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Lion Links: 8/3/18

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8 years ago

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What’s up, Mane Landers? The Tournament of Nations has come to a close and attention now turns to this weekend’s action, with both Orlando City and the Pride playing here in Orlando. Both teams will be looking to get results at Orlando City Stadium as their seasons head into the home stretch. It should be a great next couple of days, so let’s kick them off with some links!

Justin Meram Reportedly Headed Back to Columbus

Reports came out yesterday that Justin Meram will be traded back to the Columbus Crew after just six months with Orlando City. Sam Stejskal of mlssoccer.com writes that the Crew would send $750,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and a 2019 international slot to Orlando for Meram after already selling him to the Lions earlier this January for $1.05 million in combined allocation money. Essentially, the Lions paid $300,00 for six months of service from Meram. In that time, Meram had only scored one goal apiece in MLS and the U.S. Open Cup, and could not seem to find his form in Orlando. The Lions and the Crew will meet later this season in Orlando City’s last regular season home game, with Meram possibly on the opposing side.

Orlando City Hires Assistant Coach

Sean McAuley has joined Orlando City’s coaching staff after seven seasons as the assistant coach for the Portland Timbers. This isn’t the first meeting between McAuley and Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor as McAuley actually coached O’Connor when he was a player for Sheffield Wednesday from 2008-2011. Part of the staff that won the Timbers the MLS Cup in 2015, the 47-year-old assistant coach hopes to bring a winning attitude to Orlando when he joins the Lions some time next week.

USWNT Wins 2018 Tournament of Nations

The United States Women’s National Team has won the Tournament of Nations after beating Brazil, 4-1, to edge out Australia by goal differential. Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan finished as the top scorer of the tournament, with four goals in three games. Morgan’s last goal was the last of the competition as she got on the end of a set piece cross by Megan Rapinoe to put the USWNT comfortably up by three goals. There was a little scare late in the game when Morgan had to be taken off the field after what looked like an ankle issue, but it doesn’t seem serious as she was seen celebrating fine after the victory.

For Brazil, Marta and Monica both started while Poliana and Camila came off the bench but the Brazilians were unable to upset the Yanks, with Brazil’s lone goal coming from an own goal by the U.S.

In the earlier game between Australia and Japan, the Matildas scored twice in the second half to win 2-0 and finish second in the tournament. Pride defender Alanna Kennedy scored the first goal for Australia with a perfect free kick that snuck into the bottom left corner of the goal. Sam Kerr scored to secure the win and although they did not win the tournament, the Matildas exit unbeaten with their heads held high.

Niki Budalic Assesses Orlando City Transfer Plans

With the summer transfer window ending on Aug. 8, Orlando City General Manager Niki Budalic fielded questions in regard to the Lions’ transfer plans. So far, the Lions have only added center back Shane O’Neill to the squad while the team has lost 12 of its 13 games. The hiring of James O’Connor came at an inopportune time as he tries to evaluate his players and identify areas that need improvement while the transfer deadline looms. Regardless of the complications from a new coaching hire, Budalic is optimistic that the Lions will straighten things out, even if that means not bolstering the squad and just getting more out of the players already on the team.

United States Men’s National Team Schedules October Friendly

The USMNT’s slate of games this fall just got even more enticing with a friendly scheduled against Colombia on Oct. 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Colombia is the fifth of an expected six opponents that the Yanks will face off against before 2018 ends, joining heavyweight teams like Brazil and England. The last time the U.S. played against Colombia was in the Copa America Centenario in 2016, when the U.S. lost two times against its South American foes.

Free Kicks

  • With a tough stretch of games ahead as the NWSL season’s end nears, Orlando Pride defender Toni Pressley believes the Pride will rise to the pressure and are ready to get back on the field this Sunday against Sky Blue FC.

