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Lion Links: 11/2/18

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6 years ago

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What’s up, Mane Landers? I hope you all are ready for the first weekend of the off-season. Even though the Lions will be off the field, there is still plenty to be excited about with the MLS playoffs heating up and plenty of soccer all over the world to keep us busy until 2019. But first, let’s kick off your Friday on the right foot with some links!

New Orlando City Training Complex to Open in Kissimmee

In surprising news, Orlando City announced that a new training complex is set to open in July 2019 in Osceola County. The announcement is unexpected to say the least considering Lake Nona was the rumored home for a training complex expected to rival the ones of other clubs in MLS. Instead it seems the club will be going with renovating the Osceola Heritage Park, which served as the spring training grounds for the Houston Astros.

The approximately 20-acre area will be set up to be the exclusive training ground for both the Lions and the Orlando Pride. The complex will feature four full-size grass fields, a film room, a lounge and dining area for players, and roughly 30,000 square feet of office space for staff. You can check out some of the early renderings released by the club.

James O’Connor Determined to Disprove Doubters

James O’Connor is well aware that his 2-12-3 record as head coach for the Lions is far from the future he, the OCSC front office, players, and supporters are expecting for this club. A lot will likely change this off-season, but O’Connor will remain at the helm of a team that needs an improvement both in performance and in attitude. Some don’t think that O’Connor can complete such an overhaul in just one off-season but he’s spoken to the front office and the players who will be staying with the team and the Lions are ready to prove the doubters wrong. This is what O’Connor had to say to fans whose faith may be lacking after 2018:

“I would ask for one more opportunity, to really be given an opportunity to show you what we will be like in preseason, what we will be like at the start of next year,” O’Connor said. “I would candidly tell you, you’re probably going to miss out on a fantastic and very, very special year.”

MLS Playoff Conference Semifinals are Set

Only eight teams remain in the MLS playoffs as the knockout round finished up last night. In the earlier game, it took penalty kicks to decide a winner in a tight match between D.C. United and the Columbus Crew. After 90 minutes, the score was level at 1-1 and both teams were able to score again in extra time to push the game into penalty kicks where the Crew held on to defeat Wayne Rooney and D.C. to move on to the next round.

Meanwhile in California, Real Salt Lake stunned LAFC with a 3-2 victory on the road. Real’s Damir Kreilach stole the show with a brace and a crane kick goal that would even make the karate kid jealous.

A deflected shot from Jefferson Savarino caused an own goal and that was all the difference for Real Salt Lake to make its way to the next stage and give LAFC an early exit.

The quarterfinals of the playoffs start this Sunday when the first legs of the round begin. The Columbus Crew are set to host the Supporters’ Shield winning New York Red Bulls while New York City FC will look to maintain momentum when Atlanta United heads to Yankee Stadium.

In the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake will hope to upset the best team in the conference when Sporting Kansas City comes to town. But the most exciting series will undoubtedly be the clash of rivals as the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers face off.

USL League One Schedule Format Unveiled

The competition format for the anticipated USL League One that will feature the return of Orlando City B has been revealed. The 28-game regular season will begin on March 29 and end by Oct. 13, with the playoffs consisting of four teams and starting on Oct. 17. Each of the 10 clubs will play eight other clubs three times and will have one club they play four times. More news is sure to follow in the time between now and the season starts so keep an eye out for when the full schedule will be released and who the 10th and final founding member will be.

Carson Pickett’s Resilience Leads to Australian Success

Born with a left arm that stops at the elbow, Carson Pickett has had to work harder than most to become a defender for the Orlando Pride and Brisbane Roar. The 25-year-old credits a strong support system and a “never say never” attitude, for why she refuses to back down from challenges. So despite her position as a defender, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when the Roar were trailing late against the Perth Glory it was Pickett who was there to level the score and get a result.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City Youth Soccer released a brand new website for you to check out where you can learn more about the academy system, the Little Lions program, and even check out upcoming tournaments.
  • Both Christine Nairn and Dani Weatherholt played a full game to help the Melbourne Victory win 2-1 against Emily van Egmond and the Newcastle Jets in the W-League. Although she didn’t score or have an assist, Nairn did all the little things and led the team in touches, passes, tackles, and she created eight chances. The game also featured this incredible goal by Melina Ayres from way out.

