Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/17/19

Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. The season is less than a month away, and we’re finally starting to get a look at some of the boys in purple. One name in particular, of course, is still yet to be officially announced…but if you’re like me, you’re refreshing your “Nani Orlando City” browser search every five minutes. In due time, Mane Landers, in due time.
For now, let’s take a dive into your Sunday helping of Lion Links. Bon appétit.
Lions Kick Off Orlando City Invitational with 2-1 Win Over NYCFC
The Lions got off to a great start to their Orlando City Invitational run, beating New York City FC, 2-1 in a close bout that saw several bookings and even an NYCFC player being sent off. (In a friendly? Come on, dude). It was Tesho Akindele who started the scoring, latching on to a headed ball from Sacha Kljestan. Then it was Chris Mueller who wowed the fans in attendance with a strong shot off of the left wing, assisted by none other than Tesho himself. Despite a goal coming from NYCFC’s Maxi Moralez early on, the boys were able to find the win, and take all three points to start off this tournament the right way.
Two first half goals from @Tesho13 and @cmueller1662 are good enough to give the Lions the three points! #ORLvNYC | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/ZscBn1VRAQ
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 17, 2019
Check back this afternoon for Scott Carnevale’s five takeaways from the match and his photo gallery as well.
Lions to Add Veteran Goalkeeper Brian Rowe
With the departure of both Joe Bendik and Earl Edwards, Jr., many City fans were left wondering if the club would be adding another shot-stopper to the stable. While Adam Grinwis performed admirably for the club, there’s a belief that the inexperienced 26-year-old isn’t quite ready to take over the spot in between the sticks. Then there’s Greg Ranjitsingh. Regardless of what decision the coaching staff makes, adding an experienced and well-traveled leader such as Rowe will not only provide additional depth at the position, but will also provide Grinwis and fan favorite Mason Stajduhar with a mentor. Rowe also was handed the start in last night’s 2-1 win.
Pride Stars Shine in W-League Final
It was Sydney FC yet again that took down the Perth Glory and the W-League to claim the crown. Led by the Pride’s Alanna Kennedy, Sydney FC ran away with the match, notching four goals in an impressive 4-2 victory. Sam Kerr of the Glory and the Chicago Red Stars got her name on the score sheet as she converted a first half spot kick to level up the score. Unfortunately for Kerr and her teammates (including Orlando’s Rachel Hill) Sydney proved too much to handle, with Savannah McCaskill netting a brace and Alyssa Mautz, also of the Red Stars, adding a late fourth to seal the championship for Sydney. Former Pride players Lisa De Vanna and Aubrey Bledsoe also helped lead Sydney to the 2019 championship.
The play of the two current Orlando Pride players in the match stuck out to Sydney FC coach Ante Juric.
“But with Sam Kerr and (Rachel) Hill, they keep getting patches where they attack and they’re dangerous,” Juric said.
“So I thought Alanna Kennedy, Liz (Ralston), actually the whole back four were sensational to stop that. They’re never out of the game so, when we got the fourth and there was a minute to go, I was confident.”
Congrats on the win, but mind your head, Alanna!
Celebrating hurts bad! #WLeagueGF #WLeague pic.twitter.com/F0BNx820Vo
— Andrew Bryan (@AndrewBryan321) February 16, 2019
USMNT Players Star Abroad
It seems with each passing week, Americans abroad are making more of an impact in top tier leagues. Josh Sargent of Werder Bremen won a vital free kick at the end of his club’s match against Hertha Berlin, which was ultimately converted, earning his side a point in a contentious back-and-forth affair. Meanwhile, Tyler Adams notched his first assist for RB Leipzig in an impressive way, collecting the ball in his own defensive half, beating a man down the line while showcasing his pace, and then sliding a beautifully placed through ball to his teammate. Everyone’s eyes should be on the upcoming USMNT friendly that’ll be hosted in Orlando City Stadium. I’ll certainly be trying to snag some tickets, and I’d recommend you do the same.
