Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/21/19

Let’s all take a collective breath, shall we? It’s our first day without a Women’s World Cup game since the tournament started and a great chance for us all to relax before a busy Saturday. Tomorrow, the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B, and the United States Men’s National Team will all be in action and the World Cup knockout stage will begin. But for now, let’s kick back and all enjoy some Lion Links to start our Friday off right.
Nani Named to All-Star Game
Orlando City midfielder and Portugal international Nani was selected to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game that will be held at Exploria Stadium on July 31. Part of the Fan XI, Nani garnered plenty of votes from around the league after a strong 2019 campaign so far. The 32-year-old leads Orlando City with eight goals and four assists this season and is a dark horse candidate for both MLS MVP and Newcomer of the Year. Nani becomes the fifth Lion to be named an All-Star and we will have to wait to see if another Lion joins him this year.
USWNT Wins Over Sweden, Faces Spain
Getting some revenge for the team’s loss in the 2016 Olympics, the United States Women’s National Team beat Sweden 2-0 in its final FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage match. Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan wore the captain’s armband before taking it off when she was subbed out after the first half, while Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris spent the match on the bench. Midfielder Lindsey Horan opened the scoring early in the third minute and an own goal after a Tobin Heath strike in the second half doomed Sweden as the U.S. cruised.
With the win, the U.S. won its group and will play Spain on June 24. It’s a little weird that the team with 18 goals scored and none conceded doesn’t earn a match with one of the third-place finishers, but that’s just the way this cookie was going to crumble.
World Cup Bracket Set in Stone
Pride defender Shelina Zadorsky played a full 90 minutes in Canada’s 2-1 loss at the hands of the Netherlands yesterday. The result placed Canada second in the group with a knockout match against Sweden looming on June 24.
As for the other Pride players, Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond will face off with Norway tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET. After a third-place finish in Group C, Marta and Camila will play on June 23 when Brazil takes on France in a heavyweight match where the winner may face the U.S. in the quarterfinals. Make sure to check out the knockout schedule and how the rest of the bracket shakes out.
USMNT Facing an Interesting Test
Although United States Men’s National Team midfielder Michael Bradley doesn’t think there’s much weight in a rematch with Trinidad and Tobago, it’s hard to imagine revenge isn’t on the mind of both players and fans when the Yanks face the Soca Warriors tomorrow night in the Gold Cup. A win for the USMNT would both clinch a berth into the quarterfinals and eliminate Trinidad and Tobago.
While the team is vastly different than the team that lost the qualifier back in 2017, that is part of why this match has the attention of many fans as it will be a good chance to see how this young team compares. The tension isn’t one-sided however, as former Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino warns that the USMNT may be headed towards more disappointment.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride are still hunting for their first win of the season and will get their chance tomorrow at 7 p.m. when they take on Sky Blue FC on the road. It’s been a difficult season so far, but the Pride are ready.
Gearing up for Saturday. Gearing up for Sky Blue. #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/10VYxvhzD2
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) June 19, 2019
- Despite not playing in the USWNT’s match against Chile and not scoring against Sweden, Morgan remains the favorite to win the Golden Boot. However, Australia’s Sam Kerr is right there with her with five goals so far.
- Speaking of Morgan, while it didn’t necessarily look like an injury, the American star was quickly subbed out after a hard foul. She isn’t expected to miss any time and the substitution was more of USWNT Head Coach Jill Ellis looking ahead.
- Pride goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer featured on a podcast about playing in the NWSL. She and some teammates also stopped by the Orange County Animal Shelter to bring awareness of the benefits towards adopting your next pet.
Today, some teammates and I and made our way down to @OCAS_Orlando to bring awareness to this amazing organization- please consider adopting your next pet! #brbadoptingthemall #adoptdontshop @ Orange County Animal… https://t.co/72eGwf1Fab
— Haley Kopmeyer (@hkopmeyer) June 20, 2019
- The movement to have 2026 World Cup games played here in the Orlando area now has solid look.
