Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/8/19

Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers. Today is my first day back at work following a break for the holidays, and as happy as I was to get some time off, it’ll be nice to get back in the groove of things. There is an absolute smorgasbord of Orlando City news to get to today, and even better, it’s all good news! Let’s get right down to it, folks.
New GM for Pride
Former Orlando City SC player Erik Ustruck has been hired as the new general manager for the Orlando Pride. Ustruck will report to Luiz Muzzi, the recently hired executive vice president of soccer operations, while he manages the technical aspects of running the NWSL team. Speaking on the hiring, Muzzi stressed that the Pride needed someone to manage them and them alone, rather than splitting duties managing both the men’s and women’s teams. Ustruck logged 61 appearances during his time with Orlando City and spent time as a manager of soccer operations for the Lions and the Pride after his retirement. Also included in the news about the Ustruck hiring is the information that the new Pride coach will not be announced until after the NWSL College Draft has ended.
Orlando City MLS Schedule Released
Major League Soccer has released the full regular season schedule for the upcoming 2019 season. That of course means that Orlando City now knows its full slate of games for the first full season under James O’Connor. While we already knew that the season opener would be a home showdown with NYCFC on March 2, we also know that the season will close out on Sunday, Oct. 6 against the Chicago Fire at home. Of note is that there are no more than two consecutive home games this year, with the longest away stretch being three games. Additionally (and mercifully), there are no afternoon home games during June, July, August, or September, meaning that fans have a better chance of avoiding being roasted alive in the Florida heat.
Talking with Luiz Muzzi
New Executive VP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi had a sit down with members of the local media during the MLS Combine yesterday and chatted about a wide range of topics. Among them was his firm statement that he was content with Orlando City’s goalkeeping situation. He left the door open to signing another net-minder at some point, but specifically said “that’s not our top priority right now.” He also mentioned that he wants to sign more Homegrown Players, something that has already started to happen since his arrival. He also stated that every single player on the Orlando City B roster should have the potential to play for the first team, giving an indication for how he views the USL League One club. He also spoke about the club’s international partnerships, MLS SuperDraft strategy, scouting information, and other things.
Florida Cup News
The Florida Cup is right around the corner, with the festivities actually kicking off today. To start, there will be the Florida Cup Legends 5-v-5 game with names like Edwin Van der Sar, Zico, and Denilson taking part in the match.
The football legends are going to invade the Universal Orlando Resort Mini Arena. 🎢 Can you imagine enjoy the park and cheer for your favorite players? 💖
… pic.twitter.com/suE0hhym4Y— Florida Cup (@Florida_Cup) January 7, 2019
The tournament proper then begins on Thursday with Eintracht Frankfurt taking on São Paulo, and Flamengo facing off with Ajax. Speaking of Flamengo, the club currently sitting second in the Brasileirão has announced its roster for the competition. Included on the squad is the man rumored to be linked with Orlando City, attacking midfielder Diego Ribas. The games will provide Orlando fans the opportunity to see the 33-year-old up close and allow us to make our own decisions about whether or not we want the rumors of a potential signing to be true.
Eis os jogadores relacionados para a Florida Cup.#CRF pic.twitter.com/zsz4MnZG7x
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) January 6, 2019
Free Kicks
A message from Yoshi Yotún reflecting on his time in Orlando.
- Orlando City legend Dennis Chin has signed with USL League One side Richmond Kickers, so you’ll be able to see him play against OCB this season.
- Former Lion Carlos Rivas has been let go by Nacional.
- Wayne Rooney has explained his recent arrest for public intoxication with a side of cursing at the Washington Dulles Airport, putting the incident down to a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills.
Let no one question Haley Kopmeyer’s dedication.
If anyone is doubting how committed I am to my coaching duties just know I’m missing the Bachelor first episode live this evening (@Toni_Deion is providing live updates, I’m fine).
— Haley Kopmeyer (@hkopmeyer) January 8, 2019
That’ll be all for me today. I’m off to do some budgeting and try to find a way to make it to as many games as possible this year. May you all have a wonderful day. Ciao.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/8/25
Orlando City steamrolls the Tampa Bay Rowdies in I-4 Derby, Orlando Pride aim to bounce back, U.S. Open Cup results, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s not often we get to celebrate an Orlando City victory in the middle of the week these days, but hopefully it’s a habit we get used to. The Lions took care of business in my neck of the woods, and it’s given some nice optimism to finish this week strongly. Let’s dive into the big win and more in today’s links!
