Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/6/19

Good morning, everybody! I hope all of you wonderful Mane Landers had an excellent Fourth of July. We’ve got two Orlando teams in action this evening, with the Lions traveling to Philadelphia for a rematch with the Union at 7 p.m. ET and the Pride hosting the Washington Spirit at Exploria Stadium a mere 30 minutes later. Let’s open the news with a look at how both of the purple squads are preparing for those matches.
Orlando City Flies to Philly for Revenge
📍 Philly ✈️ #PHIvORL | #FlyMCO pic.twitter.com/gZU4OYn5Y8
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 5, 2019
Since both of the professional Orlando clubs have games tonight, one of them had to travel and the men of City drew the short straw. The Lions’ superstar, Nani, tweeted that moments of success will be back soon, hopefully a sign that the Lions will be out for blood against the Philadelphia Union.
Sacha Kljestan picked up Orlando City’s second red card in the aforementioned game, and may have seriously injured Philadelphia’s Jamiro Monteiro in the process. Jansson apparently didn’t leave the pitch quick enough after his card and picked up a fine from the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee. There was no mention of Kljestan in the DisCo report.
Depleted Pride Squad to Face Equally Depleted Spirit
For the first time during the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League season, the Orlando Pride will face the Washington Spirit. Both clubs are down United States Women’s National Team players — Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger for the Pride and Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh for the Spirit. Unfortunately, Orlando is also missing some key players to injuries and/or leave. Washington has a few players out too, though I don’t suspect it will hurt the team quite as much as the Pride’s absences. We’ll see what lineup Head Coach Marc Skinner rolls with and how things play out for the Orlando Pride soon enough.
USWNT Trying to Escape Critics and Past Failures
It appears that the criticism the USWNT has been dealing with regarding goal celebrations, and pretty much everything else the players say and do, isn’t going to fade away any time soon. Alex Morgan addressed the significant “double standard” facing women in sports and again explained that her infamous tea celebration “wasn’t a hit to England in any way.” The striker equated the tea sipping to something Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner refers to as “that’s the tea,” causing Turner herself to come to Morgan’s defense. Additionally, English tea company Yorkshire Tea got in on the fun.
Dear @USWNT,
Sorry you had to drink pretend tea. If you'd run out of the proper stuff, you only had to ask!
PS No hard feelings – good luck on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/0uVd9HgvfD
— Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) July 4, 2019
Meanwhile, the USWNT still has a sort of important match coming up, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against the Netherlands. Morgan’s fellow controversial forward, Megan Rapinoe, said she’s “feeling really good” and expects “to be healthy for the final” after suffering a minor hamstring knock. Those players who were on the 2011 USWNT squad which lost to Germany in the WWC final are finding motivation from “the most devastating loss” most of them have experienced. When it comes to the final game itself, here’s a great breakdown of each team’s strengths and weaknesses.
FIFA President Discusses Future of Women’s Soccer
Current FIFA President Gianni Infantino hosted the closing press conference of this WWC on Friday. Infantino took the opportunity to praise the tournament, stating it “has been phenomenal, has been incredible, has been emotional, has been passionate, has been fantastic, has been great, has been the best women’s World Cup ever.” That definitely wasn’t the most important piece of information to come from the conference, however. The following five proposals were suggested as features to improve “the future development of women’s football.”
The creation of a FIFA Club World Cup for women: starting as soon as possible.
The creation of a Women’s World League: a proposal put forward already in 2017, to be played in tournaments all over the world.
Expanding the FIFA Women’s World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, potentially already as of the 2023 edition.
To double the prize money for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
To double the investment committed to women’s football over the next four-year cycle, from USD 500m to USD 1 billion.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City B goalkeeper Juliano Chade was the USL League One Fans’ Choice Save of the Week winner for Week 14.
- ProSoccerUSA has the Week 18 MLS preview here.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a unique way of opening his water bottles.
- Brandi Chastain reflected on the 99ers WWC victory in this lovely feature.
- England midfielder Karen Carney plans to retire from international soccer at the conclusion of the WWC.
- Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl isn’t “content with being among the four best.”
- The United States Men’s National Team also has a final on Sunday (don’t get me started on that awful scheduling), although its opponents might not be “giants anymore.”
- Forest Green Rovers, an English League Two side, will make the first kit in the world from bamboo.
- Paul Pogba’s Manchester United exit is getting closer, according to his agent.
- Orlando City partner club VfL Wolfsburg extended the contract of Dutch forward Wout Weghorst until 2023.
- Finally, a huge congratulations to Frank Lampard from this very happy Chelsea FC fan! Lampard and his squad are now in Dublin to begin preseason training.