  • Voting is open for MLS Goal of the Year and Save of the Year. Although the Lions didn’t make the cut for a top save, Scott Sutter did land on the ballot for one of the best goals of the season
  • Another young Chicago Fire defender is hanging up his cleats as 25-year-old Christian Dean announced he will be retiring after a season plagued with injuries.
  • The United States opened the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship with a dominant 7-1 win over Puerto Rico. The U.S will need to finish at the top of its group to advance to the next stage and the Young Yanks will continue their campaign tomorrow night (6 p.m. ET) against the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Usain Bolt’s trial has ended with the Central Coast Mariners in Australia and the track superstar is leaving the team.

That’s all from me, I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a relaxing weekend.

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Lion Links: 1/29/25

Orlando City’s cup competitions, Orlando Pride’s new home kit leak, NWSL’s top 2025 matches, and more.

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19 hours ago

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January 29, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City’s preseason continues in Mexico, where the Lions played a closed door match against Canadian Premier League club Forge FC in Cancun on Tuesday. The club didn’t release any details on the match (more on that below), but the feature image is from the scrimmage. For now, let’s get to today’s links!

Orlando City Cup Competitions

Orlando City will compete in two of the four North American cup competitions in 2025. After a year away, the Lions return to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup along with 15 other MLS clubs and 10 MLS Next Pro participants. Orlando City will also take part in the Leagues Cup with 17 other MLS clubs and 18 Liga MX clubs. The Lions did not qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, nor will they compete in the Canadian Championship for obvious geographical reasons.

Lions Remain Scoreless in Preseason

While Orlando City didn’t release any details from Tuesday’s scrimmage, the folks at TrueNorthFoot reported that the Lions and Forge FC played to a 0-0 draw in Cancun Tuesday. The photos released by the club mostly featured younger players, and it’s not surprising that the offense isn’t sharp at this stage, but at least the defense is doing well through two matches. The next scrimmage will take place Feb. 5 against Atlanta United.

Pride Home Kit Leak?

From now on, all Orlando Pride kits will have a star above the crest (or more, pending future results). Like many of you, I’ve eagerly awaited what the next home kit will look like. We now have a glimpse, if a leak from Footy Headlines is accurate.

ohwww.footyheadlines.com/2025/01/mass…

— andré (@838carlisle.bsky.social) 2025-01-28T15:14:13.357Z

I really hope that picture doesn’t convey how purple the kit is supposed to be. I’m also not a big fan of the crest in the center thing, but they don’t let me make those decisions. If the new kit doesn’t float your boat, you can pick up some previous Pride kits from the club’s official shop at a nice discount.

The Orlando Pride are Must-Watch TV

As the defending NWSL Shield and NWSL Cup winners, it’s not a surprise that the Orlando Pride earned three spots on All for XI’s Top 10 Must-Watch NWSL Games in 2025 list, including the top spot. The matches against NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Kansas City Current, and of course, a rematch against the Washington Spirit will certainly draw big viewership numbers.

NWSL Expansion Update

An official announcement adding Denver to the cities with an NWSL club is expected in the near future. Prior to that commissioner Jessica Berman hinted that there are plans to further expand the league. If Denver joins as planned, the team’s ownership will pay a record $110 million franchise fee. You can expect those fees to continue to grow as the league does the same.

Free Kicks

  • Remember Amro Tarek? He made 20 appearances for Orlando City back in 2018. If you don’t remember him, that’s all right since Austin FC supporters will almost certainly remember him for this fun fact.
  • Some pretty big names have left the NWSL for other shores. While the story includes the Pride’s Mariana Larroquette, she’s not quite the biggest name on the list, and she’s also only on loan until July 1.
  • The U.S. Open Cup has tweaked the competition rules so that teams must use primary venues when possible. If they cannot, the team will be on the hook for any differences in the cost to broadcast the match.

That will do it for today. Have a great rest of the week. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 1/28/25

Wilder Cartagena injury reports, Orlando City B’s 2025 schedule, Americans in the UEFA Champions League, and more.

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2 days ago

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January 28, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! It was nice to get a first look at the 2025 edition of Orlando City on Saturday, but the experience was sullied by an injury that we’ll speak more about shortly. Regardless, we continue to march towards the start of the season with a closed-door scrimmage against Forge FC up next on the docket today. We have a ton to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Wilder Cartagena Injury Reports

Wilder Cartagena exited Orlando City’s preseason game against Atletico Mineiro with a non-contact injury, naturally leading to fears about what the injury would be. While the club has not released a diagnosis at the time of writing, reports are emerging that the Peruvian midfielder suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon. There are some reports that go as far as saying that he will undergo surgery soon. If true, Cartagena could be sidelined for anywhere from a few months or up to a year, depending on the severity of the injury. We’ll keep you updated as more news becomes available.