SeaWolves Prevail in Florida Derby, 10-6
Can you say 10 goals? The Orlando SeaWolves can. That’s two wins in a row for the fledgling club. Gordy Gurson and Eduardo Cruz each netted a hat trick as the SeaWolves dumped the Florida Tropics, 10-6. Mario Alvarez notched a brace, and Osvaldo Rojas and Thiago Freitas also scored for Orlando, which improved to 5-5 on the season and 2-1 against the Tropics. Not too shabby, fellas! Keep it up!
FULLTIME: A fantastic effort has the boys on a winning streak! Two hat tricks from Dudu Cruz and @Kickinit3.#JoinTheFamily pic.twitter.com/sVP6BW2IZZ
— Orlando SeaWolves (@MCOSeaWolves) February 17, 2019
Free Kicks
- The Montreal Impact beat the Philadelphia Union, 1-0, in a preseason clash that saw Mexican star and new Union leader Marco Fabian play 45 minutes.
- Los Angeles FC fell to the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-0, in their most recent preseason match.
- Not only did San Jose take the preseason win, but they all upped their karma big time by donating equipment to a local youth program that had recently been the target of theft. The estimation in the equipment that was stolen was about $3,000. Kudos, San Jose.
- Minnesota United topped the New England Revolution in Orlando City Stadium, 1-0, to remain unbeaten during their strong preseason performances. This was the opening match of the Orlando City Invitational, so we’ll see you soon, ya Loonies.
- The Colorado Rapids defeated the Las Vegas Lights, 3-0, in a preseason match. Personally, I love the Las Vegas Lights. The club’s name is excellent, but it’s truly all about their llama for me.
- And to close out the preseason Free Kicks, the Seattle Sounders fell to FC Dallas, 2-1.
All right, folks, that’s all I’ve got for you today. I’ve personally got a big Sunday planned. It’s our club’s first match in the Central Florida Soccer League! Our side, Revolver FC, will be playing against Red Dragons FC (St. Andrews XI), a team that won its opening match, 6-2. It should be a blast, and hopefully we can take home the full three points. I’d ask for your support, but that’d be more than unfair. Plus, we kick off at 9 a.m.
That wasn’t a typo. 9 a.m. Whew…it’s going to be a long day.
Have a good one, Mane Landers, and an even better week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/28/25
Lions defeat Atlanta United, Pride bounce back against Angel City FC, OCB falls to New York Red Bulls II, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I will cover high school volleyball and soccer later this week. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B forward Thalles, who turns 20 today. Our beloved Lions finally won a match this month, the Pride bounced back with a win, and OCB lost over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Defeat Atlanta United at Home
Orlando City snapped its three-game winless streak and extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, beating rival Atlanta United 3-0 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. Luis Muriel, Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic scored for the Lions. With Pasalic’s goal and assist in Saturday’s match against Atlanta, he added his name to the club record books by becoming the fourth player in club history to have seven goal contributions in his first 10 matches.
Orlando set a club record early in the match for the most consecutive shutout minutes. By the end of the match, Orlando had not conceded a goal in 436 minutes. The Lions’ last goal conceded was to Christian Ramirez in the 14th minute against the LA Galaxy last month. Orlando City will be on the road Saturday to take on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.
Pride Rally to Defeat Angel City FC at Home
The Orlando Pride completed the comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit late in the second half and defeating Angel City FC 3-2 Friday at Inter&Co Stadium. In the final 20 minutes, Marta and Barbra Banda scored to tie the match after Orlando trailed 2-0. Orlando also got an own goal in stoppage time from Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola and escaped with a win at home. The Pride bounced back after a defeat to the Washington Spirit the previous week. With the Kansas City Current losing to the North Carolina Courage over the weekend, the Pride are tied with the Current atop the NWSL table. After the match, Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines shared his thoughts on his team’s resiliency to overturn a 2-0 deficit and fight back for the win at home.
The Pride will travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Portland Thorns in their next match Saturday at Providence Park.
