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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: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

Published

24 hours ago

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April 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/24/25

Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.

Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings

Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.

MLS Deadline Day Transfer News

The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.

The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.

Sources: Minnesota United in advanced talks to acquire Julian Gressel from Inter Miami.Nothing done yet. Still details to figure out. Optimism something gets done, but not there yet.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T00:25:26.971Z

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.

In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.

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That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

April 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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