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Lion Links: 8/1/19

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Welcome to the first day of August! After all of the buildup, it’s hard to believe that the Major League Soccer All-Star Game here in Orlando has finally come and gone. I’ve got more on that below, along with the rest of the top stories, so let’s dive right in.

MLS All-Stars Face Off Against Atletico Madrid at Exploria Stadium

I know that tweet is old information at this point, but I adore the use of the Lake Eola fountain and swans. In a historic match attended by a who’s who of big wigs (including the governor of Florida himself, Ron DeSantis), the MLS All-Star squad lost to La Liga super club Atletico Madrid 3-0. The lone Lion on the roster, Nani, got the start in a 4-1-4-1 formation. All-Star and Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor admitted that he didn’t “think there’s time to get too in-depth in regards to tactics.” Atletico midfielder Vitolo was so impressed by the club and city that he endorsed Orlando as a host city for the 2026 World Cup, stating “you can tell it’s a beautiful city and it should be a great event if it’s hosted here.”

Last night’s All-Star Game at Exploria Stadium was the culmination of events that brought Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao full circle.

Lions to Get New Academy Facility

Before last night’s game, Audi and MLS announced a new program to help add resources to MLS teams’ academies, and the first one will land in Orlando. The Audi Goals Drive Progress funding will help build Audi Performance Centers, located at select MLS academies, like Orlando City’s. These centers will be equipped with a vast range of technology, tutorial and educational resources to help enrich off-field academic development. It will give players a place to work on schoolwork, do video study, and get extra off-field instruction from coaches. While the OCSC academy won’t have a full residency program to start with, Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said Wednesday that is the long-term goal.

Nani Demonstrates Passion for Helping Others

As Orlando City fans, we’ve seen the class and skill that the team’s first-year captain, Portuguese superstar Nani, has brought both on and off the pitch this season. Life hasn’t always been one of luxury for the man with 13 siblings from a poverty-stricken city, however. Nani discussed his upbringing with ProSoccerUSA.com.

“I grew up with a lot of brothers, a lot of sisters all together, and we had to fight to survive and to get a better life. At the end, we’ve been very lucky with football to give us a different opportunity and a lot of beautiful things in our life. We are all together in my family. I’ve been in that situation before where playing football was the only thing you could do. All we had was that [five-versus-five] pitch to play football.”

Whether it’s returning to Amadora, Portugal to ensure his hometown pitch is preserved or greeting a bus of kids during Orlando City training, Nani is eager to help those around him however he can. He even saw his last-second MLS Skills Challenge winning kick as an opportunity to give back.

City of Orlando Gets a Year Older on All-Star Day

In addition to history being made at Exploria Stadium last night, the city of Orlando celebrated its 144th birthday with tributes to Orlando City SC and the All-Star Game. The club took the opportunity to wish The City Beautiful a happy birthday, a sentiment we here at The Mane Land would like to express as well.

Mayor Buddy Dyer, while rocking an Orlando City jersey emblazoned with “Orlando 144” across the back, stated that he’s “proud to be a resident…of this inclusive, vibrant community,” another sentiment I can certainly get behind. The Orlando Pride also joined in on the love fest for the city the team calls home.

Pride’s Morgan Makes FIFA Short List for Annual Player Award

The nominees for the yearly FIFA top players and coaches across world soccer were revealed by the governing body yesterday. Orlando Pride star striker Alex Morgan is up for Best Women’s Player, alongside three of her United States Women’s National Team teammates — Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle, and Megan Rapinoe. Rounding out the women’s player list are England’s Lucy Bronze and Ellen White, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Ada Hegerberg, France’s Amandine Henry and Wendie Renard, Australia’s Sam Kerr, and the Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema. Make sure to go here to cast your vote for Morgan.

On the men’s side, the list is somewhat familiar, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and my personal favorite, Eden Hazard, receiving nominations. Many of the names up for Best Men’s Coach won’t come as a surprise either. Jill Ellis, who confirmed that she would be stepping down as coach of the USWNT on Tuesday, is of course nominated for Best Women’s Coach. Here’s where you can cast your vote to show Ellis some love.

In other news, the FIFA Council has officially approved the proposal to expand the Women’s World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, effective as of the 2023 tournament.

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  • Good vibes only time. Not only is Charlotte fantastic for doing what she did, Orlando City responded in an amazing way.


That’s a wrap on a busy day in the soccer universe. Go City!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road

On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.

Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home

The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.

NWSL Weekend Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.

FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap

The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
  • Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.