The #GO26 World Cup Pursuit Partners – @citybeautiful @OrangeCoFL @orlandocitysc & @GreaterORLSport – are excited to share the official Greater #Orlando 2026 Host City Candidate Logo!
Full release on our website: https://t.co/AeUZqJhvEp@ussoccer #FIFAWorldCup #ORLAND2026 pic.twitter.com/F6r1T1PxF5
— @ORLANDO2026 (@ORLAND2026) June 20, 2019
- The Philadelphia Union look all set to add forward Andrew Wooten to the team. Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders lose a forward as Will Bruin tore his ACL in training.
- Maurizio Sarri has wasted no time at all to badmouth Chelsea as he takes over for Juventus.
- We end our links with this game-winning goal from Cameroon that you may have missed. It may have been a solo effort in the dying moments of the game, but it was a team effort throughout the group stage as Cameroon advances to the knockout stage and will face England.
A MIRACLE FOR CAMEROON! 🇨🇲🇨🇲🇨🇲
Ajara Nchout scores with the LAST KICK of the game and sends Cameroon to the knockout stage! #FIFAWWC https://t.co/MCNcR6Hf6I
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2019
That’s going to be it from me, folks. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and stay hydrated out there.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/25/25
Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!
Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match
The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.
Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira
Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.
“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”
Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt
Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy this intriguing article that shines a light on how MLS team administrators manage the chaos of the transfer window. I would devour a television series following these kinds of crises throughout the season.
- St. Petersburg is exploring demolishing Al Lang Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, to make room for an amphitheater. The proposed demolition would take place after 2028, so we’ll see if this comes to pass.
- Jamie Vardy is leaving Leicester City, ending a 13-year tenure there that will be remembered for winning the English Premier League title in 2016.
- Here’s everything you need to know before the second legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday. Chelsea will take on Barcelona before Lyon and Arsenal square off, with both English clubs trailing after the first legs.
- Real Sociedad announced that Head Coach Imanol Alguacil will step down following this season. Alguacil was hired in December of 2018 and led the team to victory in the 2020 Copa del Rey.
- Manchester United will take part in the inaugural women’s seven-a-side tournament next month, joining Bayern Munich, Ajax, Benfica, and four other teams yet to be determined.
- NBA Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd has joined Everton’s ownership group. I too would be looking for anything to take my mind off of the Dallas Mavericks’ season.
- Former Pride players Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley announced a weekly podcast, with the first episode set for Monday.
That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/24/25
Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC
The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.
Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings
Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.
MLS Deadline Day Transfer News
The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.
The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.
In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.
Free Kicks
- German legend Thomas Muller, who is set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, reportedly rejected an offer from FC Cincinnati and Fiorentina.
- Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed strike against Atlanta. Seeing Atlanta get scored on really makes the goal that much sweeter to watch.
- Marcus Rashford is reportedly aiming to join a Champions League team after this season. The 27-year-old is on loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United and should be an interesting name to keep an eye on this summer.
- Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace kept a few champagne bottles corked, as Liverpool would have won the league title if Arsenal lost. Liverpool now just needs a point when it faces Tottenham at home on Sunday.
- Real Madrid beat Getafe 1-0, but it came at the cost of injuries to both David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga. The Spanish club may now have a crisis at left back ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/23/25
The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.
Bad Pride, Good Pride
It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.
The (OCSC) Academy Awards
Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.
Pochettino Prepares
The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.
MLS Transfer News
The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City dropped a spot to No. 12 in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings. Three 0-0 draws in a row will do that.
- Michael Buxbaum is suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for $100 million because the USWNT didn’t try to win the SheBelieves Cup. I wasn’t happy with the result either, but this is the definition of frivolous.
- Nani and Ali Krieger are both participating in The Soccer Tournament on seven-on-seven soccer teams. The matchups for the $1 million tournament have been set.
- Speaking of Krieger, she is settling in at her new gig at ESPN as an analyst for NWSL matches and co-host of “FutbolW.”
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.
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