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Lion Links: 1/27/19

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7 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. I hope you’re all doing well this fine Sunday. It’s a bit nippy, but it’s always nice to stay inside of a warm home and kick back with your pets or kids and watch some movies. Or maybe you made it out to your local kickarounds? It’s actually the ideal time to get out there, as the mosquito hordes are rebuffed by the cool weather. No matter what you’ve been up to, I’ve been preparing your Sunday helping of Lion Links; I hope you’re hungry. Extra salt, right?

Loanee Danilo Acosta Focused On Becoming Starter

It appears that the recent loan move sending Danilo Acosta to Sunshine State from Real Salt Lake has lit a fire under his season’s ambitions, with the defender vying for a starting spot. Training camp is well underway, and that means that battles are waging on a daily basis to win coveted spots in the club’s starting 11. Acosta, while young at just 21 years of age, isn’t afraid of the task at hand — nor is he ill equipped for it. Acosta has tremendous experience already at both the professional and international levels, highlighting one of the many reasons why he was brought to the club.

“It’s day-by-day. It’s whatever you put on the field that’s what you’re going to get,” said Acosta. “At the end of the day, it’s how much you want it. If you want it really bad you have to work really hard for it, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s day-by-day because at the end of the day it’s all about competition, so I’m trying to do anything I possibly can to win this spot.”

It’s clear Acosta is here to play. And that’ll only push his teammates to work harder as well. Something to admire about Acosta? His versatility, tenacity in the defensive third, and fighting spirit.

“I’m just here to do anything that I can do for the team to help them out,” said Acosta. “Whatever possible position I can be, it can be on the left side, it can be at center back, whatever the coach wants me to play I’ll try my best.”

JOC Pleased with Start to Camp at IMG Academy

Coaches say this every year, but James O’Connor is generally pleased with what he’s seen from his team after just one week of preseason training at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

“We’ve been really pleased,” O’Connor told Pro Soccer USA. “I think the attitude and the application has been very good. I think the intensity has been great. I think we’ve seen some good glimpses of camaraderie, which is important. We’ve been working really hard and we’ve been pleased with what we’re seeing.”

OCSC Releases 2019 Second Round Pick Tommy Madden

Well…that was short. After being drafted with the 38th overall pick in the second round by the Lions in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, midfielder Tommy Madden has been released. It’s an unfortunate speed bump in the career of the young, talented midfielder, but there’s always opportunities with Orlando City B or with another club elsewhere. Something tells me he’ll find work sooner rather than later, as Tommy was a stalwart in the midfield for UNC-Charlotte, where he made 72 appearances over an illustrious collegiate career. We wish you the best, Tommy!

David Beckham’s Miami MLS Franchise Faces New Lawsuits

Apparently, a Miami attorney has filed two lawsuits aiming to prevent the club from building its new stadium on a city-owned golf course and complex. Yet another wrench in the seemingly never-ending drama that is Inter Miami, this first raises questions regarding whether or not the city appropriately described the land that would be leased for the construction of the stadium and grounds. The second focuses on laws requiring Beckham and his business associates to disclose the ownership of the corporation being represented. It’s getting hairy down in Miami…be sure to keep an eye on the developing hurricane (pun intended, but go Noles).

Gregg Berhalter Defends Michael Bradley’s USMNT Inclusion

Despite a run of poor form for, well, for a while, Berhalter didn’t hesitate in naming Toronto FC stalwart and USMNT regular Michael Bradley to his roster for today’s match against Panama. Berhalter believes “it’s clear that he has the quality.” This may be true, but it’s also a decision that many have criticized, considering the emergence of young talents both domestically and internationally, and the decline of a midfielder that is clearly in the twilight of an amazing career.

“It’s hard for me to understand how people gather that opinion, because when I see [Bradley] up close, it’s clear that he has quality,” Berhalter said. “When you look at his quality level in this group, it’s high.”

It’s clear that Berhalter respects what Bradley still has left in the tank.

”If [a player is] good enough to perform and he can fit and execute in the roles and responsibilities that we have for that position then he should be able to play, whether that’s old or young,” he said. “Michael is a good example of that. He’s been doing well in camp. His leadership has been good, but also his execution has been excellent.”

Free Kicks

  • Want you or your youngin’ to be a badass goalkeeper like Ashlyn Harris? Great news. She’s hosting some goalkeeper training sessions with Ali Kreiger Football Camps!

