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Lion Links: 3/10/19

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8 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. I don’t know about you folks, but I’m feeling, in general, a bit indifferent. It’s almost as if my favorite soccer club has started off the season in a tentatively promising manner…without winning. Weird feeling, right? Oh, that’s right, I support OCSC, so a range of emotions is expected weekly (if not daily). What a time to be alive.

Let’s get the ball rolling and hop right into these Links, shall we?

Lions Concede at the Death, Fail to Put Out the Fire in 1-1 Draw

It was looking promising, with Orlando City SC clinging to a 1-0 lead for a majority of the match, but leave it to C.J. Sapong (as always) to spoil the fun. The Chicago Fire stole a point at home, as Sapong’s uncontested (Shane O’Neill, what were you doing?) stoppage time header found its way past new Lion Brian Rowe. That, of course, marks two draws in two matches for the club. While it isn’t ideal, a point on the road in a league where finding any points away from home is difficult is a positive…but it still certainly feels like a loss after leading in goals and men on the field during the start of stoppage time.

And be sure to check in again soon for our Bearded legend’s Five Takeaways.

Nani Wears the Armband

It wasn’t too surprising, as I expected new Lion and Portuguese star Nani to take the captaincy role at some point, but I didn’t expect it to be in his first MLS start. Regardless, Nani took the leadership role we all expected him to, and it showed, as his IQ on the pitch coupled with Dom Dwyer’s tenacity put the Lions up 1-0. This was Nani’s second assist in two games as a Lion. He could have notched another, had Ruan not been taken down from behind after a beautiful through ball, leading to Chicago’s Jorge Corrales’ sending off. Nani brings a lot to the club, possibly more than some had anticipated, and it’ll be exciting to watch the winger strut his stuff in the purple kit. The most important part? He’s already seemed to have built strong relationships, both on and off the pitch, with his teammates.

The SeaWolves Drown in the Wave, 13-2

It’s hard to place blame on a team that loses a match just a day after they emerge with a win, but that’s exactly what happened when the SeaWolves traveled to Milwaukee to face off against the first place Wave. The final score of 13-2 looks pretty bad without context, but the SeaWolves were running on fumes after driving nine hours from Kansas City to face one of the best clubs in the MASL. Gordy Gurson and Osvaldo Rojas did manage to score for Orlando, but the SeaWolves were outshot 34-14 in this one; not a good statistic, that’s for sure. Interested in catching the SeaWolves in action? Their next two matches are back in Florida, with the Florida Tropics coming to town on March 15 and the Kansas City Comets visiting the following day.

Orlando Pride Coach Marc Skinner Happy to Work with Who’s Here

With a bevy of his most talented and notable players away on international duty, new Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner has publicly stated that he’s more than happy to work with the players that he has at his current disposal. This is a nice message to convey, especially when Skinner notes that he may have budding stars with him now that aren’t marquee names on the global level.

“I said when I first came in, ‘The name of today might not be the name of tomorrow.’ So, who is the name of tomorrow? It could be that person that puts everything in on that training field and that’s my job. Work with them. Whoever’s here gets worked with. If somebody’s taken out for injury, I’m ready to replace them with somebody that’s ready to work. No excuses. It’s not just for one player here, I’m in for everyone.”

Only time will tell how much of a positive impact Skinner will make on a Pride team that severely underperformed last season, but stories like this give me a good feeling. With all of that said, I’m sure he can’t wait to have all of those talented players back in his squad and back in training.

USMNT’s Zack Steffen Looking Better and Better

Steffen, now on loan at Columbus after his monumental move to Manchester City, is absolutely killing it with the Crew. While this isn’t necessarily the most exciting news to a Lion fan, it certainly is for a USMNT fan. Steffen is starting to carve out his clear-cut role as the top No. 1 for the USMNT, and his performances with the Crew only serve to highlight just how bright the future could be under Gregg Berhalter. Yesterday, yet again, Steffen spoiled a spot kick opportunity from New England’s Diego Fagundez. This isn’t the first time he’s done so, either. In fact, he continues to build upon his reputation as potentially one of the world’s best young goalkeepers, both in the run of play and in defending set pieces and spot kicks. Let’s hope the performances translate to international success for Steffen, because the throne is his for the taking if he keeps it up.

Free Kicks

  • I have so much love for the Orlando City Foundation. It’s my favorite organization to donate to, and the progress they’ve made over the years is astounding.

