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Lion Links: 7/28/18

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8 years ago

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Happy Saturday, Mane Landers. I hope you’re all enjoying your weekend. I sure am. I’m looking forward to seeing a good friend’s band play their farewell show later this evening, as their drummer is moving to Michigan. It should be a good time, or at least a much better time than having to sit through yet another frustrating Orlando City performance.

Things just keep spiraling out of control for the Lions, but I’ll continue to shout from the rooftops that there’s still plenty of time to right the ship. I mean, the ship’s taking on water too…but that’s beside the point. Let’s just remain positive, folks.

Before you jump in, we here at The Mane Land want to wish the Orlando Pride’s Ali Krieger (34) and the Lions’ Pierre Da Silva (20) a very special happy birthday!

That said, here’s your Saturday serving of Lion Links. Bon appetite.

Several Lions Facing Disciplinary Action

Following last Saturday’s dramatic (to say the least) 3-2 loss to the Columbus Crew, the MLS Disciplinary Committee has issued undisclosed fines to the Crew’s Zack Steffen, and City’s Joe Bendik and Uri Rosell for instigating and escalating a mass confrontation during the 94th minute of the Lions’ loss. Head Coach James O’Connor has been issued an official warning for the club’s violation of the League’s policy during the 2018 campaign and the club was fined for its second violation of that policy.

In addition, the same committee issued Orlando City midfielder Cristian Higuita an undisclosed fine for “simulation/embellishment” in the 64th minute of Thursday’s loss to New York City FC. There’s some controversy here, depending on which club you support, but have a gander at the video footage and decide on your own how you feel about the aforementioned disciplinary actions.

Personally? I feel the Lions have been shafted the entire season, and clearly frustrations are boiling over. Higuita clearly took contact in the box on the call in question, but I don’t think he did himself any favors by holding his face after clearly taking no contact to the face. Despite the theatrics, there was contact, and boy has the officiating in City matches been far more than inconsistent throughout the season. As for Uri and Joe, well, don’t do that guys…but I empathize. Once again: theatrics.

Pigeons’ Gaffer Not Happy After Win in Orlando

It’s a bit of salt in the wound, considering the Lions fell to the Pigeons at home, but New York City FC Head Coach Dome Torrent was not satisfied with his team’s performance following his side’s win in Orlando City Soccer Stadium. Apparently, the winning performance wasn’t even remotely close to the standard that Torrent has set for his players, and he was vastly dissatisfied with the match. It must be nice to be unhappy with your team that’s clearly in the playoff picture, a potential favorite to win the MLS Cup, that’s missing its best striker, and still take home three points from a road win. That’s not a frequency that’s been available to Orlando’s supporters — and to hear it from the rival side’s gaffer must certainly feel frustrating.

“I’m not happy tonight,” said the Spaniard postgame. “We were able to win, but I’m not happy with our performance because I can’t play that way. If you want to win MLS, even when [Orlando] play with 10 players [after Shane O’Neill’s ejection], we play bad, really bad. I say in the second half I don’t like to defend deep. I repeat a few times. But I don’t know what happened. Maybe it’s because we won 2-0 in the first half, I don’t know, but we have to improve, improve a lot. Believe me.”

USWNT Players had Concerns Over Jill Ellis Last Year

A report from Sports Illustrated has stated that players from the USWNT confronted then-federation president Sunil Gulati last year before the Tournament of Nations with concerns over Jill Ellis and the direction of the squad, fearing that complacency may have set in following the triumph during the 2015 World Cup final. The players, who haven’t been named, were apparently veterans, and were told that Ellis wouldn’t be going anywhere prior to next summer’s Women’s World Cup…in front of Ellis. It’s an interesting tidbit of news to leak out, especially during the tournament, but the players asked for changes in either Ellis’ leadership and communication methods, or for a new coach in general. Clearly, Ellis is still in charge. Hopefully things go well next summer.

Earnie Stewart Reflects

Stewart’s time as the sporting director of the Philadelphia Union will come to a close on Tuesday as he departs to become the USMNT’s new general manager. While there’s no doubt in the mind of most Union and MLS club supporters that Stewart performed admirably while with the Union, Stewart himself feels like he’s leaving behind an incomplete legacy.

“Building for the future is not something that happens in two and a half years. That takes a lot more time than it’s been,” he told the Inquirer and Daily News. “I wanted to be here for a longer time, because you can’t just build in two and a half years. You can build, but you’re not going to get the fruits from what you build.”