Enjoy your Saturday! Make sure to support your local watch party for the Lions or get out to the stadium to support the Pride. Go City and go Pride!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/9/25
Orlando City’s next U.S. Open Cup match date revealed, MLS matches to watch, top soccer club valuations, and more.

Welcome to Friday! I hope the week has treated you well as we get ready for a Mother’s Day weekend packed with soccer. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are both in action at the same time on Saturday, so make sure to plan accordingly depending on how you want to enjoy the action. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Orlando City Will Face Nashville in USOC on May 21
Orlando City will officially host Nashville SC on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16. That match is sandwiched between a road game against Inter Miami on May 18 and a home game against the Portland Timbers May 24, so at least there won’t be much travel during that week during an already jam-packed month. The Lions reached this stage of the tournament after beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 Wednesday, while Nashville won 1-0 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Tuesday.
What to Watch In MLS This Weekend
We’ll all be tuned in for Orlando City’s match on Saturday against the New England Revolution, but there’s plenty more MLS action to look forward to as well. Before Orlando’s match, Inter Miami will head to St. Paul to take on a Minnesota United team that leads the league with six clean sheets this season. Another notable match this weekend is a clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings when the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew. That game has Daniel Gazdag written all over it. Sunday night’s match should be a doozy between two heavyweight Western Conference teams, as LAFC will hit the road to take on the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.
MLS Clubs Listed Among World’s Most Valuable
Sportico announced the valuations for the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, and a whopping 19 MLS teams made the list. The Lions aren’t included, but it’s still neat to see some clubs like Minnesota, Sporting Kansas City, and Charlotte FC listed. LAFC is the highest listed MLS side, coming in at 16th with a $1.28 billion valuation. Real Madrid tops the list at $6.53 billion, and six of the top 10 are from the English Premier League. While valuations aren’t exactly hard evidence of success or influence, I think this is a testament to the growth and parity of MLS through an international lens.
English Clubs Reach Europa League Final
This year’s Europa League final will feature a pair of EPL teams as Manchester United and Tottenham breezed through the semifinals. United overcame a shaky first half to beat Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford, with Mason Mount scoring two of the team’s four goals in the second half. Tottenham avoided an upset in Norway by winning 2-0 against Bodo/Glimt. The final will take place on May 21 in Spain, and there’s both a trophy and Champions League qualification on the line. Both United and Tottenham struggled this season and are respectively 15th and 16th in the league standings, but winning the Europa League is all that matters now.
Free Kicks
- American midfielder Johnny Cardoso played every minute of Real Betis’ 2-2 result against Fiorentina to advance to the Europa Conference League final, where the Spanish club will face Chelsea on May 28. Enjoy this goal from Antony to help his side prevail.
- In honor of Mother’s Day, AC Milan players will wear their mothers’ last names on the back of their jerseys in today’s match against Bologna. I love this idea and hope more clubs follow suit moving forward.
- An ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville acquired Salford City of England’s League Two.
- Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra’s MMA debut will have to wait, as the 43-year-old’s fight set for May 23 in Paris was postponed.
- We’ll end our links with what looks to be some unexpected Orlando Pride representation in Vatican City!
That’s all I have for you this time around. Have a fantastic Friday and enjoy the holiday weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/8/25
Orlando City steamrolls the Tampa Bay Rowdies in I-4 Derby, Orlando Pride aim to bounce back, U.S. Open Cup results, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s not often we get to celebrate an Orlando City victory in the middle of the week these days, but hopefully it’s a habit we get used to. The Lions took care of business in my neck of the woods, and it’s given some nice optimism to finish this week strongly. Let’s dive into the big win and more in today’s links!
Orlando City Trounces Tampa Bay Rowdies
Take a bow, Gustavo Caraballo! The 16-year-old was the star of the show in Orlando City’s dominant 5-0 U.S. Open Cup win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, scoring twice to jumpstart Orlando’s attack and making history along the way. There’s plenty of scoring to enjoy, so be sure to check out our full recap!
Hopefully this game was a nice shot in the arm for Orlando’s offense and something to build on in league play. It’s always nice to take down the Rowdies and the Lions are now the last Floridian team standing in the tournament. They’ll host Nashville SC in the round of 16 later this month in what should be a good game in the City Beautiful.
Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back in North Carolina
After a 1-0 loss on the road to the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride will look to return to their winning ways when they face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough environment for the Pride to play in, although the Courage have lost two of their three home games so far this season. Pride defender Emily Sams spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match and how the team can raise its level after a disappointing loss in Portland.
