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Lion Links: 2/1/19

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8 years ago

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Welcome to February, Mane Landers. This year is just flying by, but at least that means we’re only a month and some change away from the 2019 MLS season. There’s plenty of change happening here in Orlando, but it looks like MLS itself will look much different this season with plenty of players on the move. Let’s start a soccer-filled weekend off on the right foot with some links!

O’Connor Leaning Towards Multiple Formations

With its first preseason game set for tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. against the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City is shifting its focus from conditioning to working on tactics. Head Coach James O’Connor wants to harp on the principles of the play he wants to see and seems to wants his players to be able to fit many different shapes or formations so that they can adapt to in-game situations.

“Multiple formations. I think that’s probably the best way. I think it’s important that you have an understanding of what you want but that you can make in-game changes and [it’s] seamless, which is very easy to say, but when you’re trying to get the level that we’re trying to get to, the understanding becomes really, really important.”

Thankfully, O’Connor also noted that there have not been any major injuries but that the team is still waiting for Josué Colmán and Ruan to join the team down in Bradenton, FL.

Chi Thankful, Nairn Scores in W-League Final Round

Like many other players on the Orlando Pride, Chioma Ubogagu headed to Australia for the W-League season, joining Carson Pickett with the Brisbane Roar. Including her game a few hours ago, which saw the Roar lose 1-0 to Adelaide United, she’s played in 10 games this season, scoring twice, and helping the Roar reach the finals. Ubogagu recently praised the league for its high levels of competition and personally thanked her head coach, Mel Andreatta, for driving her forward.

“Right off the bat, I’ve felt truly welcome, I felt I could give my opinion even if it’d been one or two weeks. Everyone was extremely receptive and that just speaks volumes of what Mel’s done and what the staff’s done and the girls, too. I think it’s awesome. It’s really cool when you do all those things off the field right and then on the field you’re rewarded”

In a game that should be reaching its conclusion any minute now in the W-League (as I’m writing this), Christine Nairn and Dani Weatherholt are currently ahead of Rachel Hill and the Perth Glory. It was Nairn who struck first in the match with a close-ranged header in the 17th minute and she followed up the goal with an assist in the 35th.

Giovinco Leaving Toronto FC

Toronto FC icon Sebastian Giovinco is the latest MLS star to be transferring out of the league as the 32-year-old forward was moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal FC. Undoubtedly the best player in Toronto FC history, Giovinco has been the gold standard for Designated Players and helped the club win the 2017 MLS championship. While Giovinco is excited to join Al-Hilal, an Instagram post by Giovinco has more than hinted at tension between the club and him over his transfer. Regardless of the drama behind the scenes, Al-Hilal FC is ready to bring Giovinco on board and he will be with the club in the coming days.

2019 U.S. Open Cup Format Revealed

The 106th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s format has been unveiled for the 2019 year. More than 80 teams will participate this year and the first round will start on May 7, although some local qualifiers will begin in April. Because Orlando City B is affiliated with Orlando, it will not be eligible to participate once the USL League One teams take the field in the first round.

Orlando City and the other MLS teams will join the tournament when the fourth round starts on June 12, with the draw for that round slated for May 30. Make sure to check out the full schedule to know when some of your favorite local teams will be drawn into the fray.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s first-round draft pick Santiago Patino will take over the club’s Instagram account today so keep an eye out for that.

  • Seeing Scott Sutter in Vancouver Whitecaps gear just feels wrong, but good luck to him in the Western Conference.

  • Like most Orlando City fans, Philadelphia Union Head Coach Jim Curtin isn’t shedding any tears over not having to plan against Miguel Almiron or Giovinco. But I can’t say the same for Jozy Altidore after he learned of Gio’s move.

  • The Seattle Reign are headed to Tacoma, WA where they will play on a grass field in an alcohol-friendly stadium with plans for a new stadium in the future.
  • Tyler Booth becomes the latest American to head to the Bundesliga after Bayern Munich signed the 17-year-old.
  • Check out the latest video in the Behind The Crest series. This one followed the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 3-0 win over Panama.
  • We end our links with Sydney Leroux scarring her kid for life. I’m not sure who designed that toy but it makes a Furby look harmless.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

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

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Lion Links: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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

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Lion Links: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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