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Lion Links: 9/5/18

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Happy Hump Day, Mane Landers. Hopefully having Monday off took some of the sting out of the beginning of your week. If it didn’t. at least there are only three more days standing between you and the weekend, and some Orlando City soccer on Saturday night.

Let’s get the party started.

USWNT Dominates Chile Again, 4-0

The USWNT nearly turned in an identical 3-0 win against Chile to go along with the one it grabbed on Friday but Carli Lloyd had other ideas. Lloyd completed her second-half brace deep in stoppage time to help lift the U.S. to a 4-0 win. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris got the start in net and got one of the easiest clean sheets of her career. Alex Morgan was dangerous but couldn’t find the net, even from the penalty spot. Tobin Heath and Mallory Pugh scored before halftime for the U.S., which will head into next month’s Concacaf Championship. Injuries to Casey Short and McCall Zerboni were the only dark clouds on the final friendly of 2018.

Spector Expects Orlando City to Fight to the Finish

Orlando City sits 12 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight matches remaining in the 2018 regular season. Things haven’t gone as planned in 2018 for the Lions, and club captain Jonathan Spector can’t predict what the standings will look like come the end of the season, but he knows what he expects from each of his Orlando City teammates from now until then:

“Fight,” he said. “Pride. Just determination to get results. We don’t know where we’ll end up at the end of the season, no one does, but I think we have to have those things in order to give ourselves the best chance of finishing as high as we possibly can and then also using that to build toward next season.”

Orlando has failed to pick up a win in any of its last seven MLS outings, which the club will look to change with a tough match-up at Sporting Kansas City this weekend. It’s disappointing to be playing for pride in early September rather than playoff seeding, but that’s the way the chips have fallen this season for Orlando.

Kristen Edmonds Wants to Watch Your Pup

Orlando Pride Swiss army knife Kristen Edmonds has a new venture away from the pitch. On Sept. 1, Edmonds officially launched P.U.P.S. — Pets Under People’s Supervision, a pet sitting and walking service. Inspired by her own troubles finding reliable pet sitters, Edmonds wants to offer help in that department to pet owners.

“I kind of struggled, finding help to watch [Jersey],” Edmonds said. “Thankfully, my teammates would help out, the ones that weren’t traveling, or family friends would help out. But they’re not always available and you can’t always rely on people just to take their time out of their day to watch your dog because it’s like having a child, essentially. They need attention and they take up a lot of your time.”

Edmonds has apparently had the idea for a couple of years, and she’s even planning to hire employees, although right now she’s in business on her own. Congrats, and keep up the entrepreneurial spirit, Kristen.

Orlando City Holds Steady in Latest MLS Power Rankings

As a reader of The Mane Land, you already know that our own Logan F. Oliver provides the best MLS Power Rankings around — stay tuned for those later this morning. In the meantime, the official site of MLS released its own batch of updated rankings, and the Lions held steady this week at No. 21 after their 2-2 draw with Philadelphia at the weekend. Only San Jose and Chicago sit between Orlando City and the bottom of the power rankings, and the Lions will face a steep challenge to improve their standing this week at SKC.

USWNT Group Set for Concacaf Women’s Championship

The U.S. Women’s National Team is set to take part in the Concacaf Women’s Championship from Oct. 4 through Oct. 17, and we now know what their Group A competition will look like. Concacaf has three automatic berths on the line for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the USWNT will begin its quest alongside Mexico, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago in group play.

The groups were set on Tuesday morning in Miami, with Group B being comprised of Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Cuba. After a round-robin group play setup, the winners of the semifinal matches and the third-place match will qualify directly for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The USWNT will play its group matches in Cary, NC at WakeMed Soccer Park. Let’s get it.

Florida Cup Lineup Finalized

We already knew that São Paulo and Ajax would be taking part in the 2019 Florida Cup in January, but on Tuesday we learned that Flamengo and Eintracht Frankfurt will be joining them, filling out the field for the 2019 edition of the Cup.

Orlando will be buzzing for the arrival of Flamengo, which is one of the most storied clubs in the Brazilian Serie A and will be making its first appearance at the Florida Cup. Eintracht is fresh off a German Cup victory, a tournament which it claimed by defeating mega-club Bayern Munich in the final.

“Our fifth edition is the most competitive and exciting Florida Cup yet. Fans will be able to enjoy top quality international football and many other attractions at the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks in a week full of entertainment for fans of all ages,” said Florida Cup CEO Ricardo Villar.

Both clubs add star power to the 2019 Cup, which will take place Jan. 8 through Jan. 13, 2019.


That’ll do it for this morning’s edition of Lion Links. Have a great day and, whatever you do, don’t work too hard.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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.

  • 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: 3/28/25

Orlando Pride prepare for the San Diego Wave, NWSL weekend matches, USMNT roster predictions, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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


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!

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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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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.

That’s all I have for you this fine Thursday. I hope you all have a terrific day and rest of your week!

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