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Lion Links: 4/23/19

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7 years ago

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It was a better weekend for Orlando soccer this week, with Orlando City SC beating the Vancouver Whitecaps for a second home win in a row, and the Orlando Pride picking up their first point of the young season with a 1-1 draw on the road against Reign FC. Unfortunately, Orlando City B suffered a tough loss to Forward Madison FC, preventing Orlando teams from going undefeated. It’s best not to dwell too much on the negative aspects of the weekend, though. and there’s plenty to talk about, so let’s get into the links.

Skinner Proud After Tough Week

It wasn’t an easy week for the Orlando Pride. After a midweek shellacking at the hands of the North Carolina Courage, the team flew across the country to face Reign FC all the way in Tacoma, WA. But the team earned a hard-fought draw against one of the best teams in the league, and after the game Head Coach Marc Skinner spoke about how the performance made him proud. After acknowledging just how grueling the cross country travel on a short week was, he went on to say:

“My overriding emotion is pride. It sounds cliche, but pride for what they’ve actually done in this week. Because that was tough. That was one of the toughest weeks you’ll find.”

He also believes that the team is growing and getting better at what they’re being asked to do out on the field and hopes that the point will be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Pride Players Honored

Ashlyn Harris has been nominated for the NWSL Save of the Week for a diving stop she made in Sunday’s draw with Reign FC. The save, which came in the 57th minute, helped preserve the 1-1 draw that would eventually see the Pride pick up their first point of the young season. Alanna Kennedy has also been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week for her sixth-minute overhead kick, which opened the scoring in the draw up in Tacoma. It’s certainly a worthy nomination that also found its way into the SportsCenter Top 10, coming in at No. 7. Congratulations, ladies.

Alves is Most Decorated Player

Dani Alves has become the most decorated player in soccer history. Following Paris Saint-Germain’s first place finish in Ligue 1, the Brazilian fullback secured his 42nd piece of silverware, passing Egypt’s Hossam Hassan who now sits in second place with 41 trophies. Alves has gotten those trophies a lot of different ways in a lot of different leagues, with a career that saw him play in Brazil, Spain, Italy, and France over the course of 18 years. At 35 years of age and still going strong, it’s also completely conceivable that Alves will add a few more trophies to his name before he decides to finally call it quits.

Americans Overseas Summary

It was another busy weekend for Americans plying their trade in foreign lands and luckily for you, our friends over at Stars and Stripes FC have you covered with a comprehensive roundup. In Germany, Andrew Wooten and Julian Green picked up two goals and an assist, respectively, while John Brooks scored a 90th-minute equalizer that helped Wolfsburg salvage a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. In England, Antonee Robinson made the Championship Team of the Week, and Tim Ream played a full game in Fulham’s sixth win of the season. Cameron Carter-Vickers was the most accurate passer on the field for Swansea City’s 4-3 victory over Rotherham United, and Matt Miazga helped anchor the Reading back line in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

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PAOK fans were quite pleased that their team won its first Greek league title in 34 years.

Ex-Lion Rafa Ramos won the second division Dutch title with FC Twente, helping the team win promotion to the Eredvisie next season.

Orlando City B’s Tresor Mbuyu and his teammates have their priorities sorted out when it comes to protecting parts of their bodies during set pieces.

That’s all I have today. It’s a packed weekend of soccer in a few days’ time, with all three Orlando teams playing on Saturday. Orlando City B travels to Texas to take on North Texas SC, while OCSC has a 1 p.m. ET date with NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. The Pride will finish out the day with a home match against the Utah Royals in which the team will seek to pick up its first victory of the season. Y’all stay safe out there.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/26

Orlando City wins big against Charlotte FC, Javier Otero receives praise, Young Lions sign short-term contracts, and more.

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28 minutes ago

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April 23, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We might have to start petitioning for all of Orlando City’s games to be moved to Wednesdays as the Lions have won a midweek game for the second consecutive week. This one was a much more exciting affair to boot, and it does feel a bit like a shot in the arm this morning. Let’s go ahead and get to the win and more in today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Crushes Charlotte FC

The Lions hosted Charlotte FC and claimed all three points in a 4-1 victory, snapping a four-game winless streak in league play. Luis Otavio scored his first goal as a Lion to give Orlando the lead, but Charlotte managed to equalize later in the first half. The second half belonged to Orlando though, as Martin Ojeda took over and Robin Jansson anchored the defense to prevent a comeback. It’s only the third time this year that the Lions have scored multiple goals in a match and hopefully they can keep that attacking momentum going when they travel to play D.C. United on Saturday.

Javier Otero Earns Praise After U.S. Open Cup Win

Orlando City goalkeeper Javier Otero came up with big saves to help the Lions win 1-0 against FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 earlier this month and his performance earned him a spot on the bench of the Team of the Round. He was also nominated for Save of the Round for his diving save to parry away a low strike, and voting will remain open until 8:30 p.m. tonight, so be sure to vote! Tyrese Spicer’s impressive strike wasn’t nominated for Goal of the Round, but you can vote on that award as well.

Young Lions Sign Short-Term Contracts

Orlando City B players Ignacio Gomez and Bernardo Rhein were signed to short-term contracts with the first team and both came off the bench for the Lions Wednesday night. Gomez, who made his MLS debut on Saturday, capitalized on his time on the field by scoring his first goal as a Lion. The pair of Young Lions will be available for Saturday’s game against D.C. United too, as the Lions are dealing with a rash of injuries that have tested their depth. Gomez is with Orlando on loan from Velez Sarsfield II, while Rhein has made 24 appearances with OCB as he continues to develop his game.

