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Lion Links: 9/16/18

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7 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. It’s been quite a whirlwind of a weekend, with news breaking on Friday that the Pride and Tom Sermanni have mutually agreed to part ways. The news came as a bit of a surprise to me, but with a bit of reflection and painful season highlights watched, it isn’t as shocking as it was initially. The news came on the same weekend, ironically, as the start of the NWSL playoffs (more on that later), and one can only imagine how different things could have, and honestly should have, been with the Pride failing to make the push into the postseason.

Meanwhile, two MLS clubs that came into the 2018 season with lofty expectations will clash in a bottom-of-the-table match today at 5 p.m. ET, with the Lions set to take on the Chicago Fire in Toyota Park in what is unfortunately a meaningless match. Hopefully, James O’Connor deploys a young lineup and we get to see a few promising glimpses of the things to come next year. Boy…it’s been a rough year.

Regardless, I’m still on hand to feed you your Sunday helping of Lion Links while you wait, or not wait, to catch the aforementioned Lions match. So, without further ado, here’s your Sunday serving. Bon appétit.

What to Watch When Orlando City Visits Toyota Park

As meaningless of a match as this is in terms of the MLS playoff picture, there’s still plenty of intrigue surrounding the upcoming clash between the Lions and the Fire today. For example, Toyota Park is one of three away venues that the Lions have an all-time winning record in. Another interesting facet to this match to keep a close eye on will be Orlando’s eight-match winless streak and Chicago’s nine-match winless streak in MLS play. Someone’s gotta take a W at some point…but I wouldn’t be in the least surprised to see the two teams walk away with a point in hand each. That’d be poetic irony if I’ve ever seen it.

I really enjoy the way Orlando City’s press team does their milestone tracking. Despite having such a horrid season on the pitch, there are quite a few individuals who are close to setting some club records. Check out the link above to see what’s coming up.

The Future is Always Purple

As we always preach here at The Mane Land, the future is purple. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is constantly tracking the young Lions, and boy, were they in for some fun ones on Saturday.

The U-12s were set for a doubleheader against Florida Rush SC, and they didn’t disappoint. The youngsters took the first bout by a score of 6-2, and were eager to get back onto the field to finish off their day, as inclement weather caused cancellations for the U-15 team’s match. In the second of their two matches, one U-12 youngster by the name of Aiden Suguene is certainly brightening up the day for his coaches, parents, and teammates, netting seven (!) goals in an 8-1 route over Florida Rush SC. He’s currently a member of the U-12 team, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name continue to pop up in the near and distant future. Kudos, Aiden!

Meanwhile, the U-13s were a bit shortchanged, as a 1-1 draw was ruled as the final result due to lightning delays. Still, a great showing from the young Lions, and I can’t wait to see how things progress throughout their season!

The U-15s took all three points with a 1-0 win over South Florida Football Academy. The U-17s also also continued to impress, with a 4-0 win over South Florida’s side under the belts. The future is lookin’ good, folks.

And lastly and unfortunately, due to a last-gasp goal, the U-18/19s fell to South Florida’s side, 1-0. An unlucky break, but hey, that’s football.

A great twitter follow is the Orlando City SC DA account, make sure you keep in check with the young talent coming down the Lions’ pipeline!

Portland Tops Seattle in NWSL Playoff Opener

The NWSL playoffs got off to an exciting start as the Portland Thorns hosted the Seattle Reign and picked up the 2-1 win to advance to the final. Ex-Pride original Jasmyne Spencer put the Reign up early on, finishing off Megan Rapinoe’s crossbar rattling free kick in the 27th minute. It’s always nice to see former Pride players doing well, especially in such a momentous occasion like the NWSL playoffs.

Unfortunately for Spencer and the Reign, the Thorns were having none of it, and found their way back into the match through goals from Tobin Heath (43’) and Linsay Horan (77’) and held on tight from there in a contest that was close.

Keep an eye on the other side of the equation, where the North Carolina Courage face off against the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on Tuesday night in a rematch of last season’s playoff clash — a game that saw the Courage fend off the Red Stars, 1-0, and advance to the final. It’s set to be a good one.

Top 30 MLS Players FIFA Ratings Revealed

Not surprisingly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads the cast with an 85 overall rating, and David Villa, also unsurprisingly, is just after him with an 82 overall ranking in the most recent iteration of the popular FIFA video game franchise. After that, cases can be made for players to be higher or lower on the scale, but no Lions made the cut for this edition of the top 30.

