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Lion Links: 12/8/18

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Happy MLS Cup Final Day, everyone! Tonight the 2018 Major League Soccer season comes to a close when Portland takes on Atlanta for the trophy. Sadly, it’s also the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. I know I’ve been a big morbid in my intros this week but with Atlanta in the final can you really blame me?

There’s soccer news coming in from all corners of the globe so let’s get on it.

Pride Striker Alex Morgan is USWNT Player of the Year

After scoring 18 goals in 19 games for her country, it’s no surprise that Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan was named the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Morgan, who finished at No. 7 on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best female footballers in the world, scored against nine different teams in 2018, with six multi-goal games and a hat trick against Japan in the Tournament of Nations. She previously won the award back in 2012. Hopefully Morgs will get the kind of service with the Pride in 2019 that she got in 2018 from her USWNT teammates. Also, hopefully she’ll help the U.S. repeat as World Cup champions in 2019. It was fitting that Morgan was honored yesterday, on the 10th anniversary of this:

Oh by the way, Tierna Davidson was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year — a deserved honor for the Stanford defender.

Orlando City B Learns Opening USL League One Opponent

The first year of OCB in the new USL League One will kick off at home against FC Tucson on March 30 — a Saturday — at 7:30 p.m. OCB will play its home games at Montverde Academy. The USL announced the opening weekend games yesterday. The league’s first ever game will be played the night before, with South Georgia Tormenta FC, the league’s first founding member, hosting Greenville Triumph. Each of the league’s 10 teams will play 28 regular-season matches before the playoffs start in October.

Garber’s State of MLS Address Suggests More Expansion, More Selling

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber gave his annual address yesterday in Atlanta and one of the major topics was expansion. He mentioned the league’s 28th team would be decided “in the next 12 months.” He also said that the league is in discussions about whether to move beyond 28 teams.

“I don’t expect or anticipate there will be an announcement coming out of that, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we can support having more than 28 teams in Major League Soccer. No doubt in my mind.”

Garber also sang a new tune on the topic of selling players. Previously, MLS seemed to be promoting the idea that the league should be a destination for players. Now with players such as Tyler Adams, Miguel Almiron, Alphonso Davies, and Zack Steffen being sought out by clubs in Europe, the narrative has evolved.

“We have been buying for so long, and then as we’ve gone through the analysis, it’s hard to justify that investment and the investment that we have to make in player development,” Garber said. “We’ve got to have something that turns this model around, or else it’s going to be unsustainable.” 

Josh Sargent Scores on Bundesliga Debut

It didn’t take young U.S. striker Josh Sargent long to make his mark in Germany’s top flight. Sargent scored on his first touch, just 86 seconds after coming on as a substitute for Werder Bremen in a win over Dusseldorf. It’s been a while since I got hyped for a young, up-and-coming striker on the USMNT, but Sargent looks like he’ll be the real deal.

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  • The draw for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is today at noon Eastern. Here’s how you can watch it to see who the USWNT draws in its group.
  • It turns out that flamingos and loons are birds of a feather. Minnesota United FC has announced that Forward Madison FC is the club’s USL League One affiliate. It’s a one-year deal.
  • Club Tijuana introduced Oscar Pareja to the press on Friday and the former FC Dallas boss said he was intrigued by the challenge of testing himself in another league with the Xolos.
  • A 10-team field of top high school teams will compete at Montverde Academy today in the Women’s Invitational Showcase Tournament in front of college scouts from across the nation.
  • Apparently a video has surfaced of Arsenal players hitting nitrous oxide and the club has “released a statement confirming that they will issue warnings to some of their star players.” Hey, whatever gets you unbeaten in 20 games, right?
  • Those born on this date include Mary, Queen of Scots (1542), cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney (1765), Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925), Kung Fu star David Carradine (1936), Doors singer Jim Morrison (1943), Gregg Allman (1947), legendary movie makup effects master Rick Baker (1950), singer Dan “I Can Dream About You” Hartman (1950), Kim Basinger (1953), comedian Sam Kinison (1953), Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen (1957), actress Teri Hatcher (1964), Sinead O’Connor (1966), NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick (1975) and Ryan Newman (1977), football’s Philip Rivers (1981), Nicki Minaj (1982), hoops star Dwight Howard (1985), and England/Manchester City star Raheem Sterling (1994).

