Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/23/19

Happy Hump Day, everyone. It’s a short work week for me but it already feels long. Hopefully we’ll scoot through this week quickly and get to the weekend.
I’ve been in my new house just over a week but there’s still plenty to do. Most of the boxes are unpacked but there’s some painting and shelf hanging in my future that I’m not too psyched about. Also I need to see about getting some custom shelves hung in the man cave for my books and CDs because I’m an old and I like to have those things around even though we live in the digital age. Oh, and I still have no internet.
But enough about my trials and travails. Let’s get to the news of the day.
Something Something Nondescript Big-Name Transfer Rumor
This is an…interesting…way to do a transfer rumor. Steven Goff threw this out yesterday afternoon:
Getting word Orlando City has taken some level of interest — who knows how much — in Brazilian right back/wing Dani Alves (out of contract at PSG this summer). Brazilian-backed MLS side says there's been no offer.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 22, 2019
I suppose most MLS teams would have some level of interest in a player with the pedigree of Dani Alves. I think the Lions would have a great deal of interest if Alves would come play for the league minimum. However, it’s an odd way to put a rumor out there. At least Goff contacted the club to see if an offer had been made.
Alves is not a player who fits the current Orlando City profile and it would be interesting to see how they’d use him after signing the speedy Ruan. However, we reached out to our sources to gauge the accuracy of the rumor and got a response of, and I’m paraphrasing here: “Um…no.”
Can we get some attacking bite in the midfield, please?
Benji Michel Happy to be Home
Jordan Culver of ProSoccerUSA.com caught up with Orlando City Homegrown Benji Michel and the new Lion is happy to be coming home to play his professional soccer. Michel said at first he didn’t know he qualified as a Homegrown Player but signing as an HGP allowed him to have a say in his professional destination.
“I grew up watching Orlando City. I was there [when they were] in USL. My friends are here. My family is here. I have all the support that I need to begin my first professional season. I feel like me signing as a Homegrown player for my city, it wouldn’t be as difficult for me because I live here and I have all the support that I need.”
Pinho Signs with Thailand Team
Former Orlando City striker Stefano Pinho has landed in Thailand of all places, signing with PT Prachuap FC. The club plays in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand, and is nicknamed the Killer Wasp. Pinho announced the move via his social media channels, which later prompted Orlando City to release the news that the club has waived him, despite the news breaking a week ago via Jordan Culver (and Pinho’s social media). Pinho told The Mane Land that the decision was mutual for his departure. We wish him luck with his new club. #ForeverALion
USWNT Bounces Back with 1-0 Win in Spain
Christen Press scored the game’s only goal as the USWNT bounced back from a loss in France and won the team’s first ever meeting against Spain, 1-0. The United States welcomed back several missing players from Saturday’s match, including Tobin Heath, Julie Ertz, and Megan Rapinoe. Pride striker Alex Morgan started up top for the U.S. but could not inch closer to 100 career international goals. Morgs remains stuck on 98 for now. The USWNT will be back in action in late February and early March in the 2019 SheBelieves Cup.
Diego Officially Back with Flamengo
As we’ve been saying for a while, midfielder Diego Ribas made it official by returning to Flamengo with a contract renewal. The Brazilian No. 10 would have been a great addition to Orlando City but his heart was with his current club and from what we’re hearing, he’s not getting the big raise he wanted. In the end, it’s about being where you want to be and we can’t fault the player for that. We think he’d have loved celebrating goals in front of The Wall, but alas, it wasn’t to be.
Skinner Says Pride Compares to Birmingham
New Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner spoke to The Guardian and talked about how his new organization is a lot like Birmingham City. Both, says the skipper, are family-oriented clubs that place a high value on doing things the right way. He also said the Pride organization fits his personality and he’s eager to get the “project” started.
It’s really important for me that we connect with the fans in the stands, give them an identity, I tried to do that at Birmingham, so they feel a part of what we’re doing. This without the Orlando Pride fans is nothing for me.”
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Aurelien Collin has caught on with the Philadelphia Union.
- Former OCB and OCSC academy player Paul Clowes signed with Greenville Triumph SC of USL League One.
- Pride defender Shelina Zadorsky started for Canada in her country’s 1-0 win over Norway yesterday. Christine Sinclair scored the only goal.
- USMNT legend and Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard will hang up his gloves and boots after the 2019 season.
