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Lion Links: 1/6/19

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers! It’s a new year, and personally, my optimism is already fading for the prospect of a strong 2019 season. The recent departure of stalwart Yoshimar Yotún is still weighing heavily on me. Regardless, I’m curious how the remainder of the off-season will unfold, and can only hope that more moves are made to strengthen this Orlando City roster and finally push the club over the top and into its first ever playoff appearance. Time will tell. Until then though, I’m here to serve you up your Sunday helping of Lion Links. Enjoy!

Lions Linked with Young Zambian Midfielder

The latest Orlando City transfer rumor comes in the form of Lubambo Musonda from Zambia. The 23-year-old midfielder is currently playing in Armenia with FC Gandzasar Kapan and has 23 caps with Zambia, scoring two goals.

Luiz Muzzi is Focused on the Future

Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi, in an interview with ProSoccerUSA, stressed that the Lions aren’t done making moves this off-season, adding that be believes center back is the most pressing need, with youthful, pacey players to add to the flanks after that. Muzzi has always been a proponent of incorporating the younger players in the club earlier on, and it looks like we can expect to see that this upcoming season. He also touched on the Yoshi transfer, noting that the club had offered to match Cruz Azul’s offer but he declined the chance to stay. Muzzi didn’t want to keep a player that wouldn’t be happy, meaning he wouldn’t be as productive as he could. In regards to the numerous changes and rumors whirling around the club, Muzzi has preached for patience.

“What I’m going to ask fans is give us a chance. Give us a chance because it’s not only me, you’ve got a whole staff who is kind of new. They were here for four months, five months at the end of the season. They came in with something that was already in place. They didn’t have a chance to implement things that they wanted to. So, give us a chance. Hopefully you’re going to like what you see.”

Time will tell…but it’ll be an interesting season nonetheless.

Central Florida Soccer Club Joins NPSL

In an exciting move for the club and its former league, the Central Florida Soccer League, Central Florida SC will be elevating its level of competition by joining the NPSL. President Eddie Loyola is excited to finally have the opportunity to shine a light on the footballing talent tucked away in the middle of the Floridian peninsula.

“We expect to showcase the wealth of talent that participates in the Central Florida Soccer League and our affiliate, the Florida Suncoast Soccer League,” Loyola added. “With an NPSL membership, we will be able to provide a pyramid of opportunities for our league’s amateur players and coaches.”

It’s exciting to see the grass roots clubs growing into real competitors on the American landscape, and it’ll be interesting to see where CFSC goes from here.

MLS Combine Performance Results

The 2019 MLS Player Combine is underway, and early indications are that Michigan State forward DeJuan Jones has dominated the tests, running a 3.82 in the 30-meter dash, a 3-9-2 in the 5-10-5 shuttle run, and leaping 35 inches in the vertical jump. That performance was good enough for first place in all but the vertical jump, where he was bested by a half an inch and inch by Prosper Figbe (Virginia) and Roy Boateng (UC Davis), respectively. It’s becoming clear that the club that lands Jones — who scored the Combine’s opening goal for Team Nemeziz — may have a future superstar on its hands, so keep an eye on where he lands and how he performs in an impending preseason. Look for a story later today by Michael Citro on Orlando native Santiago Patino’s first day of Combine action.

Tim Howard Pegs Christian Pulisic for Chelsea Success

A former Premier League stalwart for Everton between the sticks himself, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard has predicted a bright future for American footballing starlet Christian Pulisic at Chelsea. Howard’s reasoning is sound; Pulisic has already played for a massive club and found success, while becoming the focal point of his national team setup. While Howard acknowledged that Pulisic isn’t the “biggest guy in the world,” he also states that his specific style and talents will lend themselves well to Chelsea’s goals. The only question in Howard’s mind is Pulisic’s mental fortitude.

“The question for him will be can he handle the mental side of that. From all accounts, and from people around him that I know, he’s in a really good place and he’s ready to tackle the challenge.”

I think he’s ready to tackle the challenge too. Once he makes the move, as he’s been loaned back to Dortmund until the end of the current season, it’ll be fun to watch an American make an impact at on the of the most influential and successful clubs in the world — let alone one of the richest.

Free Kicks

  • The Pride’s Christine Nairn is absolutely killing it in the land down under, netting an olimpico from a corner kick for Melbourne Victory F.C.

  • FC Bayern Munich has raided the youth fields of America yet again, signing 18-year-old Chris Richards from FC Dallas. Richards is a promising center back that’s poised for great things. Hopefully he and fellow former MLS phenom Alphonso Davies can make an impact at the highest level in Europe.
  • Want a preview of Portland’s renovations to Providence Park? Me neither. (The rendering does look pretty cool though.)
  • Outgoing and typically controversial FC Bayern Munich winger Frank Ribery has been catching some heat for posting videos, photos, and a not-so-nice message to social media of him eating a golden steak in Dubai during the Bundesliga break. As a Bayern fan, I’m glad he’s leaving the Allianz Arena locker room, but that’s just me.
  • Stay tuned for more on this one… #WhenPoliticsAndFootballMix


Well, that’s all for today Mane Landers. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, have a great week, and stay tuned for news on moves made during this rebuilding-oriented off-season. Ciao!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

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

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Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

Free Kicks


That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

Free Kicks


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

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