It’s an unfortunate truth for Stewart, but there is a silver lining for him: he might just see some familiar faces within the ranks of the USMNT in the future, perhaps even some from Philadelphia. Just recently, Derrick Jones and Auston Trusty represented the Stars and Stripes in the U-20 World Cup. Clearly, Stewart has an eye for talent and an aptitude for developing young talent.

“That means we went in the right direction,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of talent coming behind that. Hopefully they hit some national teams and make a lot of minutes [played] within the Philadelphia Union, and ultimately win games.”

Let’s just hope his ambition and abilities translate to consistent and quality play from the USMNT moving forward. I have a good feeling, but I guess I’m playing the optimist here.

Free Kicks

  • Not only is it Ali Kreiger’s birthday, but she’s also just an excellent individual in general. I can’t wait to see her next career move, whether that be coaching, commentating, or anything else relating to the club and sport she’s dedicated her life to. Double cheers to you, Ali. We love you!

🙌

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  • Speaking of the World Cup, remember that Russian youngster that blew the minds of millions with his pacy runs, tenacious play, and eye for goal? Well, Aleksandr Golovin’s World Cup exploits have paid off, as he’s officially made the move to Ligue 1 side Monoco. Well deserved, Aleksandr. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you next.
  • This is incredible to even think about…but the upcoming La Liga season will be the first time since the 1999-2000 season that Real Madrid will not have a Ballon d’Or winner within their ranks.

That’s just about all I’ve got for you today, folks. Remember to check back in periodically to stay up to date on all things Orlando City and Orlando Pride, and most importantly, enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/25/26

Lions fall to FC Cincinnati, Pride and OCB win, USMNT World Cup roster leaked, and more.

Published

35 minutes ago

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May 25, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda fighting for the ball against LAFC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Memorial Day, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work over the holiday weekend, covering high school lacrosse playoff games. The Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend, and the World Cup is less than three weeks away. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get into the links.

Lions Suffer Heavy Defeat at FC Cincinnati

Orlando City fell 6-2 to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium Saturday in another embarrassing road display. Martin Ojeda scored the opener for the Lions in the first half before Cincinnati scored twice to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Ojeda equalized for Orlando early in the second half. However, it was all Cincinnati from that point as Evander scored his second goal of the match and added three assists as Orlando suffered a heavy defeat on the road for the fourth time this season. The loss snapped the Lions’ three-match unbeaten streak. Orlando City will be off until late July due to the MLS World Cup break. The Lions’ next match will be on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on July 22.

Payne’s Goal Lifts Pride over San Diego Wave

The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 1-0 at Snapdragon Stadium Sunday and snapped their two-match losing streak. Nicole Payne scored the lone goal in the match for Orlando, which moved above the Seattle Reign on goal difference to eighth in the NWSL table with 14 points. The Pride will return home Friday to take on Bay FC at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Beats Inter Miami II

Orlando City B defeated Inter Miami II 4-1 at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday. The Young Lions got off to a flying start in the first half as Ignacio Gomez scored the opening goal. Bernardo Rhein added another, and OCB got an own goal by Miami defender Daniel Sumalla to take a 3-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, Zakaria Taifi scored for OCB and Miami pulled one back, but the Young Lions had the match wrapped up by then. OCB will take on Chattanooga FC Sunday at Osceola County Stadium.

USMNT World Cup Roster Leaked

According to Jeff Rueter and Pablo Maurer at The Guardian, the full 26-man U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was leaked over the weekend, just days before the official announcement. Former Lion Alex Freeman, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Tim Weah were notable mentions, while other players reportedly making the cut include Alejandro Zendejas, Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter, Brenden Aaronson, Mark Mackenzie, and goalkeeper Matt Turner. Diego Luna, Tanner Tessmann, and Aidan Morris were left out of the squad. The U.S. Soccer Federation will officially announce the USMNT roster Tuesday, while the final deadline to submit the roster to FIFA for the World Cup is June 1.

Free Kicks

  • Wilfried Zaha will reportedly depart from Charlotte FC this summer when his loan deal expires.
  • Josef Martinez will reportedly become a free agent after reaching an agreement to part ways with Liga MX side Tijuana.

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: 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

By

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.

Free Kicks

  • 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

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

on

May 21, 2026

By

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.

Free Kicks

  • 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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