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Lion Links: 2/17/19

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8 years ago

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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.

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!

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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