Free Kicks

  • I just want to express a bit of love for Sermanni, because well, I think it’s deserved, and so does Pride goalkeepers coach Lloyd Yaxley.

  • I’ve always been a Taylor Twellman fan (I was born in Salem, MA, and he played for the Revolution — the first MLS club I ever watched play), and I have to wholeheartedly agree with his critical assessment of the USMNT’s search for a new head coach. You decide how you feel about it on your own and let me know what you think.

  • Speaking the USMNT, striker Julian Green has been on fire as of late, coming on to notch a goal in Greuther Furth’s 4-1 win over Holstein Kiel. Add to that the fact that he performed admirable against Mexico in this last week’s friendly, and things seem to be trending upwards nicely for the young forward. Keep it up, Julian!

  • Here’s Zlatan doing, well, typical Zlatan things. He never ceases to amaze me. For the record, this was his 500th career goal. That’s a boatload of goals, and this one is just the icing on top. I expect several more cherries to be added to that cake before he finally calls it quits and hangs up the boots.

Well, that’s about all I’ve got on the docket for you today, folks. Do your best to enjoy the Lions’ clash with the Fire. Try to be optimistic and look at the silver linings; there’s always next year. Aside from that, enjoy the remainder of your Sunday and have an excellent week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/23/25

Tonight’s OCB match moved to Sunday, Alex Freeman makes USMNT roster, FanDuel Sports Network will stream Orlando Pride games, and more.

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1 day ago

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May 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! A long weekend is ahead of us and there is plenty of Orlando soccer to enjoy as well. I’ll be celebrating my nephew’s first birthday this weekend, so it should be a nice next couple of days visiting family. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

OCB Match Moved to Sunday in Kissimmee

As a heads up, Orlando City B is no longer playing today. OCB’s match against Atlanta United 2 was originally scheduled for tonight in Atlanta, but it was instead postponed to 7 p.m. Sunday and relocated to Osceola Heritage Park rather than Fifth Third Stadium in Georgia. Stadium availability was cited as the reason for the change, and the match will be played behind closed doors, although it will still be streamed live. The Young Lions are coming off of a 3-0 win over Inter Miami II and will face an Atlanta team that has drawn its last four games.

Alex Freeman Makes USMNT Training Camp Roster

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman was named to the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp roster ahead of friendlies next month against Turkey and Switzerland. The 20-year-old is one of five uncapped players on the roster and one of 16 MLS players. He’ll likely be behind Sergino Dest on the depth chart, but Joe Scally was not called up for this window. There are many notable players absent, opening the door for players like Freeman across multiple positions to stake their claim to participate in this summer’s Gold Cup and the World Cup next year.

FanDuel Sports Network Will Stream Select Pride Games

The Orlando Pride will have eight of its remaining games streamed on FanDuel Sports Network, including tonight’s road game against the Utah Royals. The regional network, which used to be called Bally Sports before rebranding, is available on various providers throughout Florida and there is an app for streaming as well. Personally, I find this as just another cog in a messy machine of NWSL coverage options, but I imagine this is handy for those out there who are already accustomed to using the network to watch other Floridian pro sports teams.

Winter Garden Lands USL League One Team

Another pro soccer team is coming to Central Florida, as the United Soccer League announced its intent to bring a USL League One team to the area. Central Florida Pro Soccer’s ownership group has plans for a development in Winter Garden that would include a 5,000-seat multi-purpose soccer stadium. The plans also include recreational fields, a hotel, parks, and a walking trail. The group will gather input from the community in the coming months to help determine the team’s colors, badge, and name.

Free Kicks

  • Kansas City Current defender Alana Cook was placed on the season-ending injury list due to a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus sustained in the club’s match against the Orlando Pride.
  • NJ/NY Gotham FC and Tigres will square off in the Concacaf W Champions Cup final on Saturday. The winner will earn a spot in the 2026 Women’s Champions Cup and the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup.
  • Luka Modric penned a farewell to Real Madrid fans as his time with the club has come to an end. I don’t know where his next stop will be, but I sure hope it’s not with a team the Lions still have to face this year.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your holiday weekend!

