Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/5/18

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s Friday so let your hair down and relax because the work week is nearly over. We had United States Women’s National Team last night, so rest and recuperate today before a weekend filled with Orlando City soccer and even more USWNT action. Today is the last day of the 13-day stretch of not seeing the Lions, so brace yourself for whatever awaits tomorrow. But for now let’s get to some of the soccer news you may have missed from a very busy Thursday.
Lions Still Struggling to Adapt
Remember back in March when a new-look Orlando City team started the season sluggish before going on a six-game win streak? It’s like that now for the Lions after a coaching change in the middle of the season forced everyone to adapt to a new system and ideology. Except this time there is no miraculous winning streak. It’s been tough for the Lions to get on the same page since James O’Connor took over and injuries have done no favors in finding stability. With this season’s focus shifting to 2019, the players and O’Connor are determined to right the ship by then.
“When there’s this much change in the course of a season, it’s difficult to grind through those challenges,” Johnson said. “It’ll be fun to see how [O’Connor] continues to grow now that he has seen this group for a while now and how he can fix us and turn us into a winning team.”
Learning More About Orlando’s Goalkeeping Coach
Thabane Sutu started his goalkeeping career in Lesotho and has now found his way to Orlando City to serve as the club’s goalkeeping coach. A member of James O’Connor’s staff at Louisville FC earlier this year, Sutu discusses what his reaction was when O’Connor asked him to head to Florida, his thoughts on Orlando City’s goalkeeping unit, and his appreciation for the supporters filling Orlando City Stadium despite the results.
Morgan Scores Twice as USWNT Dismantles Mexico
The USWNT started its road to France in the best way possible with a dominant 6-0 victory over Mexico last night. Despite struggling this year in the NWSL, Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan has been able to dial it up against Mexico as she scored her fifth and sixth goals against the rival country this year in just three meetings. Megan Rapinoe also impressed with a brace of her own, scoring in just the third minute of the game, and adding an assist on Morgan’s first goal.
"We couldn't have asked for a better start to this tournament."
Alex Morgan chats with @Alex_Curry after tonight's win at home 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/l0YJ7atNr9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 5, 2018
Julie Ertz and Tobin Heath also scored in what is shaping up to be an exciting offense for the U.S. The team will continue its qualifying process Sunday night when it takes on Panama at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Emily Van Egmond Jets Back to Newcastle
After missing out on the playoffs with the Orlando Pride, midfielder Emily Van Egmond is being loaned to the Newcastle Jets for the upcoming Westfield W-League season in Australia. The Matilda helped Newcastle reach the semifinals last year and will look to do that and more when she returns for 2019.
“I love being pack in Newcastle and playing with the Jets, I’ve settled right back in after being away and can’t wait to get back out on the pitch for our first game in just over a month.” van Egmond said Thursday.
Free Kicks
- In case you missed it, Orlando City academy players helped out in the community by working with the Orlando Union Rescue Mission to paint and touch up a homeless shelter.
Building up our City and our family. #VamosOrlando
Well done, @OCSC_Academy. 👏 pic.twitter.com/qUbLmesgGv
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) October 4, 2018
- The much anticipated second half of the MLS 22 Under 22 list was revealed yesterday with Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams taking the first and second spots, respectively. No Lions made the list but it was revealed that Josué Colmán at least cracked the top 30.
Here's who barely missed #22U22…
23. Busio, Gianluca
24. Saucedo, Sebastián
25. Lewis, Jonathan
26. Acosta, Danilo
27. Colman, Josué
28. Tolo, Nouhou
29. Bello, George
30. Paredes, Cristhian https://t.co/AgB8vsTCWT— Andrew Wiebe (@andrew_wiebe) October 4, 2018
- The Lions are on the brink of being officially eliminated. They’d need to win against FC Dallas tomorrow night and get a lot of help around the league to delay the inevitable. Check out all the playoff implications for this week.
- Chicago Fire midfielder Djordje Mihailovic beat out Diego Rossi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Sebastian Giovinco for this week’s MLS Goal of the Week after his incredible volley.
.@DjoMihailovic, we see you. 👀
The @ChicagoFire man's strike is your #ATTGotW! pic.twitter.com/euM84iLzyF
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 4, 2018
- FC Dallas will be without forward Cristian Colman for the rest of the season after the 24-year-old Paraguayan international tore his ACL.
- The Brazilian Football Federation’s headquarters got a new look that I’m sure Pride fans can all approve of.
A sede da CBF amanheceu assim nesta quinta-feira! Uma justa homenagem à Rainha do Futebol. Parabéns pela conquista, Marta! #GigantesPorNatureza pic.twitter.com/CoPdVzRSEh
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) October 4, 2018
- As the USWNT continues through qualifying, here’s a list of things to keep an eye out for during the month with the team.
