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Lion Links: 1/6/19

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7 years ago

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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!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/26

Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

Image of Angelina launching a long pass.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati

The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.

Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.

Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso

Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.

Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup

American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.

Free Kicks

  • MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/21/26

Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 21, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup

We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.

Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster

We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.

Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami

Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.

Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.

Free Kicks

  • ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
  • After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
  • MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
  • Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
  • Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.

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: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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