U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Wraps Up
MLS teams mostly cruised in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32, but it was still an exciting round of soccer filled with drama. In a vintage “cupset,” the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat New York City FC 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Orlando native Beto Ydrach. Indy Eleven nearly took down the Philadelphia Union, but the MLS side converted all five kicks in the penalty shootout to advance after a 1-1 draw.
The New England Revolution escaped Pawtucket with a 2-1 road win against Rhode Island FC, with 17-year-old Cristiano Oliveira scoring a late winner. Minnesota United squeezed past Louisville City 1-0, the Chicago Fire put Detroit City to the sword in a 4-0 win, and FC Dallas won 3-1 against USL League One side AV Alta FC.
UEFA Champions League Final Set
Paris Saint-Germain did everything it needed to and more at home against Arsenal, winning 2-1 to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. Great saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi propelled PSG to victory, with Bukayo Saka providing Arsenal’s only goal of the two-leg series. PSG will take on Inter Milan in the final on May 31 and it should be an interesting matchup at Allianz Arena to close out the tournament. Will PSG lift its first Champions League trophy only a year after Kylian Mbappe left the club, or will Inter come out on top after finishing as runner-up in 2023? I can’t wait to find out.
Free Kicks
- Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team star Mallory Swanson and her husband Dansby Swanson, as the couple announced that they’re expecting their first child!
- Racing Louisville announced that goalkeeper Katie Lund and midfielder Maddie Pokorny will both miss the remainder of the season due to hip injuries. Jordyn Bloomer, who had five saves in Friday’s win over the Houston Dash, will serve as the team’s goalkeeper in Lund’s stead.
- The Columbus Crew signed Daniel Gazdag to a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028 as well.
- Arsene Wenger proposed a change to the offside rule so that attacking players are onside so long as any part of their body is lined up with the last defender. We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it could lead to more goals in the future.
- Here’s what to watch for in the second legs of the Europa League semifinals. Manchester United will host Athletic Club with a three-goal lead in aggregate, while Tottenham will aim to defend its two-goal advantage in Norway against a Bodo/Glimt side that has key players returning from suspension.
- Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links 5/7/25
Orlando City takes on the Rowdies, sponsors like MLS, the NWSL is growing, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day as the Lions begin their 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign. I’ve repeatedly said on The Mane Land PawedCast that I want Oscar Pareja to focus on this competition more than another one (*cough* Leagues Cup *cough*). That all starts tonight, and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get to the links.
I-4 Derby Tonight
Orlando City enters the 2025 U.S. Open Cup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions make the perilous 112-mile trip along I-4 — which feels approximately like flying to Seattle — to take on an old geographical rival. We’re likely to see a rotated lineup for this match, but Pareja said he has confidence in the younger players to get the job done. If you’re not making the trip to Tampa here is how you can watch the match. We will have our normal match coverage for you tonight.
Nobody Likes Nil-Nil
You know something is going on when Orlando City attracts the attention of the national media. Unfortunately, that thing is the overabundance of 0-0 draws in four out of the last five matches. The theory is that the Lions aren’t getting enough service out of the midfield for the players up top. It may be as simple as players getting healthy for Orlando City to reignite the offense. For the sake of a certain The Mane Land editor’s sanity, I hope that is the case.
MLS News and Notes
Soccer’s popularity is growing in the United States. Are decades of being America’s next big sport finally paying off? It seems to actually be the case, at least when it comes to the sponsors. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, brands are investing in MLS and soccer in America. EA Sports is in on the action, partnering with MLS and Apple TV to show four live matches within the EA FC mobile gaming app this season
NWSL Keeps Growing
Big things are also happening in the NWSL. The growth has prompted the league to move its headquarters from one New York office to a bigger New York office. Part of that growth comes from owners like the Washington Spirit’s Michelle Kang. The billionaire is investing in the NWSL, U.S. Soccer, and other leagues and countries throughout the world. On a slightly different scale, Mikaela Shiffrin — the most decorated alpine skier of all time — has invested in the Denver NWSL expansion side.
Free Kicks
- Club America and LAFC will play a match to see which club qualifies for the Club World Cup after the Club Leon/Pachuca/Alajuelense appeals were denied.
- Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 (7-6 on aggregate) to cap a wild two-legged tie to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. They will face either PSG or Arsenal.
- While not a done deal, it’s looking like Christian Pulisic will sign a new contract with AC Milan. Pulisic managed to have a good season, even though the club fell short of expectations.
- Pulisic isn’t the only USMNT player in demand. Weston McKennie may also put pen to paper to stay with Juventus for a while longer.
That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match as well as the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
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