Orlando City B Schedule Released

In much more pleasant news, the MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released, which means that we have OCB’s roadmap for the upcoming season. The Young Lions will get the season started at home on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 with a 7 p.m. kickoff. OCB closes the season at home against FC Cincinnati 2 on Decision Day, which will be on Sunday, Oct. 5. The team will play 14 home games, 13 away games, and one at the neutral site of IMG Academy in Bradenton. Most of the games will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with the rest appearing on mlsnextpro.com.

Americans in Champions League Action

The UEFA Champions League will have its final matchday of the league phase on Wednesday, and there are a lot of Americans who will be competing. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan can guarantee a place in the top eight of the standings with a win when they welcome Dinamo Zagreb to San Siro. Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, and Esmir Bajraktarević also have a lot to play for with PSV Eindhoven, as a loss or draw risks the club being overtaken and eliminated from the competition. Aside from Juventus, all other teams featuring Americans are placed anywhere from 14th-24th, so the stakes are high during this week’s action.

NWSL News Roundup

Monday was a busy day for the National Women’s Soccer League, so let’s get caught up. The Houston Dash acquired former Orlando Pride forward Messiah Bright in a trade with Angel City FC. The Dash sent $100,000 in inter-league transfer funds to Angel City in exchange, and that number could increase by up to $50,000 with incentives. The Chicago Stars noted that Mallory Swanson has not joined the team for the start of camp due to personal reasons. Jenna Nighswonger has reportedly been sold to Arsenal for a fee of $100,000.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City went old school to bring us a look at Monday morning’s training session.
  • The Pride meanwhile, opted for a more traditional route.
  • Congratulations are in order for the team of Baby Lions that became the PreMLS NAC Champions for the 2013 age group!
  • Former Lion and cowboy hat enthusiast Benji Michel is training with Nashville SC.

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

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Lion Links: 1/27/25

Orlando CIty wins first preseason match, Naomi Girma completes move to Chelsea, MLS transfer news, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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January 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy working and covering high school sports. Besides that, I was able to watch a few Premier League matches over the weekend. Let’s all wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina, who turned 25 on Sunday. We have plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Defeats Atletico Mineiro in Penalties After Scoreless Draw

In its first preseason match of 2025, Orlando City edged past Atletico Mineiro 6-5 on penalties after a scoreless draw at Inter&Co Stadium in the FC Series. The Lions had to go through seven rounds of penalties to defeat Atletico Mineiro and clinch the Inter&Co Trophy. Both teams had chances throughout the match, but after 90 minutes of play, the game went to penalties. After being tied 5-5 after six rounds, Joran Gerbet scored in the seventh round andPedro Gallese saved Bruno Fuchs’s shot to win the shootout for the Lions. Orlando City will be in Mexico for camp for the next week and will face Forge FC. The Lions will take on Inter Miami in Tampa on Feb. 14 at Raymond James Stadium.

Lions Reportedly Shift Focus Away From Marco Pasalic

According to Tom Bogert, Orlando City is reportedly shifting their focus from Croatian winger Marco Pasalic to other transfer targets, as the 24-year-old is undecided about his future.

The Lions were reportedly in talks to sign Pasalic from HNK Rijeka last week, as they look to fill their open Designated Player spot following the record-breaking transfer of forward Facundo Torres to Palmeiras last month. The clock is ticking for the Lions to sign a new Designated Player, with Orlando’s season opener set for Feb. 22.

Naomi Girma Completes Record Transfer Move to Chelsea

United States Women’s National Team and former San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma has completed her transfer to Chelsea in a record-breaking deal. The transfer fee is reportedly agreed at $1.1 million, making her the first player to break the $1 million mark in women’s soccer. Girma signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Chelsea after three seasons with the Wave. She has 44 caps for the USWNT and was an integral part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

MLS Transfer Roundup

Major League Soccer had another busy weekend with some notable transfer moves. The Chicago Fire signed midfielder Rominigue Kouame on loan from La Liga 2 side Cadiz CF for the 2025 MLS season, with an option to purchase. The Fire also transferred midfielder Federico Navarro to Argentine first division side Club Atletico Rosario Central for an undisclosed transfer fee. FC Cincinnati is reportedly in negotiations to sign center back Gilberto Flores.

LAFC has agreed to transfer midfielder Mateusz Bogusz to Cruz Azul for a fee reportedly over $10 million. The New York Red Bulls have transferred forward Dante Vanzeir to KAA Gent in Belgium. The Red Bulls have also reportedly expressed interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur forward Timo Werner, who is on loan from Red Bull Leipzig.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Daryl Dike is close to full fitness and is back training as he looks set to return to action for West Brom. Dike has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles injury from last season that has kept him sidelined for almost a year.

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

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