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Lion Links: 9/2/18

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8 years ago

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Hey there, Mane Landers! Happy Sunday. I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend; I know I am. I’ve been training with a soccer program that’s set to visit Munich, Germany in a few months time, and I can’t wait to experience the culture and what I expect to be an incredibly high level of play from our opposition. I’ll be sure to take plenty of photos and videos to share with you all once we’re back, and I hope to write up a piece detailing every moment of the trip to provide insight to our audience of this exciting journey and life-changing adventure.

I can’t wait, and I can’t wait to share it all with one of the most passionate group of supporters in this country.

But enough about me. You’re not here for that. You’re here for your Sunday serving of Lion Links. And that’s just what I’ve come to bring you. Before we dive in, let’s all be sure to wish semi-new Lion center back Shane O’Neill a very special happy birthday! He’s been a great addition to the squad, and he deserves praise from all of us. So, pick your social media of choice and give him a holler! We’re lucky to have him.

That said…bon appetit, Mane Landers.

Lions Draw with the Union, 2-2

In the midst of a season of disappointing results, staffing changes, and questionable moves from the front office, the Lions notched a point against Philadelphia last night. Orlando City drew first blood, saw the Union equalize before halftime and take the lead late, then responded with a stoppage-time equalizer.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for our very own Bearded Guy’s five takeaways, set to be published and at your fingertips later today.

Labor Day Honors: Eight Hardworking Players Recognized

I’m going to start this one out with a bit of disbelief that Yoshimar Yotún didn’t make the cut, because in my humble opinion, he’s absolutely one of the hardest working players in this league. That said, I can’t disagree with mlssoccer.com’s Tom Bogert on his selections for the hardest working players in the league, a recognition birthed from this weekend’s holiday — Labor Day. Players that made the list include Portland’s Diego Chara, Columbus’ Harrison Afful, the New York Red Bulls’ Tyler Adams and Kemar Lawrence, D.C. United’s Paul Arriola, Seattle’s Chad Marshall, LAFC’s Benny Feilhaber, and Toronto’s Michael Bradley. Once again, I can’t disagree with Bogert’s choices, but I do think he should have increased the number of players included on his list to nine to include Yoshi. I might be just a little biased, but man, Yoshi deserved to make this list.

MLS Honors National Beard Day

As a young man who doesn’t naturally grow an abundance of facial hair, this one was completely off of my radar until everyone’s favorite Bearded Guy and our very own Sean Rollins brought it to my attention. Apparently, the first Saturday of every September is recognized as National Beard Day. First of all, our Bearded Guy has the greatest beard in Orlando, no doubt. Maybe even in Florida…possible this country…or hell, maybe on the planet. You all know him, so you know I’m not just saying this to say it; it’s beyond spectacular and I’m envious of its commanding presence (hi, Tom…now you know). To celebrate the occasion, MLS has recognized some of the best beards in the league and boy, there are some beauts.

I’ll never qualify for a beard competition, but you can be damned sure I’d attend one. Why not? If Tom’s there, I’m there. That way I’ll be able to share in the spoils of his inevitable victory. The Lions’ Dom Dwyer makes the cut, but my personal favorite is Portland’s Nathan Reid’s flowing, orange beard. It. Is. Excellent. They even threw in a true throwback, displaying controversial former USMNT player and current commentator Alexi Lalas’ old school shag.

MLS Launches Fifth Annual Kick Childhood Cancer Initiative

The initiative, supported by all 23 clubs in MLS, aims at raising money for the Children’s Oncology Group, an organization dedicated to research in eradicating childhood cancer. This makes me proud to be an MLS fan, and I’ll certainly be looking to make a donation. You should consider it as well, or maybe buy some nice gold swag to show your support (which also counts as a donation). Also included in this momentous and inspiring initiative is the opportunity to not only contribute to a great cause, but also provide fans the chance to bid on match-worn and autographed memorabilia. Additionally, MLS Works will make a donation for each post that includes a scarf and the hashtag #ScarvesUp. So get on it, Mane Landers! The memorabilia is going to be beautiful, and the cause that you’ll be donating to is incredible and could legitimately save lives. Let’s show MLS that we’re a fan base that cares!

Free Kicks

  • Are you kidding me? No. Really. Was this a joke? Sheesh…I love the fans of this club with my entire heart, but c’mon man! Some people just want to watch the world burn, I guess.

  • So, eh, Sydney Leroux might be a psychic? #PowerCouple

  • Me too, Alanna. Me too.

  • DeAndre Yedlin scored his first Premier League goal yesterday during Newcastle’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City, and apparently, it’s historic…well, sort of. See below.

All right, Mane Landers, that’s about all I’ve got for you today. Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday, and if you’re not working tomorrow, take a load off and enjoy your time! Visit family and friends. Reconnect with an old colleague. Make something of your day! Every single day counts, folks. Seize them. And if you need a day just to recharge, do just that. You deserve it (because whew, it’s been a rough season for both the Lions and the Pride).

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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.

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  • 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: 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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Lion Links: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

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That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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