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Lion Links: 9/7/19

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7 years ago

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Welcome to the weekend, Mane Landers. Both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride have games later tonight, but there won’t be much overlap between the games so you’ll be able to catch both. The Lions start us off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Exploria Stadium and you can head to your favorite bar to catch the Pride play against Reign FC at 10 p.m. But before we get to the night’s festivities, kick back and enjoy the links.

Lions Host LAFC in Crucial Match

In the final stretch of the 2019 season, Orlando City is still in the playoff hunt but the games are becoming more and more “must win.” The Lions will play at home tonight but that may not be good news considering OCSC has the second-most home losses (seven) in the league. With many players away from the team, it will be a good opportunity for some of the lesser used Lions to give the fans something to get excited about for the rest of the playoff push.

Los Angeles FC is certainly a tough opponent, but the best team in the league will look a little different with a number of starters away from the team on international duty. The biggest question will be if inevitable MLS MVP Carlos Vela will play or if a nagging hamstring injury will keep him out. Either way, this game won’t be easy against the league’s best.

Pride Head Back to Tacoma

Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner and his team may have 2020 vision, but there are still games left to be played this season. The Pride head out west to Tacoma, WA to face Reign FC in a tough road match. The last time these two teams played each other was back in April when Alanna Kennedy scored her bicycle kick for a 1-1 draw but those heroics may not be in the cards tonight. Both teams are coming off of plenty of rest although Reign FC has the clear advantage at home.

“Tacoma is a tough place to come and get a result; we have to make sure we perform well because of adaptation to the pitch,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner said. “So we’re going to have to make sure that we account for that and we were going to look to put in a really strong performance to take points at a difficult venue.”

USMNT Shut Out by Mexico Again

Two months after losing to Mexico in the Gold Cup, the United States Men’s National Team was held scoreless by its rival once again and lost 3-0. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez opened the scoring in the 21st minute and the Americans kept it close for a majority of the match before Mexico found two more goals in the second half. It’s a tough loss to swallow for the USMNT as it works out the kinks before the Nations League continues in October.

Christian Pulisic and four other Americans are returning to their clubs after the match instead of sticking with the team for the friendly against Uruguay on Sept. 10.

Orlando City B Falls in Final Home Game

OCB fell 3-1 to North Texas SC last night in the team’s last home game of 2019. While the winless streak now stretches to 15 games, at least OCB was able to find the back of the net for the third straight game. It doesn’t sound that impressive, but OCB captain Brandon John scored and almost scored again in the match. Maybe it’s a glimmer or hope for the future or maybe it’s just a small consolation in a rough season. Either way, OCB finishes with a 3-8-3 home record and has four road games left this season.

In other OCB news, defender Matheus Silva is no longer with the team and did not play last night. Silva was a mainstay on the team this season, starting in 18 games, and was a leader on defense.

Free Kicks

  • A pair of young fans in remission were surprised by some Lions as part of the league’s Kick Childhood Cancer efforts this month.

  • While at Cheney Stadium, some Pride players gave the grounds’ challenge a go. I wish I could take on every day with as much confidence as Bridget Callahan has. Minor headphone warning for deserved excitement.

  • While all of the attention is on the likes of Pulisic and Timothy Weah, here’s a chance to learn more about American midfielder Brandon Servania as he prepares for the 2020 Olympics.
  • Nashville SC continues building its MLS roster, adding Costa Rican midfielder Randall Leal to the squad.
  • We end our links with this incredible save from a fan. I think this is about as close to taking a bullet for a loved one that I’m willing to get. Also, can we get this guy in Orlando for OCB next year?

All right, that’s going to be it from me. Enjoy tonight responsibly and make sure to stay hydrated if you plan on being out in the sun. Summer may be gone, but the heat sure isn’t. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/26

Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Image of Angelina launching a long pass.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati

The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.

Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.

Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso

Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.

Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup

American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.

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  • MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/21/26

Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 21, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup

We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.

Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster

We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.

Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami

Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.

Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.

Free Kicks

  • ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
  • After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
  • MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
  • Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
  • Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.

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: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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