  • That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/25

Orlando Pride prepare for the San Diego Wave, NWSL weekend matches, USMNT roster predictions, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We made it to Friday! Celebrate however you see fit, whether that’s an indulgent breakfast or just your favorite cup of coffee. This week has flown by a bit for me and I’m looking forward to a weekend filled with soccer. I’ll be spending the next few days working, reading a new book or two, and working out the kinks of making a frozen coconut mojito. My blender hates me. Let’s get to today’s links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the San Diego Wave

The Orlando Pride will look to extend their 2025 win streak to three games — and their overall win streak to seven — on Saturday when they host the San Diego Wave at noon. Orlando has looked the part of a defending champion so far, leading the league with eight goals without conceding a single one in two games. The Pride will take on a revamped San Diego team that is unbeaten under Head Coach Jonas Eidevall. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how Orlando will need to set the tone early on at home against the Wave and keep up the momentum.

NWSL Provides Entertaining Slate of Weekend Matches

While it’s far too early to think about the NWSL Shield race, it never hurts to check out how the Pride’s competitors are doing while enjoying some great soccer. Tonight features a pair of matches at the same time, with the Washington Spirit hosting Bay FC and the Houston Dash playing on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC. Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga will have a chance to tie her own record of scoring in eight straight games when her team plays the Utah Royals on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll get to see if the Seattle Reign’s solid start continues against an unbeaten Angel City FC team searching for its first win of the season.

USMNT Roster Predictions for Concacaf Gold Cup

The pressure is on United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino to turn things around after a rough showing in the final four of the Concacaf Nations League. This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup will be an opportunity for the USMNT to impress in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, and Pro Soccer Wire dove into how the roster could look for the tournament. Injuries to Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun complicate things up top, but we could see Brenden Aaronson or Alex Zendejas could return to the attack. The Gold Cup will likely also determine which goalkeeper between Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, and Patrick Schulte emerges as the true starter. Players like Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Johnny Cardoso are other notable names to keep an eye out for leading into the tournament.

FA Cup Quarterfinals Kick Off This Weekend

Only eight teams remain in the FA Cup and the action returns with enticing quarterfinal matchups. Preston North End is the only team outside of the English Premier League still fighting, but Manchester City is the only traditional giant left in the field as well. City will face off against a Bournemouth side that beat it 2-1 back in November, while Preston will have to get past Aston Villa, which has only won two of its last eight games. Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood’s injury adds an obstacle to overcome when the team travels to play Brighton and Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace gets star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta back from injury for its clash with Fulham.

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That’s all I have for you for today’s links. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/25

Marco Pasalic wins Goal of the Matchday, Orlando Pride members join U.S. U-23 camp, Orlando City B beats Crown Legacy FC, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We’re another day closer to what should be an awesome Saturday, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride in action. All three of Orlando’s soccer teams have been doing well lately, which is not something we can say too often. Hopefully that trend continues this weekend and beyond. Let’s get to today’s links!

Marco Pasalic Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

An Orlando City player has won MLS Goal of the Matchday for the first time this season, with Marco Pasalic claiming the award for his strike against D.C. United. The goal was a real team effort from the Lions, as all three Designated Players linked up to get the ball up the field in a hurry for a counter. Pasalic did well to create space and then curl the ball into the back of the net from distance. His goal garnered 64.7% of the vote, beating out goals from Daniel Rios, David Martinez, and Deandre Kerr. In his first year as a Lion, the Croatian winger has already recorded four goals and an assist so far.

Pride’s Zara Chavoshi and Yolanda Thomas Join U.S. U-23 Camp

Orlando Pride defender Zara Chavoshi was called up for the first U-23 United States Women’s National Team training camp of the year, which will run alongside the senior team’s camp in California. The 22-year-old, who was signed by the Pride directly out of college after four years at Wake Forest, will develop her game at the camp alongside other promising young defenders like Savy King, Gisele Thompson, and Eva Gaetino. Orlando Pride Assistant Coach Yolanda Thomas will also be in attendance as an assistant coach at the camp, and it’s great to see her get this opportunity.

Orlando City B Defeats Crown Legacy FC on the Road

Orlando City B won its first road match of the 2025 season, beating Crown Legacy FC 1-0 to extend its unbeaten run to three games (2-0-1). The Young Lions didn’t make things easy on themselves by not converting some solid opportunities to extend their lead, but they ultimately held on to secure all three points. Orlando is now tied at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with New York City FC II with eight points from three matches. OCB’s next match will be a road game against Chattanooga FC on April 5.

Say Hello to Boston Legacy FC

Boston’s NWSL team has rebranded itself as Boston Legacy FC, which is leagues better than BOS Nation FC. The team initially went with that anagram of Bostonian as its name back in October as part of a brand launch that also included a widely criticized marketing campaign involving the slogan “Too Many Balls.” While I’m not crazy about the name, the team deserves credit for not defaulting to something too generic after whiffing on its first swing. The Boston Legacy will take the field for the first time next year as the NWSL’s 16th team.

Free kicks

  • Pride midfielder Angelina was called up by Brazil for its friendlies against the United States in California on April 5 and April 8.

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

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