- Thankfully he is okay, but Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik was robbed at gunpoint while driving home from his team’s big win against Liverpool.
- If you read my links last Friday, you would’ve known that Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was featured in FIFA 19 with his headgear on during contract talks. Well, it looks like the folks at EA Sports listened because their first patch for the game not only included the removal of the headgear, but added in a classy tie as well.
FIFA 19 gets its first title update – and EA has patched out Petr Cech's negotiations helmet and given him a tie https://t.co/18sezwn50H pic.twitter.com/DC75yWD442
— Eurogamer (@eurogamer) October 3, 2018
That’s all from me folks. I hope you enjoy your day before we go back to whatever result awaits us tomorrow. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/9/25
Orlando City’s next U.S. Open Cup match date revealed, MLS matches to watch, top soccer club valuations, and more.

Welcome to Friday! I hope the week has treated you well as we get ready for a Mother’s Day weekend packed with soccer. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are both in action at the same time on Saturday, so make sure to plan accordingly depending on how you want to enjoy the action. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Orlando City Will Face Nashville in USOC on May 21
Orlando City will officially host Nashville SC on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16. That match is sandwiched between a road game against Inter Miami on May 18 and a home game against the Portland Timbers May 24, so at least there won’t be much travel during that week during an already jam-packed month. The Lions reached this stage of the tournament after beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 Wednesday, while Nashville won 1-0 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Tuesday.
What to Watch In MLS This Weekend
We’ll all be tuned in for Orlando City’s match on Saturday against the New England Revolution, but there’s plenty more MLS action to look forward to as well. Before Orlando’s match, Inter Miami will head to St. Paul to take on a Minnesota United team that leads the league with six clean sheets this season. Another notable match this weekend is a clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings when the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew. That game has Daniel Gazdag written all over it. Sunday night’s match should be a doozy between two heavyweight Western Conference teams, as LAFC will hit the road to take on the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.
MLS Clubs Listed Among World’s Most Valuable
Sportico announced the valuations for the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, and a whopping 19 MLS teams made the list. The Lions aren’t included, but it’s still neat to see some clubs like Minnesota, Sporting Kansas City, and Charlotte FC listed. LAFC is the highest listed MLS side, coming in at 16th with a $1.28 billion valuation. Real Madrid tops the list at $6.53 billion, and six of the top 10 are from the English Premier League. While valuations aren’t exactly hard evidence of success or influence, I think this is a testament to the growth and parity of MLS through an international lens.
English Clubs Reach Europa League Final
This year’s Europa League final will feature a pair of EPL teams as Manchester United and Tottenham breezed through the semifinals. United overcame a shaky first half to beat Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford, with Mason Mount scoring two of the team’s four goals in the second half. Tottenham avoided an upset in Norway by winning 2-0 against Bodo/Glimt. The final will take place on May 21 in Spain, and there’s both a trophy and Champions League qualification on the line. Both United and Tottenham struggled this season and are respectively 15th and 16th in the league standings, but winning the Europa League is all that matters now.
Free Kicks
- American midfielder Johnny Cardoso played every minute of Real Betis’ 2-2 result against Fiorentina to advance to the Europa Conference League final, where the Spanish club will face Chelsea on May 28. Enjoy this goal from Antony to help his side prevail.
- In honor of Mother’s Day, AC Milan players will wear their mothers’ last names on the back of their jerseys in today’s match against Bologna. I love this idea and hope more clubs follow suit moving forward.
- An ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville acquired Salford City of England’s League Two.
- Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra’s MMA debut will have to wait, as the 43-year-old’s fight set for May 23 in Paris was postponed.
- We’ll end our links with what looks to be some unexpected Orlando Pride representation in Vatican City!
That’s all I have for you this time around. Have a fantastic Friday and enjoy the holiday weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/8/25
Orlando City steamrolls the Tampa Bay Rowdies in I-4 Derby, Orlando Pride aim to bounce back, U.S. Open Cup results, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s not often we get to celebrate an Orlando City victory in the middle of the week these days, but hopefully it’s a habit we get used to. The Lions took care of business in my neck of the woods, and it’s given some nice optimism to finish this week strongly. Let’s dive into the big win and more in today’s links!
Orlando City Trounces Tampa Bay Rowdies
Take a bow, Gustavo Caraballo! The 16-year-old was the star of the show in Orlando City’s dominant 5-0 U.S. Open Cup win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, scoring twice to jumpstart Orlando’s attack and making history along the way. There’s plenty of scoring to enjoy, so be sure to check out our full recap!
Hopefully this game was a nice shot in the arm for Orlando’s offense and something to build on in league play. It’s always nice to take down the Rowdies and the Lions are now the last Floridian team standing in the tournament. They’ll host Nashville SC in the round of 16 later this month in what should be a good game in the City Beautiful.
Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back in North Carolina
After a 1-0 loss on the road to the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride will look to return to their winning ways when they face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough environment for the Pride to play in, although the Courage have lost two of their three home games so far this season. Pride defender Emily Sams spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match and how the team can raise its level after a disappointing loss in Portland.
U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Wraps Up
MLS teams mostly cruised in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32, but it was still an exciting round of soccer filled with drama. In a vintage “cupset,” the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat New York City FC 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Orlando native Beto Ydrach. Indy Eleven nearly took down the Philadelphia Union, but the MLS side converted all five kicks in the penalty shootout to advance after a 1-1 draw.
The New England Revolution escaped Pawtucket with a 2-1 road win against Rhode Island FC, with 17-year-old Cristiano Oliveira scoring a late winner. Minnesota United squeezed past Louisville City 1-0, the Chicago Fire put Detroit City to the sword in a 4-0 win, and FC Dallas won 3-1 against USL League One side AV Alta FC.
UEFA Champions League Final Set
Paris Saint-Germain did everything it needed to and more at home against Arsenal, winning 2-1 to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. Great saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi propelled PSG to victory, with Bukayo Saka providing Arsenal’s only goal of the two-leg series. PSG will take on Inter Milan in the final on May 31 and it should be an interesting matchup at Allianz Arena to close out the tournament. Will PSG lift its first Champions League trophy only a year after Kylian Mbappe left the club, or will Inter come out on top after finishing as runner-up in 2023? I can’t wait to find out.
Free Kicks
- Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team star Mallory Swanson and her husband Dansby Swanson, as the couple announced that they’re expecting their first child!
- Racing Louisville announced that goalkeeper Katie Lund and midfielder Maddie Pokorny will both miss the remainder of the season due to hip injuries. Jordyn Bloomer, who had five saves in Friday’s win over the Houston Dash, will serve as the team’s goalkeeper in Lund’s stead.
- The Columbus Crew signed Daniel Gazdag to a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028 as well.
- Arsene Wenger proposed a change to the offside rule so that attacking players are onside so long as any part of their body is lined up with the last defender. We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it could lead to more goals in the future.
- Here’s what to watch for in the second legs of the Europa League semifinals. Manchester United will host Athletic Club with a three-goal lead in aggregate, while Tottenham will aim to defend its two-goal advantage in Norway against a Bodo/Glimt side that has key players returning from suspension.
- Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links 5/7/25
Orlando City takes on the Rowdies, sponsors like MLS, the NWSL is growing, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day as the Lions begin their 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign. I’ve repeatedly said on The Mane Land PawedCast that I want Oscar Pareja to focus on this competition more than another one (*cough* Leagues Cup *cough*). That all starts tonight, and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get to the links.
I-4 Derby Tonight
Orlando City enters the 2025 U.S. Open Cup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions make the perilous 112-mile trip along I-4 — which feels approximately like flying to Seattle — to take on an old geographical rival. We’re likely to see a rotated lineup for this match, but Pareja said he has confidence in the younger players to get the job done. If you’re not making the trip to Tampa here is how you can watch the match. We will have our normal match coverage for you tonight.
Nobody Likes Nil-Nil
You know something is going on when Orlando City attracts the attention of the national media. Unfortunately, that thing is the overabundance of 0-0 draws in four out of the last five matches. The theory is that the Lions aren’t getting enough service out of the midfield for the players up top. It may be as simple as players getting healthy for Orlando City to reignite the offense. For the sake of a certain The Mane Land editor’s sanity, I hope that is the case.
MLS News and Notes
Soccer’s popularity is growing in the United States. Are decades of being America’s next big sport finally paying off? It seems to actually be the case, at least when it comes to the sponsors. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, brands are investing in MLS and soccer in America. EA Sports is in on the action, partnering with MLS and Apple TV to show four live matches within the EA FC mobile gaming app this season
NWSL Keeps Growing
Big things are also happening in the NWSL. The growth has prompted the league to move its headquarters from one New York office to a bigger New York office. Part of that growth comes from owners like the Washington Spirit’s Michelle Kang. The billionaire is investing in the NWSL, U.S. Soccer, and other leagues and countries throughout the world. On a slightly different scale, Mikaela Shiffrin — the most decorated alpine skier of all time — has invested in the Denver NWSL expansion side.
Free Kicks
- Club America and LAFC will play a match to see which club qualifies for the Club World Cup after the Club Leon/Pachuca/Alajuelense appeals were denied.
- Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 (7-6 on aggregate) to cap a wild two-legged tie to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. They will face either PSG or Arsenal.
- While not a done deal, it’s looking like Christian Pulisic will sign a new contract with AC Milan. Pulisic managed to have a good season, even though the club fell short of expectations.
- Pulisic isn’t the only USMNT player in demand. Weston McKennie may also put pen to paper to stay with Juventus for a while longer.
That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match as well as the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
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