  • Ex-Orlando City striker Cyle Larin has kicked off his 2018 campaign with Turkish club Besiktas on the right foot, scoring a hat trick in a 6-0 win against a B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands. Congratulations to Cyle as he leads his team into the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
  • The Orlando SeaWolves of the Major Arena Soccer League have added a third former Lion to their squad by signing defender Tyler Turner. The 22-year-old joins Lewis Neal and Johnny Mendoza as former Orlando players to become SeaWolves.
  • Speaking of past members of Orlando City on the move, former Orlando Vice President of Soccer Operations Paul McDonough is headed to Miami to help David Beckham with his still unnamed new MLS team. Jumping from Orlando to Atlanta and now to Miami, it is nice to see that one of the league’s top executives is dedicated to making the south a popular place for soccer. Congrats, Paul!
  • James O’Connor’s old team has found a new head coach as Louisville FC has appointed John Hackworth to take over.
  • 17-year-old Alphonso Davies has won MLS Goal of the Week for his strike against Minnesota United in the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 victory over the Loons. Davies’ well-placed shot was only overshadowed by his footwork as he sent a defender the wrong way with a beautiful cutback.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rightfully named MLS Player of the Week for his hat trick against Orlando last Sunday night. Although it is a sour feeling losing to Zlatan and the LA Galaxy 4-3, there is a small comfort that comes knowing it took an incredible performance by one of the league’s best players to defeat the Lions.
  • Regarding the other team in Los Angeles, LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.

  • Reports have surfaced about the future of Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal throughout yesterday, with a move to Barcelona being a “done deal”.
  • We end our links with a little remix put together by our past contributor and current Orlando City writer Austin David about how Dom Dwyer is feeling. Our managing editor told him to give it a beat and Austin ran with it.

That’s all from me, folks. Make sure to check back in later today for more coverage of soccer here in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/11/26

Antoine Griezmann makes Team of the Matchday, reliving the Pride’s win over Houston, academy players head to U.S. training camp, and more.

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2 days ago

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September 11, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann watching his shot go in the net against FC Dallas in a friendly.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Today is the first of three straight days of games featuring Orlando soccer and hopefully the teams can replicate their impressive results last weekend as they push for the playoffs. Apart from working and enjoying the soccer, I plan on making some pasta by hand, so wish me luck in that endeavor. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Antoine Griezmann Makes Team of the Matchday

Orlando City star Antoine Griezmann was the only Lion to make the MLS Team of the Matchday following Orlando’s 3-2 win over Atlanta United. He scored twice and came up with a crucial goal-line clearance to lead the Lions to victory on the road. Griezmann has now scored in four straight games and already has seven goals so far this season despite only playing nine games. Hopefully he can keep finding the back of the net when Orlando hosts a Toronto FC side that has only lost once since the World Cup break.

Reliving the Pride’s Victory Over Houston

The Orlando Pride released a video of the sights and sounds from the team’s 3-1 win against the Houston Dash. It was interim head coach Yolanda Thomas’ first game at the helm and the team was able to get a win after an emotional week. From the different angles of Orlando’s goals to Thomas’ speech to the team following the win, it’s a great watch. The Pride will aim to make it another three points tonight when they play on the road against the Kansas City Current tonight.

Orlando City Academy Players Head to Camp

There are four Orlando City academy players heading to Georgia for the U.S. U-15 and U-16 boys national teams’ training camps at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Goalkeeper Luan Silva and defender Zorian Civil were called up for the U-16 team, while goalkeeper Mario Martinez Reyes and forward Molina Baladi will be joining the U-15 team. Hopefully they’ll all be able to impress at camp as they continue to develop for both club and country.

Uncertainty Looms Over Racing Louisville’s Future

Racing Louisville ranks near the bottom of the NWSL in both attendance and spending and there are questions circling the club regarding its investment and future in the league. Along with this, forward Emma Sears reportedly requested a trade from the club this summer and 2025 NWSL Coach of the Year Bev Yanez’s contract is set to end after this season. A sale may very well be in the club’s future, with relocation possibly on the table as well. Louisville made the playoffs for the first time last year, but the club has lost 14 games so far this season and is 13th in the league standings.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride moved up a spot to 11th in the CBS Sports NWSL power rankings after beating the Houston Dash.
  • American right back Sergino Dest scored the equalizer in PSV Eindhoven’s 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/10/26

Orlando City beats Atlanta United, Orlando’s soccer history, U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team draws against Japan, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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September 10, 2026

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Image of Inter&Co Stadium at night.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m feeling pretty good after Orlando City’s win on Wednesday and am hoping the good times keep rolling through this weekend’s games. After a rough August, September has thankfully been kind to Orlando’s soccer teams. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Beats Atlanta United On the Road

The Lions are coming back to Orlando with all three points after winning 3-2 against rival Atlanta United. It looked like it would be a rough night for Orlando after an early own goal, but Antoine Griezmann continues to excel in purple (or gold, as was the case on Wednesday night). Atlanta made it close in the end because of a second own goal, but Orlando ultimately secured the win to climb further up the MLS standings. The Lions will be back in action on Saturday with a home game against Toronto FC before traveling to play the Columbus Crew in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday.