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Lion Links: 5/22/25

Orlando City ousted from U.S. Open Cup, OCB’s Justin Ellis named Player of the Matchweek, Tottenham wins Europa League, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 22, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Well, that could have gone better. It’s understandable to feel a bit deflated after Wednesday night’s game, especially after so many positive Orlando City results as of late. The good news though is that we’re another day closer to a holiday weekend that should include some good times or at least rest and relaxation. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Eliminated from U.S. Open Cup

The Lions lost 3-2 at home to Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16, ending the team’s run in the tournament. Orlando struck first in a rollercoaster of a match, and Ramiro Enrique pulled the Lions level after they fell behind, but rookie Wyatt Meyer scored the winner for the visitors. The loss snapped Orlando’s 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions and Orlando looked like a team that played five other matches already this month. Orlando will need to shake off this loss as it prepares to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Justin Ellis Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek

Orlando City B midfielder Justin Ellis was selected as MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek for his role in the team’s 3-0 win over Inter Miami II. Ellis, who turned 18 years old last week, assisted on both of OCB’s first two goals before scoring from the penalty spot himself. It’s been quite the year so far for Ellis, as he also scored six goals in the Generation Adidas Cup to help Orlando win the U-18 title in April. The Young Lions are back in action Friday with a road match against rival Atlanta United 2.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Results

Comebacks were a theme throughout the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16. Minnesota United took the lead, gave it up, and ultimately advanced thanks to defender Anthony Markanich scoring two late goals to beat St. Louis City 3-2 at Allianz Arena. Markanich was traded from St. Louis to Minnesota last year, adding a little salt in the wound for the visitors. D.C. United and Charlotte FC battled in a back-and-forth match that ended up with D.C. winning the penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. The match between the New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas also went the distance, with the Red Bulls winning the shootout. The Philadelphia Union won 4-1 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to eliminate the last team from outside MLS. The draw for the quarterfinals will take place this morning.

Tottenham Hotspur Wins Europa League Final

Tottenham prevailed in this year’s Europa league final, winning 1-0 against Manchester United in Spain. Brennan Johnson’s goal was enough for Tottenham to end its 17-year wait for a major trophy. It was a bit of an underwhelming finish to what was a fairly exciting knockout stage, and this was United’s only loss in this year’s tournament. Tottenham has now qualified for next season’s Champions League despite currently being 17th in the English Premier League standings.

Free Kicks

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: 5/21/25

The U.S. Open Cup journey resumes tonight, Javier Otero signs a new contract, Pride’s Sams and Abello called up, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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May 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is match day with Orlando City hosting Nashville SC tonight in Inter&Co Stadium. I hope you are able to make it out to support the club, since I will have to watch it on television. If you listen to The Mane Land PawedCast you know how much I want Orlando City to focus on the U.S. Open Cup — even at the expense of the Leagues Cup. For now, let’s get to the links.

Nashville is Next

As I mentioned above, the Lions take on Nashville SC in a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match tonight. Orlando City is riding a 12-match unbeaten streak through all competitions and has scored 14 goals in the past four games going back to its 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions will look to continue their goal scoring ways to advance to the quarterfinals.

Javier Otero Has a New Contract

Orlando City signed goalkeeper Javier Otero to a new contract through the 2026 season with options for 2027 and 2028. Otero joined the Orlando City Academy in 2017, moving his way up to Orlando City B and, eventually, the first team. The signing secures Orlando City’s backup keeper for the immediate future.

Pride USWNT Call-Ups

Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up to the USWNT training camp. This is Abello’s first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sams and Abello make up two of Emma Hayes’ 24-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica. Other notable players include Naomi Girma, Lynn Biyendolo, and Lo’eau LaBonta.

FIRST USWNT CALL UP FOR BELLO 🗣️

— Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-05-20T15:06:37.081Z

USMNT Gold Cup News

Mauricio Pochettino has yet to name the final 26-player list for the Gold Cup. He has even put out there that he may give playing time to a goalkeeper other than Matt Turner. Pochettino sees the Gold Cup as a great opportunity for the team to bond during the last competition before the World Cup. Prior to the Gold Cup, the team has friendlies with Türkiye and Switzerland.

Free Kicks

  • The Kansas City Current may have defeated the Pride last match, but they paid dearly for it.
  • In sad news, former Sporting Kansas City player Gadi Kinda passed away. Kinda had been dealing with “a complex medical battle.”
  • In the “I’m not at all surprised” category, Lionel Messi was not fined by the league for any of his antics during or after the loss to Orlando City, including his criticism of officials, which is usually an automatic fine.

That will do it for today. Check back for our pre-match and post-match coverage tonight. You can also follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates. Vamos Orlando!

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