  • If you’re like me, you like keeping tabs on all of the other results from this weekend’s matches. It’s always nice to be familiar with your opponents.
  • Australia's loss is most certainly a gain for the Pride…but we feel your pain Alanna. Just know that we love you as much as they do!

  • Catch the 2019 SheBelieves Summit here!
  • Hey Mane Landers…I know I don’t need to stress this, because you’re the classiest of the classiest, but don’t be this guy. This guy is the worst.

All right folks, I’m out. Two matches, two points. It could always be worse, right? Yesterday felt like a loss, but it’s important to keep in mind that a draw away from home in this league is still a difficult feat to accomplish (even when it should have clearly been a win). Stay positive, remain optimistic, and have a great Sunday.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/15/26

Orlando City concedes late in draw with Toronto FC, Justin Ellis earns praise, U.S. Soccer announces Crest Cup for women’s soccer, and more.

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3 hours ago

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October 15, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann and Justin Ellis celebrating a goal against Real Salt Lake.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How are you feeling after last night’s Orlando City game? I don’t think my thoughts have ever been as mixed, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles at times when supporting the Cardiac Cats. It could’ve gone worse though, and being able to watch Antoine Griezmann work his magic is always a treat. Today marks nine years since Kaká’s final game with Orlando City, and I’ve loved being able to see world class players like him, Griezmann, Nani, and more over the years in Orlando. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Lead Late in Dramatic Draw

Orlando City went on the road to Canada and played to a 3-3 draw against Toronto FC in a rollercoaster of a match. The Lions clawed their way back to equalize twice and managed to take the lead late in the match, but couldn’t close things out despite another solid performance by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau behind a leaky defense. Make sure to check out our match recap of what was an exciting, yet frustrating, match that at least featured a couple of great Orlando goals.

Justin Ellis Earns Praise During Breakout Season

The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert ranked his top 22 MLS players under the age of 22 and Orlando City forward Justin Ellis ranked eighth on his list. The 19-year-old has 10 assists and a goal to his name this season, thriving in the attack with an intriguing combination of creativity, strength, and positioning. He’s also already scored for the United States Men’s National Team, doing so in Orlando last month against Peru. Bogert predictably has Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan at the top of his list and Julian Hall in second. We’ll see if Ellis lands a bit higher than eighth when the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list is unveiled later this year.

U.S. Soccer Announces Crest Cup

A new club tournament is coming to women’s soccer. U.S. Soccer announced the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup for women’s soccer teams across the country to compete against each other in a single-elimination format. Official details such as when this will take place and which teams will be allowed to participate haven’t been unveiled at this point, but it does seem like it will at least include teams from both the NWSL and USL Super League. The winner of the Crest Cup will receive $1.1 million and qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Toothpaste jokes aside regarding the name, I’m excited for a tournament that puts a spotlight on more women’s soccer teams.

Takeaways From USWNT Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team may not have beaten Spain in either of its two friendlies against the European powerhouse, but it at least finished strong by rallying to a 2-2 draw in the second meeting. Not many of the problems the USWNT faced were unexpected either. Naomi Girma’s absence was felt on defense, neither Claudia Dickey nor Phallon Tullis-Joyce emerged as the clear starter in goal, and the midfield looked suboptimal against the best team in the world. Head Coach Emma Hayes has multiple decisions to make before the Women’s World Cup next summer, with the USWNT’s next match coming on Nov. 27 against El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The UEFA Champions League returned this week and there were plenty of good games across Europe. In one of the bigger matchups of this round, Paris Saint-Germain went to England and beat Manchester City 4-2 to move to the top of the table. Elsewhere, Real Madrid mounted a late comeback to beat AS Roma 4-3 in Italy, Bradley Barcola scored a hat trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over LAK Linz, and Bodo/Glimt won 1-0 in Norway against Borussia Dortmund. The teams will play again on Tuesday and Wednesday, with PSG going up against Barcelona and Bayern Munich hosting Arsenal as two of the heavyweight showdowns.

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  • Congratulations to Orlando Pride newlyweds Rafaelle and Hailie Mace on tying the knot!