Orlando City B Falls at Home to New York Red Bulls II
Orlando City B started slowly and dug too deep a hole to climb out of on Sunday night in a 4-2 loss to New York Red Bulls II at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 early in the first half. Jhon Solis pulled one back for OCB before Red Bulls II added another goal to make it 3-1 just before halftime. In the second half, Justin Ellis scored to pull the Young Lions within one again before Ibrahim Kasule converted a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to seal the win against OCB. New York Red Bulls II moves to second in the Eastern Conference with 13 points, while Orlando City B has lost back-to-back matches and is in fifth with 11 points. OCB will be on the road Friday to take on Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium.
NWSL Announces Plans to Launch a Second Division Women’s League
The National Women’s Soccer League has submitted an application to the U.S. Soccer Federation to launch a second-division soccer league in 2026, the league announced on Friday. The plan for this new league is to focus on furthering player development and building a pipeline between the NWSL and the second division league, similar to Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT Pro. Eight clubs are reportedly set for the league’s inaugural season, including the Orlando Pride. Joining Orlando in committing to the league are Bay FC, the Kansas City Current, the North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Racing Louisville, the Seattle Reign, and the Washington Spirit. The Division 2 clubs would play in the same stadiums as their parent clubs. The season format would be a round robin, featuring 14 matches, home and away, and will include playoffs with two semifinals and a championship match.
Free Kicks
- MLSsoccer.com featured an interview with Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic. He gave insight into adjusting to a new team in a new league, his soccer journey, working in construction with his brother, and learning Spanish.
- MLSsoccer.com also praised Orlando City defender Alex Freeman for his stellar form in April scoring three goals and adding an assist, while highlighting his versatility and athleticism on defense and in midfield.
- Real Salt Lake has added former Sporting Kansas City winger and captain Johnny Russell to its roster for the 2025 season.
- Inter Miami has waived midfielder Julian Gressel as he is reportedly set to join Minnesota United.
- Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time to win the Copa del Rey for the 32nd time. It’s the third time Barcelona has beaten Real Madrid this season.
- Ipswich Town became the final Premier League club to be relegated after a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
- Wrexham sealed promotion for the third consecutive season, moving to the EFL Championship after beating Charlton Athletic 3-0 on Saturday.
- Liverpool dominated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 on Sunday to win the Premier League title and become champions of England, tying Manchester United’s record for 20 league championship titles.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/25/25
Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!
Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match
The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.
Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira
Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.
“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”
Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt
Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this intriguing article that shines a light on how MLS team administrators manage the chaos of the transfer window. I would devour a television series following these kinds of crises throughout the season.
- St. Petersburg is exploring demolishing Al Lang Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, to make room for an amphitheater. The proposed demolition would take place after 2028, so we’ll see if this comes to pass.
- Jamie Vardy is leaving Leicester City, ending a 13-year tenure there that will be remembered for winning the English Premier League title in 2016.
- Here’s everything you need to know before the second legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday. Chelsea will take on Barcelona before Lyon and Arsenal square off, with both English clubs trailing after the first legs.
- Real Sociedad announced that Head Coach Imanol Alguacil will step down following this season. Alguacil was hired in December of 2018 and led the team to victory in the 2020 Copa del Rey.
- Manchester United will take part in the inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament next month, joining Bayern Munich, Ajax, Benfica, and four other teams yet to be determined.
- NBA Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd has joined Everton’s ownership group. I too would be looking for anything to take my mind off of the Dallas Mavericks’ season.
- Former Pride players Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley announced a weekly podcast, with the first episode set for Monday.
That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/24/25
Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC
The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.
Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings
Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.
MLS Deadline Day Transfer News
The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.
The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.
Free Kicks
- German legend Thomas Muller, who is set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, reportedly rejected an offer from FC Cincinnati and Fiorentina.
- Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed strike against Atlanta. Seeing Atlanta get scored on really makes the goal that much sweeter to watch.
- Marcus Rashford is reportedly aiming to join a Champions League team after this season. The 27-year-old is on loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United and should be an interesting name to keep an eye on this summer.
- Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace kept a few champagne bottles corked, as Liverpool would have won the league title if Arsenal lost. Liverpool now just needs a point when it faces Tottenham at home on Sunday.
- Real Madrid beat Getafe 1-0, but it came at the cost of injuries to both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga. The Spanish club may now have a crisis at left back ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.
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