  • New U.S. Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter addressed the media ahead of today’s match against Panama.
  • Speaking of that match against Panama…the turnout isn’t looking too great so far. Maybe some emphatic wins through exciting play can start turning these numbers around?

That’s all I’ve got for you today folks…footy-wise. I do want leave you with a personal recommendation on a podcast that I’ve really grown to enjoy. It’s a true crime podcast called My Favorite Murder, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. It has an acquired taste, and it can be quite explicit, but the humor along with the intrigue that comes with the excellent story-telling of horrifying tales by these two ladies makes the time fly — whether it be during exercising, at work, or just driving around during errands. I highly recommend you give them a listen, if you can take it.

Anyway, have a great week folks. Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/9/26

Lions fall to New York City FC, Pride beat Fort Lauderdale United in final preseason match, OCB beats Chicago Fire II, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work. It was a rough weekend for our beloved Lions, but OCB got a win over the weekend. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City defender Nolan Miller, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Suffer Heavy Defeat at New York City FC

Orlando City fell 5-0 to New York City FC on the road Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau received a red card early in the first half. New York capitalized on the man advantage and the Lions trailed 3-0 at halftime. Keaton Parks scored twice in the second half as New York City FC secured its second straight win, while Orlando remains winless after three matches to start the season. The Lions were shut out for the first time in 25 matches. Orlando City will face CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium Saturday. Before the match, Orlando City announced it had signed midfielder Dylan Judelson to a short-term contract as Colin Guske was suspended after picking up two yellow cards against Inter Miami.

Orlando Pride Beat Fort Lauderdale United in Preseason Finale

In their final preseason match, the Orlando Pride beat USL Super League side Fort Lauderdale United 2-1 Saturday at Beyond Bancard Field in Fort Lauderdale. Seven Castain scored the opener in the first half, and Summer Yates added another from outside the box in the second half. Fort Lauderdale United pulled one back, but Orlando held on for the win.

The 2026 NWSL season will kick off this weekend as the Pride hosts the Seattle Reign Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride also announced that goalkeeper McKinley Crone, who was on loan with Fort Lauderdale United, has returned to the club by mutual consent.

OCB Beats Chicago Fire FC II

Orlando City B defeated Chicago Fire FC II 2-1 at Osceola County Stadium Sunday to secure its first win of the season in MLS NEXT Pro. Pedro Leao scored the opener for the Young Lions, however, Chicago equalized just before halftime. In the second half, Justin Ellis scored to give OCB the lead and the Young Lions held on for all three points. OCB’s next match will be on the road, taking on Carolina Core FC Saturday at Truist Point Stadium.

USWNT Wins SheBelieves Cup

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Colombia 1-0 to win the 2026 SheBelieves Cup Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. Alyssa Thompson scored the lone goal for the U.S. and was named the SheBelieves Cup MVP. With the win, the USWNT claimed its eighth title in the competition, went undefeated in the tournament, secured an eighth straight shutout, and finished atop the group with nine points. Canada finished second with five points after defeating Argentina 3-2 on penalties following a scoreless draw. Colombia finished third and Argentina came in last.

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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: 3/6/26

Leagues Cup schedule unveiled, Orlando Pride sign Reagan Raabe, USWNT prepares for Colombia, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

March 6, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Friday! It’s been a bit of a hectic week but I’m looking forward to spending the weekend enjoying some soccer and visiting my family for a birthday. Hopefully Orlando City can get a win on the road on Saturday and bring points back to the City Beautiful. Before we get started, we want to give a shout out to “Flip,” the latest subscriber at the TAM Player level in our Buy Me a Coffee membership program. Thanks for your support and welcome to The Mane Land family! Now, let’s jump right into today’s links!

Orlando City’s Leagues Cup Schedule Revealed

The schedule for this summer’s Leagues Cup is out and we now know which Liga MX teams Orlando City will play against. All three of Orlando’s games in the first phase of the tournament will be at Inter&Co Stadium, starting with a match against Monterrey on Aug. 5. The Lions will then take on Club Leon on Aug. 8 before playing San Luis on Aug. 12. Of the 18 MLS clubs taking part in the Leagues Cup, only the top four will advance to the knockout stage. Last year, the Lions went unbeaten across their four matches against Mexican teams before falling in the semifinals and the third-place match.

Orlando Pride Sign Reagan Raabe 

The Orlando Pride signed forward Reagan Raabe to a short-term contract that will last through June of this year. The 24-year-old has been with the club throughout its preseason as a non-roster invitee. Raabe joins the Pride following a collegiate career with the University of Nebraska, recording four goals and six assists in her final season after missing a couple of years due to injury. Hopefully she can continue to impress the coaching staff and make an impact this year.

