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Lion Links: 12/30/18

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8 years ago

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Happy final Sunday of 2018, Mane Landers! I hope that you’re all doing well with your plans, if that’s your thing, for the New Year’s Day festivities — if you’re hangin’ in for the evening, enjoy yourself! Relax, kick back, and ring in the new year the way you see fit. Just be safe no matter what you do. For now though, I’m here to feed you a nice heaping serving of Links…so, enjoy!

Report: Orlando City SC to Sign Homegrown Forward Benji Michel

The Lions will soon ink a Homegrown deal with Benji Michel, a forward that grew up training in the Lions’ youth system before moving on to play for the University of Portland, where he excelled, playing for three years and scoring 31 goals across 53 matches. Michel was named to the All-American Second Team in 2018, and also plied his trade in the Monteverde Academy. Hopefully, he can translate his college success to the next level and become a threat for the Lions in time, as he grows and adapts to a new league.

SeaWolves Drop First Indoor Florida Derby

The Orlando SeaWolves went on the road for the first time ever, shooting down I-4 to Lakeland to take on the Florida Tropics. It didn’t go well, as the SeaWolves fell behind 8-1 before clawing back to within two goals late. The Tropics finished them off, however, and Orlando fell, 9-6. Former Orlando City defender Tyler Turner scored his first indoor goal in the game.

Another Off-season, Another Overhaul

The characters were different, but we’ve heard this story before. With the sale of Yoshimar Yotún to Liga MX side Cruz Azul, the Lions have set themselves up, yet again, for an off-season of roster reconstruction. The good news? Head Coach James O’Connor and the front office have done an excellent job of clearing cap space for future additions, and they’ve clearly learned a lesson or two from last year’s acrimonious divorce with striker Cyle Larin, shown in their willingness to let Yotún leave for Mexico. The bad news? We all had to say farewell to one of the best and favorite players on the roster in Yotún. Hopefully, the off-season additions will help cover the team’s holes. We’re going to miss you, Yoshi. Here he is practicing with his new club:

Alphonso Davies is Here

I was actually present, in person, for Davies’ first training with the first team in Munich with Bayern Munich. It was as obvious then as it was when he was tearing up MLS and leaving defenders in his wake that he has the talent and composure required to make a huge impact at the next level. He’s impressed during his brief time in the German powerhouse too, leading manager Niko Kovac to go as far to say that he would consider deploying Davies in first team competitive matches as soon as the Bundesliga returns to play in late January.

“If I compare him with our U23s, then he is already ahead of the others,” Kovac said. “He has to acclimatize, that’s clear. But he has quality and we will not slow him down if he can help us.”

To top that off, Davies was also just named as Canada’s Postmedia Male Athlete of the Year – a recognition that had never before been awarded to a soccer player.

Joe Bendik, Columbus Crew, and the Heavy Competition for a Potential Backup Role

Now that the Crew have been saved, the front office can truly move forward and focus on their search for glory in 2019. A spot that they may address again, even after adding Orlando’s former No. 1 Joe Bendik for $50,000 in allocation money, is the goalkeeping role. With multiple other established professionals on the roster for the crew, including the club’s 2018 first-round draft pick Ben Lungaard, it will be tough for Bendik to win a backup role, let alone the starting job, once superstar Zack Steffen leaves for Manchester City in July. It’ll be an interesting situation to keep an eye on, and Columbus will be an interesting club to play against down the road considering the recent affairs of seasons past.

Free Kicks

  • MLS’s Charles Boehm released a list of what he thought were the top 10 MLS moments of 2018. Do you agree with his rankings? Here’s a little taste/spoiler: the Lions were included in the list twice, but not for their own accomplishments.
  • MLS’s Greg Seltzer also released a list, this one identifying who he thought could be the top 10 MLS players that he felt were poised for a breakout in 2019. Another little taste/spoiler? the Lions’ recently acquired Joao Moutinho ranked in at number five on the list!
  • Congratulations, Rangers supporters! #CurseBroken

  • Juventus is just on a different plane right now…but will it translate to European glory?

Well, that’s all that I’ve got for you this week folks. Like I said earlier, enjoy your New Year’s Day and stay safe! I’ll see you on the other side.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/24/26

Lions and Pride win, OCB falls to Atlanta United 2, latest MLS transfer roundup, and more.

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8 hours ago

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August 24, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann dribbling the ball past Hany Mukhtar of Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work, but I tried to watch a few soccer games over the weekend. Our Lions and Pride both won, while OCB’s winless skid continues. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Griezmann’s Late Winner Lifts Lions Past Real Salt Lake

Orlando City defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium on Antoine Griezmann’s second-half brace. The Lions trailed 1-0 at halftime, but Griezmann scored twice after the break to win it for Orlando, which snapped its four-match winless streak across all competitions. That result pulled the Lions just over the playoff line, moving them up to ninth in the Eastern Conference table with 24 points. Orlando City’s next match is on the road Saturday at Minnesota United.

Pride Beat Washington Spirit on the Road

The Orlando Pride beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 at Audi Field Sunday, snapping their three-match losing streak. Haley McCutcheon scored the lone goal early in the first half off an assist by Barbra Banda and Orlando held on for dear life for the win despite a dominating performance by the Spirit, who just couldn’t put any of their shots into the net. Pride goalkeeper Cosette Morche got the start over Anna Moorhouse and made a clutch save deep in stoppage time on Washington forward Paige Metayer’s free header to preserve the shutout. The Pride will play their next match at home against the Utah Royals on Saturday.

OCB Crushed 5-1 by Atlanta United 2

Orlando City traded first-half stoppage-time goals to enter halftime even at 1-1 on the road, but a terrible second half saw the Young Lions get blasted 5-1 by Atlanta United 2 on the road at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, GA, on Saturday. Atlanta struck first before Issah Haruna equalized for the Young Lions just before halftime. Cameron Dunbar scored his second goal of the match for Atlanta to start the second-half onslaught, and Arif Kovac scored a second-half brace. Atlanta won its second straight, while the Young Lions have lost five straight matches. OCB will be home for its next match on Sunday, taking on Crown Legacy FC at Osceola County Stadium.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

Forward Breel Embolo traveled to the United States on Friday to complete his transfer to Atlanta United, and the club unveiled him to fans during Sunday’s match against Sporting Kansas City.

The San Jose Earthquakes have reportedly reached an agreement with St. Louis City to sign midfielder Eduard Lowen.

The Seattle Sounders have reportedly reached an agreement with Sporting Kansas City to acquire forward Dejan Joveljic in exchange for $6 million in cash.

Lastly, D.C. United has transferred forward Jacob Murrell to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

UEFA and Concacaf Reportedly Discussed Combined Nations League Tournament

UEFA and Concacaf have reportedly held talks on a combined Nations League tournament that could feature all 96 European, North and Central American, and Caribbean countries, directly challenging FIFA. The planned competition would be a biennial tournament and could start as soon as 2028. The proposed format would replace, rather than add to, existing international fixtures, and games would be played in geographical blocks to reduce travel. Both confederations are still seeking FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s removal and are reportedly working together to propose an alternative candidate to stand against him in the presidential election next March.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City forward Yutaro Tsukada, who is on loan at Rhode Island FC, recorded an assist on Saturday in a 3-1 win against Monterey Bay FC.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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3 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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

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