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Lion Links: 3/10/19

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7 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: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

Published

21 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 28, 2026

By

Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 27, 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 keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

Free Kicks

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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