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/26

Orlando City plays Toronto FC, Orlando Pride prepare for Houston, the USWNT draws Spain, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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October 14, 2026

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Image of Iago passing the ball against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. As the regular season winds down, the tension ramps up. The Lions are currently above the playoff line, but it’s a precarious perch. With two matches this week, earning crucial points will be even more difficult. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Visits Toronto FC Tonight

Orlando City travels to the Great White North tonight for a match against Eastern Conference opponent Toronto FC. Points are at a premium as both teams chase a playoff appearance. Rest assured that Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman is making sure the team is prepared and taking it one match at a time. It is a double match week so we’ll see how Perelman rotates the starting lineup.

Orlando Pride News and Notes

Yolanda Thomas is getting the Orlando Pride ready for Sunday’s road match against the Houston Dash. Of course, there are several players on international duty before then. Oihane got the start for Spain against the USWNT (see below) on Tuesday night. Barbra Banda scored a brace for Zambia in a 4-1 win over Uganda in an Olympic qualifier. Ally Lemos contributed two assists in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team’s 5-0 dismantling of the Dominican Republic.

USWNT Comes from Behind to Draw Spain

The USWNT played its second friendly against top-ranked Spain Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Philadelphia. Much like the previous match, Spain was able to build a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half. Unlike last time, the U.S. was able to score two goals to draw Spain. Ashley Sanchez scored in the 49th minute in her first USWNT start in nearly two years, and Mallory Swanson added the second goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, the USWNT wasn’t able to get a third, but a 2-2 draw is still a better result than last time and coming back from two goals down made it feel more like a win in the end.

USMNT Players in Club Action

Former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman came on in the 63rd minute of Villarreal’s 3-1 victory over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid in his club’s 2-0 win over Manchester United. He almost scored a goal, but it was disallowed after video review. Sergino Dest’s PSV lost 1-0 to RB Leipzig. Dest is Top 10 when it comes to Champions League appearances by U.S. players. There are a few more USMNT players making appearances in the matches today.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/13/26

Orlando City players named to MLS Team of the Matchday, USWNT takes on Spain tonight, Americans in action this week, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 13, 2026

By

Image of Ivan Angulo playing against D.C. United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a pep in my step so far this week after Orlando City’s win this weekend. Hopefully, the soccer we have ahead of us tonight and Wednesday night doesn’t end up dimming that enthusiasm. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Maxime Crepeau and Ivan Angulo were both named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, with Antoine Griezmann landing on the bench. Crepeau was immense in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew, recording a club-record 12 saves. Angulo also excelled with a goal and an assist, with his late winner landing a spot on Sports Illustrated‘s top five goals of the week as well. Griezmann also chipped in a goal and an assist. There are a couple of familiar faces on the bench with Griezmann, with former Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. earning the honor after making nine saves for the San Jose Earthquakes and former Lion Shak Mohammed recording a goal and an assist in Nashville’s win.

USWNT Aims to Bounce Back Against Spain Tonight

After a 2-0 loss to Spain on Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team will play the top team in the world again tonight. It will be interesting to see what lineup changes Head Coach Emma Hayes makes following the loss, particularly with regard to the defense to help stop Spain’s potent attack. Spain got off to a hot start in Saturday’s match, but the team’s physicality likely won’t catch the U.S. by surprise this time around. Orlando Pride defender Oihane, who is with Spain for these friendlies, said she expects the U.S. to be more aggressive in this rematch.

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch:"I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive."(I would expect the same.)

— Jeff Kassouf (@jeffkassouf.bsky.social) 2026-10-12T15:37:35.556Z

Americans in Action Abroad This Week

The UEFA Champions League and Europa League return this week and there are many Americans to keep an eye out for across Europe. Former Lion Alex Freeman, who earned plenty of praise for his performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, could start in his first UEFA Champions League game today when Villarreal hosts Napoli. We may also see more of 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert when Borussia Dortmund plays Bodo/Glimt as he continues to impress at such a young age. Sergino Dest and Johnny Cardoso are other Americans who could play in the Champions League, while Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Weah may suit up for Europa League play.

U.S. Soccer Announces Referee Development Program

U.S. Soccer unveiled a new program aimed at improving referee development and making the pathway for aspiring officials more consistent. Named R90+, the program will give referees access to mentors and coaches for them to improve across multiple aspects of officiating, such as game management, physical preparation, and tactical awareness. The first edition of this program will take place in the South, with 10 of the 60 officials coming from Florida. Hopefully this investment in officiating improves things for everyone involved.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

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