- Extremely awful news: Argentine Emiliano Sala, who had just transferred from Nantes to Cardiff City, was on a plane that went missing yesterday. Officials called off a 15-hour search due to darkness and were slated to resume the search today. Sala was a record signing for Cardiff City, which canceled training on Tuesday after the news broke.
- Cristiano Ronaldo was fined $21.6 million for tax fraud but will not serve prison time.
- Don’t get pranked by Diego Costa. He doesn’t mess around.
Diego Costa being Diego Costa 😂
[🎥 IG: filipeluis] pic.twitter.com/egnv9My7Af
— COPA90 (@COPA90) January 22, 2019
- Those born on this date include supersized signature writer John Hancock (1737), actor Randolph Scott (1898), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century actor Gil Gerard (1943), Rutger Hauer (1944), Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander (1953), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay (1964), Saved by the Bell’s Tiffani Amber Thiessen (1974), NFL kicker Phil Dawson (1975), and Dutch / Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben (1984).
That’s all my time for today. Enjoy your Wednesday and the rest of your work week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/25/23
Orlando City draws with Inter Miami, Viviana Villacorta out for the season, OCB wins last game of the regular season, and more.

Last night’s Orlando City match wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst either. It’s a pretty fitting feeling on a Monday, as we all get back into the swing of the work week after a nice weekend of soccer. There are plenty of ups and downs from a rollercoaster Sunday, so let’s dive right into today’s links!
Orlando City Draws With Inter Miami
In the latest edition of the Tropic Thunder rivalry, Orlando City and Inter Miami split the points at Exploria Stadium in a 1-1 result. Miami struck first, but the Lions did well to find an equalizer, even though they couldn’t find a winner in the end. It wasn’t Orlando’s best game by any means, but it was a decent response to a 2-0 loss on the road to New York City FC. Orlando now has 51 points, tying its club record for the most points in a season, set in 2021. The Lions will have a chance to break that record on Saturday when they host CF Montreal.
Viviana Villacorta Out for the Season
Orlando Pride midfielder Viviana Villacorta will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after suffering an ACL tear in her left knee during training. The 24-year-old was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, but was not able to make her debut until 2022 due to sustained an ACL tear in her right knee that kept her out for all of the 2021 season. This year, she has 21 appearances across all competitions for the Pride and notched the first assist of her career in a big road win against the San Diego Wave on April 29. This is a tough blow to the Pride’s midfield with just three games remaining as she has ended her season early due to injury for the third straight year. The Pride are only a point out of a playoff spot and are back in action on Oct. 2 against Angel City FC.
Orlando City B Wins On Decision Day
On the final day of the MLS NEXT Pro regular season, Orlando City B won 2-1 at home over FC Cincinnati 2. The Young Lions had already clinched a spot in the postseason heading into this match, but the win secured their spot as the fifth seed. Jack Lynn briefly held the Golden Boot lead after scoring, but ended up tied at 19 goals with New York City FC II’s Matt Myers and Colorado Rapids 2’s Remi Cabral. The trio ended in a three-way tie for the league’s Golden Boot honors. OCB will hit the road for its first MLS NEXT Pro playoff game, although the opponent is not yet known thanks to the new rule where higher seeds choose which team they want to face.
USWNT Wins in Megan Rapinoe’s Final Match
The United States Women’s National Team beat South Africa in a 2-0 win at Soldier Field. Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored and the defense did well to secure its second shutout against South Africa after a 3-0 win this past Thursday. This game also marked forward Megan Rapinoe’s final game with the USWNT, with the 38-year-old subbed off for the last time in the 54th minute. These were solid wins from the USWNT following the World Cup and it will aim to keep the momentum rolling next month in a pair of friendlies against Colombia.
Free Kicks
- Three Orlando City academy sides came up with shutout victories this weekend.
- Before the USWNT’s friendly with South Africa, U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker stated that plans remain in place for a new head coach to be at the helm in time for the training camp in December
- American midfielder Yunus Musah did well in his AC Milan debut, playing all 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Verona.
- A match in the Netherlands between Ajax and Feyenoord had to be abandoned due to fans throwing fireworks onto the field while Feyenoord led 3-0. According to police, tear gas had to be used to stop unrest outside the stadium after the match, and Ajax later fired Sven Mislintat, its director of soccer.