Orlando’s History as a Soccer City

The United States Men’s National Team will play at Inter.co Stadium later this month in its first match since the World Cup. The soccer-specific stadium has been no stranger to hosting the U.S national teams since opening in 2017 and has also hosted Concacaf Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup games, along with the NWSL Championship and NCAA Women’s College Cup final. The City Beautiful has been a place for soccer for decades, hosting World Cup and Olympic soccer while also having club teams at various levels over the years. Orlando City lifting the U.S. Open Cup trophy in 2022 and the Orlando Pride winning the double in 2024 have helped solidify the city’s reputation as a soccer city as well.

U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Held to Draw

The United States U-20 Women’s National Team drew 2-2 against Japan in its second game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The U.S. struck first thanks to a goal from Ainsley McCammon in the first half, but Japan equalized in the 74th minute. Alex Buck restored the U.S. lead a minute later, but Japan knotted things up again and the Yanks could not find a winner despite some late chances. It’s a tough result for the U.S., which lost its first group game against Italy. It can still qualify for the knockout round, but would need some help from other results even if it wins against New Zealand on Saturday.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The UEFA Champions League’s league phase is underway this week and there still has yet to be a draw so far. VfB Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic was the standout performer from Wednesday’s slate of games, scoring a hat trick within a 12-minute stretch in a 3-1 win against Viking FK. Elsewhere across Europe, Arsenal edged past Napoli in a 1-0 win in Italy, Barcelona got its campaign started with a big 5-1 win against Feyenoord, and Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda remains an NWSL MVP candidate, although Ashley Sanchez is starting to run away with it with 18 goals so far this season.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/9/26

Orlando City plays Atlanta, Griezmann gets fined, Banda a Ballon d’Or contender, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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September 9, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. The fixture congestion is back for the next couple of weeks which means plenty of opportunity to watch the Lions in action. I’m looking forward to seeing Martin Ojeda fully integrate back into the offense with Antione Griezmann. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Heads to Atlanta

Orlando City is headed north to take on Atlanta United tonight. Both teams have been playing better of late, but this is still an opportunity for the Lions to get all three points from a rival on the road. Atlanta has struggled to score goals this season, and Orlando City’s offensive weapons are many, and the team is rising up the MLS power rankings, thanks to the win over San Diego FC. It’s a double match week, so it will be interesting to see how Atlanta rotates players based on availability.

Grizi Gets Fined

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann an undisclosed amount for violating the League’s policy regarding throwing/kicking an object toward fans in the match against San Diego FC. Here is the “incident” in case you missed it during the match.

If the fine was more than a dollar, it was too much. That’s not true, a dollar is also too much.

Pride in the News

The Orlando Pride made history in the 3-1 win over the Houston Dash. The victory made Yolanda Thomas the first Black woman in a head coach’s role in NWSL history, and only the fourth female coach to win their first-ever NWSL match in charge. It also comes as no surprise that Barbra Banda is a nominee for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Pochettino’s Big Plans

Mauricio Pochettino wants to make the USMNT one of the “most powerful” international teams in the world. That is a pretty ambitious goal, though I like the high aspirations. Pochettino is now in charge of the procedural and developmental sides of the game. He will have some time to experiment before the next World Cup, including utilizing more MLS homegrowns.

Free Kicks

  • Marco Pasalic has been called up to the Croatian National Team for the UEFA Nations League matches later this month and in the first part of October. Croatia will be playing Czechia, England, and Spain.
  • Ivan Angulo will be sporting a new look at the match tonight. Hopefully it helps him score goals on his breakaway opportunities.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for live match updates and we will also have a recap of the match tonight and more coverage tomorrow. Vamos Orlando!

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