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Lion Links: 6/23/19

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. It’s been an exciting weekend in the world of soccer. The Women’s World Cup, Copa America, Gold Cup, Major League Soccer, Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B have kept my thirst for footy to a minimum. That said, it also means that we have a lot of content for you to dig into today, so let’s get to it.

The Pride Visit New Jersey, Win 2-1

An Orlando Pride team lacking star power and a win on the season traveled to Yurcak Field yesterday to take on Sky Blue FC. The trip to New Jersey proved to be fruitful one, as the Pride took home all three points thanks to a spot kick from Chi Ubogagu and a late own goal from Sky Blue’s Gina Lewandowski, forced by Pride rookie Marisa Viggiano. This marks the team’s first win of the season, and hopefully, a turning point in which the Pride start to win more matches. The win ends a 15-match winless streak.

OCB Travels North, Loses 2-0

Orlando City B made a trip to Michigan to face off against Lansing Ignite FC, bringing home with them a disappointing 2-0 loss in the team’s first-ever clash with the club. The Michigan-based club dominated from the very beginning of this one, and the Young Lions failed to create a chance in the closing 22 minutes. That’s also three losses in a row for the Young Lions. They see action next when they host Greenville Triumph SC on Friday.

The U.S. Men’s National Team Impresses vs. Trinidad & Tobago

In a match that many dubbed as a revenge match, the USMNT faced off against Trinidad and Tobago in a crucial second group stage match in the Gold Cup. Christian Pulisic earned a beautiful assist with a cross to Aaron Long, who put it past the keeper on the back post with a diving header to open the scoring. After leading just 1-0 at the break, the Yanks crushed T&T 6-0 with five second-half goals. The victory clinches a berth in the Gold Cup knockout stages for the U.S. and eliminates T&T.

Another Women’s World Cup Update

Yesterday’s matches included Germany’s 3-0 win over Nigeria, with goals coming from Alexandra Popp, Sara Dabritz, and Lea Schuller. Nigeria is now staging a sit-in due to unpaid wages.

In the latter of the two matches, Norway staged a thrilling spot kick win over Australia. The match ended in heartbreak for the Matildas, who were led by arguably one of the best players on the planet in Sam Kerr. Unfortunately for Kerr, she missed a crucial spot kick and her country was subsequently knocked out of the tournament. Alanna Kennedy of the Pride, another one of the Matildas’ leaders, was sent off in extra time. Penalty kicks are an inevitable part of the tournament at this stage, but what’s a shootout all about? ESPN’s Sachin Dave Chandan took a deep dive to answer that exact question.

Today’s matches include England vs. Cameroon at 11 a.m. ET, and France vs. Brazil at 3 p.m. Can Pride stars Marta and Camila pull off the upset and knock out the hosts?

Free Kicks

  • Speaking of Brazil and Pride star Marta, congratulations to her for nailing this Vogue Brasil cover. Whew.

  • Birgit Prinz is Germany’s secret weapon.
  • Major props are in order to fledgling club New Mexico United for its efforts in getting supporters to their away U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match in Minnesota!

  • Sam Kerr has reportedly been offered a two-year, $1 million contract to play with Chelsea FC in the FA women’s Super League.
  • Tallahassee SC won yet again, taking home three points after beating the Gulf Coast Rangers, 2-0.

  • Central Florida SC held a lead for much of this match, but ultimately drew with the Jacksonville Armada U-23s, 3-3.

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After a very dominating majority of the game by the Panthers, the curse of the set piece plagues us again as two corner kick goals in injury time enabled @jaxarmadafc to tie it right at end. The guys are disappointed but this is football. We are very proud of the effort they put on and continue to learn from each lesson. Let’s go Panthers! Next week we go to Miami to play Miami United! #Soccer #npsl #orlando #centralflorida #buildingchampions #futbol #inauguralseason #ussoccer #usa #sunshineconference #kissimmee #winterpark #wintergarden #sanford #lakemary #apopka #cfsl #goalie #striker #midfielder #defender #orlandocity #cityfutbol #citybeautiful #sponsorus #lookingforsponsors #cfpanthers #supportlocal

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  • Odell Beckham Jr. wants to see more passion at NFL games, citing the scenes he witnessed at soccer matches.

  • Matthijs De Ligt may have decided his next home, with rumors that he’s agreed to a move to Juventus, joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo, who had made efforts to recruit the Dutch star following Portugal’s win in the UEFA Nation’s League final. Nothing is official just yet, so keep an eye on this club-changing defender.
  • And as always, keep track of results from around the league!

All right folks, that’s about it. Enjoy all of this soccer that we have at our fingertips at the moment, have a great Sunday, and an excellent week!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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