates regarding all things Orlando City and Orlando Pride. See you next time, folks, and have an excellent week; and enjoy this beautiful World Cup!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/25/25
Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!
Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match
The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.
Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira
Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.
“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”
Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt
Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this intriguing article that shines a light on how MLS team administrators manage the chaos of the transfer window. I would devour a television series following these kinds of crises throughout the season.
- St. Petersburg is exploring demolishing Al Lang Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, to make room for an amphitheater. The proposed demolition would take place after 2028, so we’ll see if this comes to pass.
- Jamie Vardy is leaving Leicester City, ending a 13-year tenure there that will be remembered for winning the English Premier League title in 2016.
- Here’s everything you need to know before the second legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday. Chelsea will take on Barcelona before Lyon and Arsenal square off, with both English clubs trailing after the first legs.
- Real Sociedad announced that Head Coach Imanol Alguacil will step down following this season. Alguacil was hired in December of 2018 and led the team to victory in the 2020 Copa del Rey.
- Manchester United will take part in the inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament next month, joining Bayern Munich, Ajax, Benfica, and four other teams yet to be determined.
- NBA Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd has joined Everton’s ownership group. I too would be looking for anything to take my mind off of the Dallas Mavericks’ season.
- Former Pride players Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley announced a weekly podcast, with the first episode set for Monday.
That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/24/25
Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC
The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.
Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings
Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.
MLS Deadline Day Transfer News
The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.
The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.
Free Kicks
- German legend Thomas Muller, who is set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, reportedly rejected an offer from FC Cincinnati and Fiorentina.
- Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed strike against Atlanta. Seeing Atlanta get scored on really makes the goal that much sweeter to watch.
- Marcus Rashford is reportedly aiming to join a Champions League team after this season. The 27-year-old is on loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United and should be an interesting name to keep an eye on this summer.
- Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace kept a few champagne bottles corked, as Liverpool would have won the league title if Arsenal lost. Liverpool now just needs a point when it faces Tottenham at home on Sunday.
- Real Madrid beat Getafe 1-0, but it came at the cost of injuries to both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga. The Spanish club may now have a crisis at left back ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/23/25
The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.
Bad Pride, Good Pride
It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.
The (OCSC) Academy Awards
Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.
Pochettino Prepares
The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.
MLS Transfer News
The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City dropped a spot to No. 12 in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings. Three 0-0 draws in a row will do that.
- Michael Buxbaum is suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for $100 million because the USWNT didn’t try to win the SheBelieves Cup. I wasn’t happy with the result either, but this is the definition of frivolous.
- Nani and Ali Krieger are both participating in The Soccer Tournament on seven-on-seven soccer teams. The matchups for the $1 million tournament have been set.
- Speaking of Krieger, she is settling in at her new gig at ESPN as an analyst for NWSL matches and co-host of “FutbolW.”
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.
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