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Lion Links: 3/17/19

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7 years ago

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day Sunday, Mane Landers. I’m sure you’re frustrated right now, and to be honest, I get it. I am too. Yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Impact at Orlando City Stadium was demoralizing to say the least. This weekend in general has been an awful one for me. A relationship ended, my Trailblazer is about to cost more than it should, and now the search is on for a replacement just days after planning a trip to Washington D.C. for a good friend’s wedding.

I’m not looking forward to it (the car search, that is). At any rate, I’m still here per usual to feed you some Sunday Lion Links, even if they aren’t seasoned the way we’d like them to be — you know, with an OCSC win. I just took a deep sigh. You couldn’t hear it, but maybe you took one too.

Before we get started, we here at The Mane Land want to wish Orlando Pride midfielder and all-around amazing individual Dani Weatherholt a very special birthday. The club is lucky to have her on the roster, and we’re all fortunate as supporters to have her here in the City Beautiful.

Lions Drop Three Points to the Impact at Home, 3-1

In a contentious and mistake-ridden affair, the Lions didn’t have the impact on the match that they had wished going into this one, however, namesake Montreal did. The Lions lost their first match of the 2019 season, at home nonetheless, to a surprisingly strong Impact side that saw Ignacio Piatti become the player with the most goals against the Lions in the club’s short MLS history (10). Dom Dwyer did manage to scrape one back in stoppage time courtesy of a selfless Santiago Patiño assist, but ultimately, the match was far out of reach by that point.

Stay tuned later for the bearded guy’s five takeaways from the match.

The SeaWolves Fall to the Comets, 9-7

In a key MASL showdown with major playoff implications, Orlando defender Joshio “Yoshi” Sandoval saw an early red card and the SeaWolves fell at home. They put up one hell of a fight, especially after trailing 6-2 early on, with one fewer player on the bench, but ultimately the Kansas City Comets took the win in Orlando. The SeaWolves’ tenacity has to be praised though, as the club continued to push forward and fight, even coming within striking distance of the Comets with a final scoreline of 9-7. The SeaWolves see action next on Friday, March 22, against the Baltimore Blast in Maryland.

Berhalter: MLS Has Grown Over the Last Five Years

USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter was at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday to take in the Lions vs. the Impact. While Dwyer’s finishing won’t have Berhalter wishing he’d have selected Dom for the two upcoming friendlies — including one next week at OCS — the new national team coach is pleased with the progression of MLS players in general, saying the league has grown significantly in recent years. He also did mention to ProSoccerUSA.com’s Jordan Culver that he’s keeping an eye on some of the current Lions.

“So, for players like Dom Dwyer, like Chris Mueller, like Danilo Acosta, these are guys that are all on our radar. We’ve evaluated them all. We’re watching all the games, so at any given moment, they have the opportunity to be part of the team.”

Alexandre Pato Headed to MLS?

Did someone say Pato? (If I could, I’d insert the eyes emoji right here.) While Orlando City could likely benefit more from an additional option at forward, there isn’t much money left for a player of Pato’s stature, and there’s no way he’s coming to Orlando. Nobody believed me when I said the club was going to sign Nani, but at this juncture, I’m not willing to go out on a limb and say the club is going to acquire the rights to this gifted striker.

“My dear Chinese friends, I‘d like to inform you that my adventure in China has come to an end…When I arrived in Tianjin for the first time in 2017 I didn’t know the city at all. It was a surprise and also it was love at first sight for me. These two years in China were full of happy moments with my team-mates and full of new experiences. I am quite sure that China made me grow up as a man. I visited new cities and places, I learned new different culture and habits of this great country. I helped my team with my goals and my football to reach the Asian Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.I would like to thank my club, my team-mates, coaches, all the working people in the club, my fans and supporters who always sent me wishes and love and all the nice Chinese people I met during these two years in China.”

While the 29-year-old technical striker has already been linked to a move back to his native country of Brazil, there are still plenty of rumors afloat that he’ll have a stint in MLS before his career ends. We’ll see what happens, but please don’t go to Miami or Atlanta, Pato. Please.

Free Kicks

  • As always, keep an eye on the other results around the league, because it’s always nice to be familiar with your opponents.
  • David Beckham refused to rule out future moves for all-world talents Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Whew. It could get quite interesting in the Sunshine State in a few years, that’s for damn sure.
  • MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati announced that the team’s inaugural MLS home opener was sold out, having an announced attendance of 32,250.
  • My hometown (sort of, as I was actually born in Salem, MA) team, Tallahassee Soccer Club, has begun selling tickets to its inaugural season. Check them out. They have a lot of talent on the roster in the likes homegrown phenoms like Pete Love and Evan Barksdale (both players I’ve played with extensively, and, trust me when I say the word quality), and their head coach, Joshua Bruno, is one of the best players and coaches I’ve interacted with in my day.

  • In case anyone was holding out hopes of Clint Dempsey hopping into some MASL action…I apologize for pouring some cold water on those hopes…pimp.

  • And to end, they say money talks, right? Sheesh, take a look at this:

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Try your best to enjoy your Sunday. I may sound like a broken record when I say it, but when it comes to the Lions, remain patient and keep the optimism flowing. That’s all we can do, right?

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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.

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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