That’s all I’ve got for you today. Enjoy the MLS Cup final and your weekend.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/23/25

Tonight’s OCB match moved to Sunday, Alex Freeman makes USMNT roster, FanDuel Sports Network will stream Orlando Pride games, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! A long weekend is ahead of us and there is plenty of Orlando soccer to enjoy as well. I’ll be celebrating my nephew’s first birthday this weekend, so it should be a nice next couple of days visiting family. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

OCB Match Moved to Sunday in Kissimmee

As a heads up, Orlando City B is no longer playing today. OCB’s match against Atlanta United 2 was originally scheduled for tonight in Atlanta, but it was instead postponed to 7 p.m. Sunday and relocated to Osceola Heritage Park rather than Fifth Third Stadium in Georgia. Stadium availability was cited as the reason for the change, and the match will be played behind closed doors, although it will still be streamed live. The Young Lions are coming off of a 3-0 win over Inter Miami II and will face an Atlanta team that has drawn its last four games.

Alex Freeman Makes USMNT Training Camp Roster

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman was named to the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp roster ahead of friendlies next month against Turkey and Switzerland. The 20-year-old is one of five uncapped players on the roster and one of 16 MLS players. He’ll likely be behind Sergino Dest on the depth chart, but Joe Scally was not called up for this window. There are many notable players absent, opening the door for players like Freeman across multiple positions to stake their claim to participate in this summer’s Gold Cup and the World Cup next year.

FanDuel Sports Network Will Stream Select Pride Games

The Orlando Pride will have eight of its remaining games streamed on FanDuel Sports Network, including tonight’s road game against the Utah Royals. The regional network, which used to be called Bally Sports before rebranding, is available on various providers throughout Florida and there is an app for streaming as well. Personally, I find this as just another cog in a messy machine of NWSL coverage options, but I imagine this is handy for those out there who are already accustomed to using the network to watch other Floridian pro sports teams.

Winter Garden Lands USL League One Team

Another pro soccer team is coming to Central Florida, as the United Soccer League announced its intent to bring a USL League One team to the area. Central Florida Pro Soccer’s ownership group has plans for a development in Winter Garden that would include a 5,000-seat multi-purpose soccer stadium. The plans also include recreational fields, a hotel, parks, and a walking trail. The group will gather input from the community in the coming months to help determine the team’s colors, badge, and name.

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  • Kansas City Current defender Alana Cook was placed on the season-ending injury list due to a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus sustained in the club’s match against the Orlando Pride.
  • NJ/NY Gotham FC and Tigres will square off in the Concacaf W Champions Cup final on Saturday. The winner will earn a spot in the 2026 Women’s Champions Cup and the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup.
  • Luka Modric penned a farewell to Real Madrid fans as his time with the club has come to an end. I don’t know where his next stop will be, but I sure hope it’s not with a team the Lions still have to face this year.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your holiday weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/25

Orlando City ousted from U.S. Open Cup, OCB’s Justin Ellis named Player of the Matchweek, Tottenham wins Europa League, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Well, that could have gone better. It’s understandable to feel a bit deflated after Wednesday night’s game, especially after so many positive Orlando City results as of late. The good news though is that we’re another day closer to a holiday weekend that should include some good times or at least rest and relaxation. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Eliminated from U.S. Open Cup

The Lions lost 3-2 at home to Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16, ending the team’s run in the tournament. Orlando struck first in a rollercoaster of a match, and Ramiro Enrique pulled the Lions level after they fell behind, but rookie Wyatt Meyer scored the winner for the visitors. The loss snapped Orlando’s 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions and Orlando looked like a team that played five other matches already this month. Orlando will need to shake off this loss as it prepares to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Justin Ellis Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek

Orlando City B midfielder Justin Ellis was selected as MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek for his role in the team’s 3-0 win over Inter Miami II. Ellis, who turned 18 years old last week, assisted on both of OCB’s first two goals before scoring from the penalty spot himself. It’s been quite the year so far for Ellis, as he also scored six goals in the Generation Adidas Cup to help Orlando win the U-18 title in April. The Young Lions are back in action Friday with a road match against rival Atlanta United 2.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Results

Comebacks were a theme throughout the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16. Minnesota United took the lead, gave it up, and ultimately advanced thanks to defender Anthony Markanich scoring two late goals to beat St. Louis City 3-2 at Allianz Arena. Markanich was traded from St. Louis to Minnesota last year, adding a little salt in the wound for the visitors. D.C. United and Charlotte FC battled in a back-and-forth match that ended up with D.C. winning the penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. The match between the New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas also went the distance, with the Red Bulls winning the shootout. The Philadelphia Union won 4-1 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to eliminate the last team from outside MLS. The draw for the quarterfinals will take place this morning.

Tottenham Hotspur Wins Europa League Final

Tottenham prevailed in this year’s Europa league final, winning 1-0 against Manchester United in Spain. Brennan Johnson’s goal was enough for Tottenham to end its 17-year wait for a major trophy. It was a bit of an underwhelming finish to what was a fairly exciting knockout stage, and this was United’s only loss in this year’s tournament. Tottenham has now qualified for next season’s Champions League despite currently being 17th in the English Premier League standings.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/21/25

The U.S. Open Cup journey resumes tonight, Javier Otero signs a new contract, Pride’s Sams and Abello called up, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is match day with Orlando City hosting Nashville SC tonight in Inter&Co Stadium. I hope you are able to make it out to support the club, since I will have to watch it on television. If you listen to The Mane Land PawedCast you know how much I want Orlando City to focus on the U.S. Open Cup — even at the expense of the Leagues Cup. For now, let’s get to the links.

Nashville is Next

As I mentioned above, the Lions take on Nashville SC in a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match tonight. Orlando City is riding a 12-match unbeaten streak through all competitions and has scored 14 goals in the past four games going back to its 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions will look to continue their goal scoring ways to advance to the quarterfinals.

Javier Otero Has a New Contract

Orlando City signed goalkeeper Javier Otero to a new contract through the 2026 season with options for 2027 and 2028. Otero joined the Orlando City Academy in 2017, moving his way up to Orlando City B and, eventually, the first team. The signing secures Orlando City’s backup keeper for the immediate future.

Pride USWNT Call-Ups

Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up to the USWNT training camp. This is Abello’s first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sams and Abello make up two of Emma Hayes’ 24-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica. Other notable players include Naomi Girma, Lynn Biyendolo, and Lo’eau LaBonta.

FIRST USWNT CALL UP FOR BELLO 🗣️

Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-05-20T15:06:37.081Z

USMNT Gold Cup News

Mauricio Pochettino has yet to name the final 26-player list for the Gold Cup. He has even put out there that he may give playing time to a goalkeeper other than Matt Turner. Pochettino sees the Gold Cup as a great opportunity for the team to bond during the last competition before the World Cup. Prior to the Gold Cup, the team has friendlies with Türkiye and Switzerland.

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  • The Kansas City Current may have defeated the Pride last match, but they paid dearly for it.
  • In sad news, former Sporting Kansas City player Gadi Kinda passed away. Kinda had been dealing with “a complex medical battle.”
  • In the “I’m not at all surprised” category, Lionel Messi was not fined by the league for any of his antics during or after the loss to Orlando City, including his criticism of officials, which is usually an automatic fine.

That will do it for today. Check back for our pre-match and post-match coverage tonight. You can also follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates. Vamos Orlando!

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