Orlando City Trounces Tampa Bay Rowdies
Take a bow, Gustavo Caraballo! The 16-year-old was the star of the show in Orlando City’s dominant 5-0 U.S. Open Cup win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, scoring twice to jumpstart Orlando’s attack and making history along the way. There’s plenty of scoring to enjoy, so be sure to check out our full recap!
Hopefully this game was a nice shot in the arm for Orlando’s offense and something to build on in league play. It’s always nice to take down the Rowdies and the Lions are now the last Floridian team standing in the tournament. They’ll host Nashville SC in the round of 16 later this month in what should be a good game in the City Beautiful.
Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back in North Carolina
After a 1-0 loss on the road to the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride will look to return to their winning ways when they face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough environment for the Pride to play in, although the Courage have lost two of their three home games so far this season. Pride defender Emily Sams spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match and how the team can raise its level after a disappointing loss in Portland.
U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Wraps Up
MLS teams mostly cruised in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32, but it was still an exciting round of soccer filled with drama. In a vintage “cupset,” the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat New York City FC 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Orlando native Beto Ydrach. Indy Eleven nearly took down the Philadelphia Union, but the MLS side converted all five kicks in the penalty shootout to advance after a 1-1 draw.
The New England Revolution escaped Pawtucket with a 2-1 road win against Rhode Island FC, with 17-year-old Cristiano Oliveira scoring a late winner. Minnesota United squeezed past Louisville City 1-0, the Chicago Fire put Detroit City to the sword in a 4-0 win, and FC Dallas won 3-1 against USL League One side AV Alta FC.
UEFA Champions League Final Set
Paris Saint-Germain did everything it needed to and more at home against Arsenal, winning 2-1 to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. Great saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi propelled PSG to victory, with Bukayo Saka providing Arsenal’s only goal of the two-leg series. PSG will take on Inter Milan in the final on May 31 and it should be an interesting matchup at Allianz Arena to close out the tournament. Will PSG lift its first Champions League trophy only a year after Kylian Mbappe left the club, or will Inter come out on top after finishing as runner-up in 2023? I can’t wait to find out.
Free Kicks
- Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team star Mallory Swanson and her husband Dansby Swanson, as the couple announced that they’re expecting their first child!
- Racing Louisville announced that goalkeeper Katie Lund and midfielder Maddie Pokorny will both miss the remainder of the season due to hip injuries. Jordyn Bloomer, who had five saves in Friday’s win over the Houston Dash, will serve as the team’s goalkeeper in Lund’s stead.
- The Columbus Crew signed Daniel Gazdag to a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028 as well.
- Arsene Wenger proposed a change to the offside rule so that attacking players are onside so long as any part of their body is lined up with the last defender. We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it could lead to more goals in the future.
- Here’s what to watch for in the second legs of the Europa League semifinals. Manchester United will host Athletic Club with a three-goal lead in aggregate, while Tottenham will aim to defend its two-goal advantage in Norway against a Bodo/Glimt side that has key players returning from suspension.
- Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links 5/7/25
Orlando City takes on the Rowdies, sponsors like MLS, the NWSL is growing, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day as the Lions begin their 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign. I’ve repeatedly said on The Mane Land PawedCast that I want Oscar Pareja to focus on this competition more than another one (*cough* Leagues Cup *cough*). That all starts tonight, and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get to the links.
I-4 Derby Tonight
Orlando City enters the 2025 U.S. Open Cup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions make the perilous 112-mile trip along I-4 — which feels approximately like flying to Seattle — to take on an old geographical rival. We’re likely to see a rotated lineup for this match, but Pareja said he has confidence in the younger players to get the job done. If you’re not making the trip to Tampa here is how you can watch the match. We will have our normal match coverage for you tonight.
Nobody Likes Nil-Nil
You know something is going on when Orlando City attracts the attention of the national media. Unfortunately, that thing is the overabundance of 0-0 draws in four out of the last five matches. The theory is that the Lions aren’t getting enough service out of the midfield for the players up top. It may be as simple as players getting healthy for Orlando City to reignite the offense. For the sake of a certain The Mane Land editor’s sanity, I hope that is the case.