Analyzing Colombia Ahead of USWNT Match

The United States Women’s National Team will play Colombia on Saturday in the final game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup. Colombia lost 4-1 to Canada in its first match but bounced back with a 1-0 win over Argentina. One of the top nations in South America, Colombia finished second in last year’s Copa America and boasts a versatile attack that does well with possession or in transition. The U.S. will need to limit Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo as much as possible. The 21-year-old has scored in both of Colombia’s games this tournament and has the talent to create opportunities out of seemingly nothing.

WAFCON Postponed Until July

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was set to begin on March 17, has been postponed until July 25 and is set to last through Aug. 16. This decision comes amid reports that Morocco wished to withdraw as the tournament’s host and it’s unclear at this time if Morocco will still host it later this year. Many NWSL players are impacted by this change, including Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, whose Zambian side will face Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt in the group stage. The tournament doubles as qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the quarterfinalists directly securing a spot in Brazil next summer.

Free Kicks

  • We have some rumored numbers to put to how much Orlando City was offering to pay Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann. Even if the move doesn’t come to pass, I can appreciate the club taking a big swing.
  • Nothing is official yet, but the United States Men’s National Team’s jersey for the upcoming World Cup may have been spotted in the wild. It looks like the Waldo kit with a twist, literally.
  • Toronto FC officially added center back Benjamin Kuscevic on loan from Fortaleza in Brazil’s second division.
  • Walid Regragui stepped down as Morocco’s head coach with only a few months to go before the World Cup. Mohamed Ouahbi will take over for Regragui and it will be his first time coaching a senior team.
  • Relegation is growing into a real possibility for Tottenham, which lost its fifth-straight match after a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
  • Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso, made a splash with a pair of goals in an exhibition match while training with Chicago Fire II.

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

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Lion Links: 3/5/26

Antoine Griezmann reportedly pausing move to Orlando City, USWNT beats Canada, Portland Thorns hire Robert Vilahamn, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

March 5, 2026

By

Image of Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal against Inter Miami.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? Hopefully Orlando City and Orlando City B can turn things around this weekend after recent losses. If not, then we’ll have to start looking into ritualistic ways to turn the city’s luck around. I have an Etsy witch on speed dial if need be. But for now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Antoine Griezmann Transfer Saga Rolls On

Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann has reportedly pressed pause on a potential move to Orlando City before the MLS transfer window closes on March 26. Any and all news should be taken with a daily dose of salt, but it would still be nice if the rumor mill was spinning in the other direction on this move. It would not be surprising to me if Griezmann chose to see out the rest of this season with the Spanish club, which remains in contention for silverware. I’ll hold out hope until the deadline passes, but this transfer may have to wait for all sides to return to the negotiation table in the summer. Only time will tell, but Orlando at least reportedly has his discovery rights.

U.S. Shuts Out Canada in SheBelieves Cup

The United States Women’s National Team beat Canada 1-0 in Columbus in Wednesday’s SheBelieves Cup match. After a scoreless first half, the U.S. took the lead in the 55th minute thanks to a goal from Ally Sentnor off of a corner kick by Rose Lavelle. It was another shutout victory for the U.S. and the team has not conceded a goal in its past seven matches. The USWNT sits alone atop the standings and will play its final match on Saturday against Colombia, which beat Argentina 1-0.

Portland Thorns Hire Robert Vilahamn

With a little over a week to go before the start of the NWSL season, the Portland Thorns have named Robert Vilahamn as their next head coach. He joins the Thorns after two years with Tottenham’s women’s soccer team and led the English club to the FA Cup final in 2024. Vilahamn replaces Rob Gale, who parted ways with Portland in November after a 2025 season that included a third-place finish in the NWSL standings and an exit in the semifinals of the playoffs.

Keeping Up With Americans Abroad

American midfielder Yunus Musah came off the bench and scored the equalizer for Atalanta in a 2-2 draw with Lazio in the Italian Cup semifinals. That’s back-to-back appearances with a goal for the 23-year-old and hopefully this will lead to some more playing time for him. In other European cup action, Real Sociedad secured its spot in the Copa del Rey final by beating Athletic Club 1-0, with Head Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo making history in the process.

Americans clashed in the French Cup quarterfinals, with Mark McKenzie and Toulouse winning a penalty shootout against Timothy Weah and Marseille to advance. Folarin Balogun was named Monaco’s Player of the Month after scoring four goals in February.

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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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