- Newcastle became the first English Premier League team to have eight different players score in a match after crushing Sheffield United, 8-0.
- Atletico Madrid ended Real Madrid’s perfect start to the season by beating its rival 3-1, with Alvaro Morata bagging a brace.
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have an easy Monday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/23/22
Lions and Herons meet again, Carly Nelson is writing a book, NWSL free agency opens, and more.

Happy Founder’s Day, Mane Landers! It was on this day in 2014 that our fearless leader and Managing Editor Michael Citro started our first ever WordPress website. It’s safe to say that I’m sure The Mane Land has impacted your life as much as it has mine over the years, whether that be through daily reading or weekly podcasts. Cheers to Michael and all those who have come before me.
In my own personal news, I have been grinding away on the new EA FC 24 (the franchise formerly known as EA’s FIFA.) So far, the gameplay and updates have been great in my initial 15+ hours of play, and my online Ultimate Team is starting to really take its shape. I’m sure in a couple weeks that I’ll transition to a traditional Career Mode and take the Lions all the way to an MLS Cup and beyond.
Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy birthday to everyone’s favorite defensive midfielder, Wilder Cartagena!
Third Bout for Orlando City and Inter Miami
Orlando City and Inter Miami have already met twice this campaign. Sunday’s match will look to break the deadlock between the two rivals as both clubs have a victory to their name in this year’s series. In May, the Lions grabbed a 3-1 victory over the Fort Lauderdale-based club. The two sides met for a second time in the knockout round of Leagues Cup 2023 with Inter Miami taking the 3-1 result at DRV PNK Stadium. No matter the result this time around, Orlando City has already clinched a playoff spot, however, the Herons need every point they can get to attempt to do the same.
Carly Nelson, Goalkeeper and Author
It isn’t unheard of to learn that an athlete might have tried another sport before finding soccer, Orlando Pride goalkeeper Carly Nelson came from a background of gymnastics, tennis, basketball, and baseball before her father started a club soccer team with her in mind. While Nelson might have idolized USWNT legend Hope Solo as a child, she started her playing days as a forward, winger, and midfielder. Outside of protecting the Pride’s net, Nelson is spending time writing a book about her life growing up in Utah and the issues her family faced to hopefully help others that might find themselves in similar situations.
NWSL Opens 2024 Free Agency
The National Women’s Soccer League has officially opened the league’s unrestricted and restricted free agency periods. In accordance with the NWSL Players’ Association’s collective bargaining agreement, eligible free agents can begin negotiations for their 2024 Standard Player Agreements. Players eligible for unrestricted free agency include all who have at least five years of service within the NWSL and contracts expiring in 2023, while players eligible for restricted free agency include those who have at least three years of service. For the Orlando Pride, defender Kylie Strom is set to be an unrestricted free agent and midfielder Jordyn Listro is under restricted terms. Any club that currently holds the rights of a restricted free agent has a seven-day period to match an incoming offer from another club or else the player may sign with the new club under the terms of the offer.
USMNT’s Tyler Adams Nearing Return
Tyler Adams will not make his Bournemouth debut this weekend, but he could return as early as next week. Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, provided a positive update on the U.S. Men’s National Team captain as he finishes up rehabbing a long-term hamstring injury.
“He has started this week at least to train partially with the group, so probably we can have a chance of having him next week or two weeks, something like this. Tyler is really close because once you start training partially with the group, it’s a matter of sensations, and if you are physically good enough. He has a very good physical base. So I think it will take not a long time to see Tyler with the team.”
Adams has not played since March after having a hamstring surgery. Even with a known injury, the 24-year-old still completed a move from Leeds United to Bournemouth following Leeds’ relegation to keep him in the top flight.
MLS Weekend Preview
Aside from the Florida derby, there are plenty of matches to be excited about around the league this weekend. Personally, I’m looking forward to catching a bit of the D.C. United and New York Red Bulls match. Manager Wayne Rooney’s club is right on the bubble in a tight Eastern Conference race while the Red Bulls can do themselves a huge service and come back into the playoff picture with a win. Out in the Western Conference, there is a real buzz around a Portland Timbers squad after a manager sacking. It could be a huge win for the Timbers and likely push them above the play-in round should they find a result against the Colorado Rapids.
Free Kicks
- FC Cincinnati has signed its captain Luciano Acosta to a contract extension through the 2026 MLS season with an option for 2027.
