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Lion Links: 12/29/18

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It’s the final weekend of 2018, everyone! The calendar year has not been kind to fans of Orlando City or the Orlando Pride, so the quicker we can flip that page to 1/1/19, the better, I say.

You’ve probably got big plans to prepare for with regards to the upcoming New Year’s holiday, so I’ll dive right into today’s news after I wish a happy birthday to former Orlando City coach Jason Kreis, who turns 46 today. Although he didn’t get the Lions to the promised land, I enjoyed his candor in post-game press conferences and I could see on his face how much the losses bothered him and how much he appreciated the wins.

Orlando City Adds Two New Lions

Thursday was a busy day for Orlando City with two trades that saw Joe Bendik’s rights and Yoshimar Yotún both exiting the City Beautiful, while two new rumors surfaced of impending moves. Both of those rumors came to pass on Friday, with the Lions acquiring defender Danilo Acosta on loan from Real Salt Lake and signing Sebas Méndez out of Ecuador. Both are 21-year-olds and yet could see important minutes in 2019.

Crew Officially Saved

What seemed unthinkable in late 2017 has come to pass and the Columbus Crew will officially be staying in Columbus. Major League Soccer announced yesterday that the league reached an agreement in principle with the Haslam and Edwards families to become MLS team owners. They will begin operating the Crew in January.

“After several months of discussions, we are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with the Haslam and Edwards families for them to assume an ownership position in Major League Soccer and operate Columbus Crew SC starting in January, 2019,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a league statement.

”While we work to finalize the deal promptly, we want to state publicly the tremendous collaboration and community support for Crew SC, which has set the stage for a powerful plan that includes a world-class soccer stadium – a critical step that will help ensure the club’s success on and off the field,” Garber continued.

As a result of yesterday’s developments, the city of Columbus has dropped its lawsuit against MLS and Precourt Sports Ventures.

SeaWolves Set for Indoor Florida Derby Tonight

The Orlando SeaWolves and Florida Tropics will hook up tonight in Lakeland at 7:05 p.m. in the first Indoor Florida Derby. It’s the first of six such match-ups on the schedule for the 2018-2019 MASL season and you can either drive over to Lakeland to see it live or you can catch it on MASL.TV. The SeaWolves are coming off their first win of the year and will be looking to improve to 2-3 on the year. The link above takes you to the match preview and here’s what the coach had to say about tonight’s game:

“This is a team that can score goals, they’ve proven that,” Head Coach Tom Traxler said after training on Wednesday. “Now, they had a tough outing against a very good Milwaukee Wave team, probably one of the best teams in the league at keeping possession. So, possession for us is going to be very important. We’re going to have to be good defensively, but we’re also going to have to continue the work that we did going forward and keep finding that goalscoring form that we’ve established against Mississauga.”

Join the SeaWolves’ Road Trip

Although it won’t help you for tonight’s game, you can join up with other fans and take a bus trip over to Lakeland to see the Orlando SeaWolves take on the Florida Tropics in the second Indoor Florida Derby of the season on Saturday, Jan. 12. For just $25 you can have someone else take you to the game (from Hunter’s Creek) and you also get a ticket to the game. I’d pay that just to have someone chauffeur me over there, honestly. Click the link above for details.

Pulisic to Chelsea Done?

Per a report, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea have agreed to a deal that would transfer USMNT star Christian Pulisic to the Premier League side. The reported transfer would cost Chelsea £45 million and wouldn’t take place until the summer. But Pulisic rumors are good business for media outlets right now, so who knows how this will play out?

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  • If you want to check out some outstanding U-17 and U-19 boys soccer, and if you’ve got nothing pressing to do Jan. 16-19, you can head over to Montverde Academy for their annual soccer tournament.

  • Those born on this date (other than Jason Kreis) include Mary Tyler Moore (1936), former Florida Panthers, Miami Dolphins, and Florida Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga (1937), Jon Voight (1938), The Good Place star Ted Danson (1947), New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (1963), The Walking Dead actor Michael Cudlitz (1964), Jude Law (1972), Community, GLOW, and Bojack Horseman actress Alison Brie (1982), and USWNT / Utah Royals striker Christen Press (1988).

That is the entirety of what I have for you today. Enjoy your Saturday and check back later for our coverage of the Orlando SeaWolves’ first ever road game.

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.

Free Kicks

  • 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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