USWNT Will Face El Salvador in Concacaf W Championship

The schedule and matchups for this year’s Concacaf W Championship were revealed and the United States Women’s National Team will take on El Salvador in the quarterfinals on Nov. 27. This tournament will also notably serve as qualifying for both the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The four semifinalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the two finalists and third-place nation will secure an Olympic spot, though the U.S. already has as host. Orlando Pride forward Solai Washington and Jamaica will play against Costa Rica with a World Cup berth on the line, with the winner facing the victor between the U.S. and El Salvador in the semifinals.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/22/26

Orlando City hosts Charlotte tonight, the Orlando Pride prep for Louisville trip, NWSL expansion coming to Columbus, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Kaka celebrating a goal.
Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day for Orlando City. That’s as much a warning for your mental health as it is a notification if you decide to watch the match tonight. Perhaps you could catch up on Pluribus, or rewatch Ted Lasso. I’m simply saying you have options that might not raise your blood pressure. On a brighter note, join me in wishing Orlando City legend Kaká a very happy birthday. More on him below. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Host Charlotte Tonight

Orlando City is looking to rebound against Charlotte FC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It’s no secret that the Lions are having a rough time of it so far this season, and with Charlotte sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. That doesn’t stop Martin Perelman and the players from thinking they are getting better and having a plan for the match tonight. What was it Mike Tyson said about everyone having a plan? Can the Lions turn things around on short rest?

Orlando Pride Return to NWSL Play Friday

The Orlando Pride return to action Friday against Racing Louisville FC. The match is at Louisville where the Pride have yet to win. Despite that, the players are ready to pick up where they left off before the international break. The break provided much-needed rest for many of the players. The Pride will play six matches during the month of May before the league takes a break for the World Cup.

Osceola Heritage Park Expansion Funding Moves Forward

Osceola County leaders have agreed to have Orlando City expand the club’s footprint at Osceola Heritage Park. Orlando Sports Enterprises (OSE a.k.a. the Wilf family) will match the $25 million that the county is putting up for the project. OSE will assume repair, maintenance, and operating costs for the facility. A hotel and free-standing restaurant are also in the plans. This is a good investment for the club’s future in the arms race that is professional sports.

NWSL Coming to Columbus

The owners of the Columbus Crew have been awarded an NWSL franchise. The Haslam Sports Group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to obtain the 18th NWSL club. The new club will renovate and play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field downtown. The organization will also build a training center at McCoy Park that had previously been slated to be renovated for local residents, including features that would enable physically disabled people to use the park.

The NWSL called and Columbus answered 📞 Columbus joins the league as team No. 18!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-21T19:44:42.987Z

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That will do it for today. Check back later today for our coverage of the Orlando City match this evening. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/21/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday eight, USWNT stock watch, transfer rumor roundup, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 21, 2026

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Image of Ignacio Gomez making his MLS debut with Orlando City vs. Houston.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a frustrating weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as Orlando City lost a close game to the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando City B blew a two-goal lead against Carolina Core FC, and had to settle for the two points that come with a shootout victory after a draw. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), OCSC will have a chance to get right back on the horse when Charlotte FC comes to town on Wednesday. We’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

MLS Matchday Eight Takeaways

Major League Soccer’s eighth round of matches is in the books, and there are plenty of talking points to go over. The San Jose Earthquakes ended the weekend on an emphatic note by dismantling LAFC 4-1 on the road, adding to an impressive list of scalps that also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego FC. They’re tied with Vancouver atop the Western Conference and continue to look like one of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC, Orlando City’s next opponent, kept things organized in a 4-4-2 block and scored from two of its three shots on goal to take down NYCFC 2-1. That result puts the club in third place in the Eastern Conference.

USWNT Stock Watch

The United States Women’s National Team wrapped up its three game slate against Japan over the weekend, so let’s check in on how the matches affected the standing of several players. Lindsey Heaps was name-dropped by Emma Hayes as having had a great run of three matches, while 20-year-old Claire Hutton wore the captain’s armband during the series and looked far more poised and ready than one would expect given her age. At the opposite end of the spectrum, winger Emma Sears struggled to make an impact in the final third, and while her speed makes her a tempting option to have in the squad, the depth at her position means she’s always going to face a battle for a place.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be here before we know it, and that means the rumors are already flying thick and fast. We begin with Arsenal, which is said to be interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, but will likely face competition from Barcelona. Speaking of Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has reportedly held talks with Robert Lewandowski about extending his stay with the team, while the Chicago Fire also interested and reportedly having submitted a bid to the striker’s representatives. Liverpool is said to be ready to spend in excess of  €100 million to sign Red Bull Leipzig forward Yan Diomande as a replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Finally, center backs Hiroki Ito and Min-Jae-Kim could both reportedly leave Bayern Munich this summer if interested teams are willing to meet the German club’s valuations of them.

Jonathan Klinsmann Suffers Broken Neck

American goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann suffered a broken neck while playing for Serie B side Cesena on Saturday. The son of former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the shot stopper was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Palermo player and was diagnosed with a fractured first cervical vertebra after being taken to the hospital. Klinsmann confirmed on social media that his season is over, which will leave him unavailable for Cesena’s promotion push. The team is currently eighth in the second division, which is the final playoff promotion spot.

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

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