Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/22/18

Happy back to playing soccer week! After that long hiatus for Orlando City, I’m happy to get a game week featuring both Orlando teams. While it’s been a tough season, I’m still excited to be inside the stadium as the Lions can hopefully pull off some magic against one of the hottest teams in MLS.
Today we are talking that Atlanta match, Chris Mueller’s attacking drive, some youth national team news, and plenty of free kicks to dive into as well.
Atlanta’s Road Success Looks to Continue this Week in Orlando
It’s no secret that the two teams’ seasons couldn’t be much different, as 10th-place Orlando hosts first-place Atlanta United. If anything has been more of a tell for how great Atlanta has been this season, it would be its road record of seven wins out of 11, giving United confidence where most in MLS struggle.
Those seven wins would be tied for the most out of any team since 2014. In a league that is notorious for road struggles, Atlanta is bucking the trend. The last time these teams played in Orlando it was a 2-1 loss for the Lions, but that was back in May when the team was coming off a six-match win streak with Jason Kreis.
Now James O’Connor gets his first crack at the club’s southern rival. This team is very different now, and Sacha Kljestan knows it when it comes to the coaching change:
Orlando City's Sacha Kljestan on the Max and Herc ESPN podcast, speaking about James O'Connor: "I think we're all still getting used to each other. I think James is a good coach and he's very demanding, and I think that's exactly what we needed, but things don't change overnight.
— Daniel Karell (@DanKarellTLH) August 21, 2018
Ashlyn Harris Wins Another NWSL Save of the Week
I think I need to go back and do some counting, because it seems this is at least an every-other-week occurrence. Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris came up with the NWSL Save of the Week for this reaction save against North Carolina last weekend:
Stopping set pieces in their tracks.@Ashlyn_Harris takes home the Week 21 #NWSL Save of the Week! pic.twitter.com/6T6IFRso13
— NWSL (@NWSL) August 21, 2018
Additional awards:
- Portland Thorns’ Christine Sinclair won Goal of the Week.
- Sky Blue FC’s Katie Johnson won player of the week after scoring a brace.
Chris Mueller Talks His Offensive Style
Rookie Chris Mueller talked with Miguel Gallardo a little bit about his offensive style of play. The rookie started off well but hit the proverbial rookie wall. Still with games to play, it’ll be interesting to see if he can put together a late push for MLS Rookie of the Year.
Kick it with @cmueller1662 and @migallardo01.@Audi | The Drive Progress Series pic.twitter.com/3vy2cxPt3I
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 21, 2018
Youth National Teams in Action Yesterday
The U.S. U-18s began their tournament run in Prague yesterday with a 2-1 result over the United Arab Emirates.
The U-18 #USMNT began its Vaclav Jezek Youth Tournament run with a 2-1 victory vs. UAE today. Roberto Hategan scored both 🇺🇸 goals. pic.twitter.com/dSJVsa64wO
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) August 21, 2018
The women’s U-17 women’s side fell down early but came back in a match against South Korea.
The U-17 #USWNT played the second of two matches vs. 🇰🇷 today in South Korea and drew 2-2 as Maya Doms & Sunshine Fontes 👇 scored. USA came back from two goals down to score twice in 2nd half. pic.twitter.com/NozrlPjdwx
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) August 21, 2018
Washington Spirit End Ties with Head Coach and General Manager
The eighth-place Spirit have parted ways with Jim Gabarra immediately, pushing Assistant Coach Tom Torres into the interim role to finish the season as they look to begin their search. It’s an interesting move in my opinion because the Spirit have been hit heavily with the injury bug and have one of the youngest collections of talent across the board. Stars Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle have both missed chunks of the season, not helping their situation at all.
But with young USWNT members like Ashley Hatch (U-23s), Taylor Smith, and Andi Sullivan to go along with the aforementioned two, the Spirit look primed to make a jump in the next few years.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan gets a brief cameo in FIFA 19’s trailer.
I'm in the game. Let's go Kim Hunter! @EASPORTSFIFA #FIFA19 pic.twitter.com/BsESNqjpBS
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) August 21, 2018
- Bordeaux FC is looking to hire former USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann as sporting director.
- Miami FC owner David Beckham is set to be awarded a UEFA President’s Award for his work on and off the field.
- Young USMNT rising star Tim Weah is unlikely to move from PSG on loan this season as they want to see him get minutes with the first team.
- Portland Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan is next up in U.S. Soccer’s “The Journey” series as she talks her unusual path of going straight professional in France.
- Former Ajax talent Appie Nouri has woken up from a coma after over a year.