- For the third-straight vote, an Inter Miami player has Goal of the Matchday honors as Robert Taylor got 44.5% of the vote for Matchday 33.
- FC Cincinnati wingback Álvaro Barreal has been nominated for the 2023 FIFA Púskas Award and is only the second-ever MLS player to earn a nomination after Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the first in 2019 with the LA Galaxy.
- The United States, Mexico, and Canada are joining forces to tackle any “collusive schemes” involving goods or services connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in an effort to avoid exploitation of the major event.
- Athletico Paranaense’s18-year-old Vitor Roque has likely played his last game for the club before his move to Barcelona after the striker has reportedly torn ligaments in his right ankle.
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a fantastic Saturday. Be safe on Sunday at the match. Stay hydrated and look out for those around you. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/22/23
Orlando City prepares for Inter Miami, MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day is Sunday, USWNT wins against South Africa, and much more.

Happy Friday! It’s been a pretty busy week of apartment hunting and work for me, so I’m looking forward to some rest and relaxation this weekend. I don’t have many plans, but I did make sure to carve out a few hours to make a drink and get some reading done. My book club is fairly low maintenance, but I’ll be behind if I don’t finish Fourth Wing before the second book in the series comes out in November. Let’s get into today’s links!
Orlando City Takes On Inter Miami This Weekend
Following a 2-0 loss on the road to New York City FC earlier this week, Orlando City will aim to bounce back when it hosts rival Inter Miami this Sunday. Orlando has a chance to set club records for the most wins and points in a season since it joined MLS in 2015. It will be the third meeting between the two clubs this season, with Orlando beating Miami 3-1 in May before falling 3-1 in the Leagues Cup’s knockout stage. Although Miami will be without Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba according to Head Coach Tata Martino, the Herons still have plenty of attacking talent in the form of Sergio Busquets, Leonardo Campana, and Josef Martinez.
Orlando City B Readies for MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day
Sunday will also be the final day of the MLS NEXT Pro regular season, with nearly every team in action. Here’s everything you need to know about Decision Day across the league, with playoff spots still up for grabs. Orlando City B has already clinched its spot in the postseason, but can secure fifth in the Eastern Conference when it takes on FC Cincinnati 2. However, the difference between fifth and a lower seed won’t matter too much due to a new rule this year where the second and third seed in each conference choose which lower seed it wants to host in the playoffs. The Golden Boot race is competitive as well, with OCB’s Jack Lynn tied at the top with New York City FC II’s Matt Myers. We’ll see if Lynn takes part in Sunday’s match after giving the first team needed depth last weekend.
USWNT Beats South Africa in Julie Ertz’s Finale
The United States Women’s National Team won 3-0 against South Africa in the first of two friendlies this month. All three of the USWNT’s goals came in the first half, with Lynn Williams bagging a brace. In her final USWNT game, Julie Ertz started and earned plenty of applause from the crowd at TQL Stadium when she was subbed off in the 36h minute. M.A. Vignola made her USWNT debut in the match as well, coming on at halftime. The two nations will play again on Sunday in what will be forward Megan Rapinoe’s last game with the USWNT.
Europa League Group Stage Kicks Off
The first round of Europa League group stage matches is over, with all 32 teams getting things started across Europe. Brighton & Hove Albion’s first Europa League match was a rough one, as the English club fell 3-2 at home against AEK Athens. The Spanish clubs also struggled, with Villarreal getting shut out 2-0 by Panathinaikos and Real Betis losing 1-0 to Rangers. Elsewhere, AS Roma beat Sheriff Tiraspol 2-1 thanks to a winner from Romelu Lukaku, Liverpool won 3-1 over Austrian club LASK after trailing early on, and Marseille drew 3-3 with Ajax in a thriller. West Ham, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, and SC Freiburg also won their group openers.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy the sights and sounds from the Orlando City Foundation’s annual celebrity golf and footgolf tournament.
- Borussia Dortmund reportedly has no interest in signing Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. The 23-year-old spent four years with the German club before making the move to United in 2021.
- American defender Mark McKenzie scored a late equalizer in Genk’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League.
- Xavi Hernandez has reportedly signed a one-year contract extension with Barcelona.
- Here’s an interesting look into the shortage of referees in Europe and how abuse at the youth levels may be to blame.
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
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