MLS News and Notes
Soccer’s popularity is growing in the United States. Are decades of being America’s next big sport finally paying off? It seems to actually be the case, at least when it comes to the sponsors. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, brands are investing in MLS and soccer in America. EA Sports is in on the action, partnering with MLS and Apple TV to show four live matches within the EA FC mobile gaming app this season
NWSL Keeps Growing
Big things are also happening in the NWSL. The growth has prompted the league to move its headquarters from one New York office to a bigger New York office. Part of that growth comes from owners like the Washington Spirit’s Michelle Kang. The billionaire is investing in the NWSL, U.S. Soccer, and other leagues and countries throughout the world. On a slightly different scale, Mikaela Shiffrin — the most decorated alpine skier of all time — has invested in the Denver NWSL expansion side.
Free Kicks
- Club America and LAFC will play a match to see which club qualifies for the Club World Cup after the Club Leon/Pachuca/Alajuelense appeals were denied.
- Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 (7-6 on aggregate) to cap a wild two-legged tie to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. They will face either PSG or Arsenal.
- While not a done deal, it’s looking like Christian Pulisic will sign a new contract with AC Milan. Pulisic managed to have a good season, even though the club fell short of expectations.
- Pulisic isn’t the only USMNT player in demand. Weston McKennie may also put pen to paper to stay with Juventus for a while longer.
That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match as well as the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/6/25
Pedro Gallese earns recognition, Zara Chavoshi up for Save of the Week, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Well it wasn’t the greatest weekend that Orlando’s soccer teams have ever had. The three squads picked up just one of the nine points on offer, and it was very much a trio of matches to forget. Luckily we won’t have to linger on them for very long, because the action continues almost immediately with Orlando City facing the Tampa Bay Rowdies Wednesday night in the U.S. Open Cup. We have plenty of news to talk through today, so let’s jump into the links.
Pedro Gallese Earns Recognition
Pedro Gallese was outstanding while backstopping OCSC in its 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire over the weekend, and his performance earned him a place in the starting XI of the most recent edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Orlando’s octopus made eight saves on the night, including two double saves, and if not for him the Fire would have run away with the game long before they were eventually reduced to 10 men. He’s now just the fourth goalkeeper since 2020 to earn five straight clean sheets, His efforts earned him the Man of the Match award by a country mile in Andrew DeSalvo’s Player Grades piece, and it’s nice to see him getting some love on the larger stage as well.
Zara Chavoshi Nominated for Save of the Week
In a piece of news that you don’t necessarily see every day, Orlando Pride defender Zara Chavoshi has been nominated for the NWSL Save of the Week. You can’t say she doesn’t deserve it either, as Chavoshi made a goal-line clearance with the net empty in the 38th minute to keep the deficit at 1-0 against the Portland Thorns. While the Pride weren’t able take advantage of her efforts by making a comeback, it was still an outstanding hustle play. Hopefully she won’t need to make too many more of those as the season progresses, but congratulations are in order all the same!
Americans in Midweek Action
A number of Americans will be playing games during the working week, so let’s run down some games to keep an eye on. Diego Kochen will likely be on the bench for the second leg of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League semifinal tie against Inter Milan later today. Wednesday has Alejandro Zendejas and Club America facing Pumas in the Liga MX Clausura playoff quarterfinal. Thursday has Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis traveling to Fiorentina in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League semifinals, in which they hold a 2-1 lead after the first leg. Things then wrap up on Friday with Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan hosting Bologna in Serie A.
Leon’s Club World Cup Verdict is Expected Today
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to deliver a verdict today on whether or not Leon will be able to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup this summer. As things currently stand, FIFA will not allow the Mexican side’s participation, and is preparing a one-off game between LAFC and Club America to determine which team will take Leon’s place. FIFA’s rules for the tournament prohibit more than one team having the same owners, but Leon and Pachuca are both owned by Grupo Pachuca. Leon were even drawn into a group with Chelsea, Esperance, and Flamengo at the end of last year, but FIFA excluded them during a ruling in March, which prompted Leon to appeal their case to the CAS.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride remained at the no.1 spot in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Orlando City rose one spot to no.13 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool when his contract expires in the summer and is widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
- Ary Borges has been suspended an additional three games for making contact with an official.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
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