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Lion Links: 10/28/18

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8 years ago

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Howdy, Mane Landers. This is a special edition of your daily serving of Lion Links, as it marks the finale of the 2018 season. The Lions travel up to the Big Apple to take on the New York Red Bulls as they prepare for their journey into the MLS playoffs. Hats off to them.

Meanwhile, the Lions have a lot of work cut out for them after this final 90 minutes of play, and something tells me Head Coach James O’Connor will get right on it — he’s got one hell of an off-season ahead of him. Regardless, at least we all get to enjoy (or dreadfully mull through) one final match with our boys in purple. I’ll do my best to keep you occupied until that match kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Let’s do this.

Orlando City and James O’Connor Look to End on High Note

There’s no secret that the Lions have experienced an abysmal season. With everyone ready to finish the season and begin the next wave of rebuilding of what should have been a playoff-bound side, the Lions are still looking to claim a positive result from their final match. When asked about his initial ambitious intention of turning the season around and clinching the club’s first-ever MLS playoff berth,O’Connor realized that he may have been asking too much in too little time.

“I think, since we’ve come in, we’ve wanted to look,” O’Connor said. “We feel as if we’ve looked, but I think the season, from our aspect of when we come in midseason, we have high, high expectations of ourselves so we’re obviously disappointed with the way the season has petered out. I think, as a club, obviously we want to make sure that we get the success that we all want. It’s been very intentional about following a process, following a plan, and then making sure that you execute it.”

When asked if he’d take any time away from the club after the season closes, he cited how much work needs to be accomplished to prepare for the the 2019 campaign.

“I think you have to ask questions of yourself. I think you have to ask questions of individuals. And then, I think, you have to create a plan, make sure that there’s a process to the plan and then carry it out.”

Let’s just all hope O’Connor comes up with a winning plan, so that next year at this time we’ll all be celebrating the Lions as they head into the MLS playoffs.

Landon Donovan, MLS, and Liga MX

American footy legend Landon Donovan believes that it’s only logical to have more collaboration between what he labels as the top two leagues in North America. Speaking to ESPN Deportes. the MLS all-time goal scoring and assist leader stated that it would be a wise decision to have more matches between the league, as it would allow the leagues to better compete with their European and South American counterparts.

“For me it is logical, because they’re the best leagues in this part of the world, they have the biggest players, if we want get better compete with Europe and parts of South America, I think it’s important,”

He even went so far as to hypothesize that a league that featured clubs from both MLS and Liga MX would be beneficial to the sport in both countries. With collaboration already underway in the form of the Campeones Cup, a final that pits the winner of each league against each other, further collaboration both on and off the field is possible. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, who knows what’s possible?

Catch All of the Final MLS Match Day Action

With the 2018 MLS regular season coming to a close, you may be wondering how you can stay tuned in to all of the matches. With some pivotal clashes and interesting match-ups, frontrowsoccer.com has provided a brief guide to keeping you up to date as today’s matches play out. There are still two playoff spots up for grabs, so be sure to keep a keen eye on the results and the implications of who makes their way in to the 2018 MLS playoffs, and who doesn’t.

D.C. United’s Wayne Rooney: No Loan or International Duty in the Future

With Rooney coming into D.C. United’s squad in the middle of what looked to be a down year, the club has turned it around and the English legend has had a lot to do with it. He’s netted 12 goals and contributed 9 assists through only 19 league appearances, and his side now sits in a strong position to gain a home match in the MLS playoffs. When asked about the possibility of returning home to England during the off-season to play on loan with another club, Rooney didn’t see it happening, nor does he see a return to the English national team in his future.

“I think [England] are doing fantastic,” he said of the Three Lions, who reached the World Cup semifinals in Russia over the summer. “It was the right time for me to retire with the group of young players. It was the right time to let them come in and flourish in the team. I have no regrets over it.”

In regards to his club’s playoffs hopes, Rooney isn’t taking the chance to play a home match lightly.

“We could feel the playoffs were getting closer and we need to try to kick on,” said Rooney. “We could finish fourth and could get a home tie in the first round of the playoffs, which could be a difference for us.”

Free Kicks

What were you up to last night? Orlando Pride/USWNT striker Alex Morgan went to the World Series.

  • Alphonso Davies has a lot of support coming from his former MLS teammates and competitors. We all hope you succeed in your German adventure, Alphonso! Heck, I’ll be in Munich pretty soon, maybe I’ll have the opportunity to meet you! The program I’m traveling with got to meet Christian Pulisic during their last trip.

  • My alma mater, Florida State University, and its football team is having a rough year. So rough that ardent fans, in this case a professor, have been spotted in the stands reading instead of cheering on their Noles. Yesterday’s demoralizing 59-10 loss to ACC rival Clemson was embarrassing. I’m not sure there’s much else to say about that…except that I’m surprised that we haven’t seen any OCSC supporters do the exact same thing.

  • With no Lionel Messi and no Cristiano Ronaldo, this morning’s edition of the famous El Clásico between Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona will surely feel quite different than previous iterations. Who will step up and lead their side to glory?
  • FIFA’s potential change to the Club World Cup are on hold for now, as the proposed changes have many questioning where the money is coming from and concern over the additional matches that the change would create.
  • Iago Aspas spent the night in a hospital welcoming his daughter to the world…he then went on to net a fine hat trick against Eibar, as his Celta Vigo side won 4-0. He’ll be telling his daughter about this night story forever, I imagine, and surely played inspired due to the occasion.

Well, that’s all I’ve got on tap for you today, folks. Enjoy today’s Decision Day clash with New York, even though there’s not much on the line for the Lions aside from the pride of closing the season with a win. Have a great week and let the 2019 speculation begin.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

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21 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 28, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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