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Lion Links: 9/16/18

Published

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: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

Published

20 hours ago

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April 2, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 1, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

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

Published

3 days ago

on

March 31, 2025

By

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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