- Congrats to OCYS’ Boys ECNL on their season-opening tournament title.
Congratulations to the 2005 Boys ECNL – Champs at @fcprime Brevard Season Opener this past weekend 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/nIJYwScf6D
— Orlando City Youth (@OCYouthSoccer) August 21, 2018
That’s it! Have a great Tuesday, see you on Friday against Atlanta and, as always, have some good beers along the way. Cheers!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/31/25
Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road
On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home
The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.
NWSL Weekend Recap
The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.
FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap
The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
- Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.
- Antoine Griezmann is reportedly staying at Atletico Madrid next season despite being linked to a potential move to join LAFC in MLS.
- RB Leipzig has fired manager Marco Rose, as the club is sixth in the Bundesliga table and has appointed Zsolt Low as interim manager until the end of the season.
- David Blitzer is reportedly close to selling his majority ownership stake in the Utah Royals and Real Salt Lake after owning both clubs since 2022.
- Sports Illustrated released its list of MLS Coaches on the hot seat after poor starts, mentioning Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, the LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney, and the New England Revolution’s Caleb Porter.
- FIFA is reportedly considering having a one-game playoff between LAFC and Club America, with the winner replacing Club Leon in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/28/25
Orlando Pride prepare for the San Diego Wave, NWSL weekend matches, USMNT roster predictions, and more.

We made it to Friday! Celebrate however you see fit, whether that’s an indulgent breakfast or just your favorite cup of coffee. This week has flown by a bit for me and I’m looking forward to a weekend filled with soccer. I’ll be spending the next few days working, reading a new book or two, and working out the kinks of making a frozen coconut mojito. My blender hates me. Let’s get to today’s links!
Orlando Pride Prepare for the San Diego Wave
The Orlando Pride will look to extend their 2025 win streak to three games — and their overall win streak to seven — on Saturday when they host the San Diego Wave at noon. Orlando has looked the part of a defending champion so far, leading the league with eight goals without conceding a single one in two games. The Pride will take on a revamped San Diego team that is unbeaten under Head Coach Jonas Eidevall. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how Orlando will need to set the tone early on at home against the Wave and keep up the momentum.
NWSL Provides Entertaining Slate of Weekend Matches
While it’s far too early to think about the NWSL Shield race, it never hurts to check out how the Pride’s competitors are doing while enjoying some great soccer. Tonight features a pair of matches at the same time, with the Washington Spirit hosting Bay FC and the Houston Dash playing on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC. Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga will have a chance to tie her own record of scoring in eight straight games when her team plays the Utah Royals on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll get to see if the Seattle Reign’s solid start continues against an unbeaten Angel City FC team searching for its first win of the season.
USMNT Roster Predictions for Concacaf Gold Cup
The pressure is on United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino to turn things around after a rough showing in the final four of the Concacaf Nations League. This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup will be an opportunity for the USMNT to impress in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, and Pro Soccer Wire dove into how the roster could look for the tournament. Injuries to Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun complicate things up top, but we could see Brenden Aaronson or Alex Zendejas could return to the attack. The Gold Cup will likely also determine which goalkeeper between Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, and Patrick Schulte emerges as the true starter. Players like Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Johnny Cardoso are other notable names to keep an eye out for leading into the tournament.
FA Cup Quarterfinals Kick Off This Weekend
Only eight teams remain in the FA Cup and the action returns with enticing quarterfinal matchups. Preston North End is the only team outside of the English Premier League still fighting, but Manchester City is the only traditional giant left in the field as well. City will face off against a Bournemouth side that beat it 2-1 back in November, while Preston will have to get past Aston Villa, which has only won two of its last eight games. Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood’s injury adds an obstacle to overcome when the team travels to play Brighton and Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace gets star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta back from injury for its clash with Fulham.
Free Kicks
- Time is running out for Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Peru to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the latest CONMEBOL matches. Peru did well to beat Bolivia, but lost a crucial match against Venezuela.
- Angel City FC signed Brazilian midfielder Maiara Niehues from Sporting CP on a three-year contract. The 20-year-old recorded 18 goals and three assists in 57 matches across all competitions with the Portuguese club.
- MLS announced an expanded partnership with the media company Footballco to increase coverage of the league and its players. Hopefully this partnership results in a spotlight being put on smaller market teams and lesser known stars in the league, but only time will tell.
- Denver’s NWSL team announced its plans for a new training center and temporary stadium that will seat 12,000 fans for 2026 and 2027.
- The English Premier League’s transfer window will temporarily open on June 1 and close on June 10 to allow clubs participating in the Club World Cup to sign players before the tournament.
- After losing 2-0 in the first leg, Chelsea beat Manchester City 3-0 to advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals. The semifinals will have Chelsea take on Barcelona and Arsenal square off against Lyon.
- UEFA is investigating Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos for indecent conduct in the Champions League. If a ban is handed out, that player would miss the first leg of Madrid’s quarterfinal matchup with Arsenal.
- Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0 to move three points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, but forward Dani Olmo sustained a leg injury that could see him miss time.
That’s all I have for you for today’s links. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/27/25
Marco Pasalic wins Goal of the Matchday, Orlando Pride members join U.S. U-23 camp, Orlando City B beats Crown Legacy FC, and more.

We’re another day closer to what should be an awesome Saturday, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride in action. All three of Orlando’s soccer teams have been doing well lately, which is not something we can say too often. Hopefully that trend continues this weekend and beyond. Let’s get to today’s links!
Marco Pasalic Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday
An Orlando City player has won MLS Goal of the Matchday for the first time this season, with Marco Pasalic claiming the award for his strike against D.C. United. The goal was a real team effort from the Lions, as all three Designated Players linked up to get the ball up the field in a hurry for a counter. Pasalic did well to create space and then curl the ball into the back of the net from distance. His goal garnered 64.7% of the vote, beating out goals from Daniel Rios, David Martinez, and Deandre Kerr. In his first year as a Lion, the Croatian winger has already recorded four goals and an assist so far.
Pride’s Zara Chavoshi and Yolanda Thomas Join U.S. U-23 Camp
Orlando Pride defender Zara Chavoshi was called up for the first U-23 United States Women’s National Team training camp of the year, which will run alongside the senior team’s camp in California. The 22-year-old, who was signed by the Pride directly out of college after four years at Wake Forest, will develop her game at the camp alongside other promising young defenders like Savy King, Gisele Thompson, and Eva Gaetino. Orlando Pride Assistant Coach Yolanda Thomas will also be in attendance as an assistant coach at the camp, and it’s great to see her get this opportunity.
Orlando City B Defeats Crown Legacy FC on the Road
Orlando City B won its first road match of the 2025 season, beating Crown Legacy FC 1-0 to extend its unbeaten run to three games (2-0-1). The Young Lions didn’t make things easy on themselves by not converting some solid opportunities to extend their lead, but they ultimately held on to secure all three points. Orlando is now tied at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with New York City FC II with eight points from three matches. OCB’s next match will be a road game against Chattanooga FC on April 5.
Say Hello to Boston Legacy FC
Boston’s NWSL team has rebranded itself as Boston Legacy FC, which is leagues better than BOS Nation FC. The team initially went with that anagram of Bostonian as its name back in October as part of a brand launch that also included a widely criticized marketing campaign involving the slogan “Too Many Balls.” While I’m not crazy about the name, the team deserves credit for not defaulting to something too generic after whiffing on its first swing. The Boston Legacy will take the field for the first time next year as the NWSL’s 16th team.
Free kicks
- Pride midfielder Angelina was called up by Brazil for its friendlies against the United States in California on April 5 and April 8.
- The Pride were well represented in CBS Sports‘ NWSL Team of the Week, with Anna Moorhouse, Rafaelle, Ally Watt, and Barbra Banda all receiving praise for the team’s 2-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC.
- From the third round on, every single match of the U.S. Open Cup will be streamed on Paramount+.
- Federal Finance, a development group based in Orlando, proposed plans for a soccer-specific stadium in Winter Garden.
- Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies will undergo surgery after tearing his ACL in Canada’s third-place victory over the U.S. in the Concacaf Nations League.
- Alessia Russo had a brace in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. It was just enough for Arsenal to advance on aggregate to the semifinals, where the Gunners will square off against a Lyon side that beat Bayern 4-1 thanks to two goals and an assist from Kadidiatou Diani.
- Despite a 2-1 win against North Korea earlier this week in World Cup qualifying, the United Arab Emirates fired Paul Bento as head coach.
That’s all I have for you this fine Thursday. I hope you all have a terrific day and rest of your week!
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Final Score 4-1 as Lions Blast D.C. at Home
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Orlando Pride1 week ago
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 2-0 As Pride Take Three Points Away From Home
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Orlando City2 days ago
Orlando City vs. LA Galaxy: Final Score 2-1 as Cardiac Cats Score Late to Earn First Road Win
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Five Takeaways
-
Orlando City4 days ago
Orlando City’s Offense Looks Different With Marco Pašalić on the Right