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Lion Links: 10/20/19

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6 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. Well, here we are. The Lions and Pride have closed out their 2019 campaigns, much to our chagrin, both having failed to reach the postseason again, with the Lions still searching for a new head coach. The life of an Orlando soccer supporter — the ups and the downs (there’s a lot of downs) — it’s a tough life sometimes. Thankfully, the club has some resilient supporters.

I’ll stop myself there before I fall into the rabbit hole rant. Let’s get to these Sunday links, shall we?

MLS Playoffs Are Here

First and foremost, in case you aren’t aware of which teams were awarded first-round byes, it’s Los Angeles FC and New York City FC. Also, check out the Benny Feilhaber Playoff Guide — it’s full of firsthand intel on each team and it’s quite interesting. As expected, Atlanta United FC took down the New England Revolution, 1-0. Michael Parkhurst, an integral figure both on the field and in the locker room, could miss the remainder of the MLS postseason after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the affair. If so, he’s played his last MLS game ashe previously announced his retirement. Also of note, Pity Martinez didn’t play in the match.

The Seattle Sounders won an exciting, high-scoring match against FC Dallas, winning 4-3. Some are already considering it to be one of the greatest playoff matches in MLS history. It was even one of the highest scoring playoff matches of all time, too. Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney’s days in D.C. may be over, as D.C. United fell to Toronto FC (in extra time!), 5-1.

On tap today? The Philadelphia Union host the New York Red Bulls (3 p.m. ET), and Minnesota United FC hosts the LA Galaxy (8:30 p.m. ET).

And in case you need the refresher (nobody will know if you click the link, I promise), here’s how extra time and penalty kicks work in MLS.

NWSL Playoffs Begin Today

Consider this a friendly reminder, as we’ve touched on it briefly before, but today marks the day that the North Carolina Courage host Reign FC and the Chicago Red Stars host Portland Thorns FC in NWSL playoff action. The Courage are the easy favorites against Reign FC, but it should provide an entertaining match between two of the strongest teams of 2019. On the other card, all eyes will remain on the Red Stars’ Sam Kerr, NWSL MVP. Will she be able to carry her side to a final with a win against a strong Portland team? The soccer gods shine upon us today, for it is full of quality soccer. Unfortunately, none of it will be coming from the fine athletes of Orlando.

Josh Sargent Shining in Germany

Josh Sargent scored his second goal of the Bundesliga season for his club team, Werder Bremen, in a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin. It may not have been the prettiest goal he’s ever scored, but I’m sure it doesn’t make the slightest difference to him. The young man is representing the American brand well, much like some of his international teammates who also ply their trade in the Bundesliga.

VAR Company Issues Public Apology

In a strange, and quite frankly wild, turn of events, VAR company Hawk-Eye Innovations has publicly apologized to the supporters of the Premier League’s Tottenham and Watford for the confusion their technology caused during and following last week’s 1-1 draw. There was drama aplenty in the match — most notably a scoreboard that displayed “No Goal!” and then corrected itself to inform the crowd that the goal was allowed. Ultimately, Tottenham was the benefactor throughout a match marred by questionable calls and even more questionable VAR decisions.

“We are working together with the Professional Game Match Officials Board and the Premier League to understand the root cause of this problem and propose a series of measures to ensure it won’t happen again,” it said in a statement.

Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores said he is losing faith in the VAR process.

“I was thinking VAR is something objective but I’m starting to think it’s very subjective,” Sanchez Flores said after the game.

Meanwhile Tottenham gaffer Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t think blame should be put on his club for the dramatic affair, but on the Premier League. And it’s clear he’s moving on.

“After Bayern our confidence was on the floor. It was so important the way we achieved the point in the end, we kept fighting,” Pochettino said ”I hope this is the first step we need to build our confidence again.”

Free Kicks

  • Kick back and relish in Nani’s goals from 2018-2019, both with Sporting and Orlando City.
  • We’ve all been tuned in to Christian Pulisic’s journey, and it appears the American icon has hit a valley. But fear not, the man himself believes his scoring touch will return.
  • Leicester City paid tribute to the club’s late owner a year after his tragic passing approaches.

  • Is Liverpool unstoppable? Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola thinks so.
  • Jadon Sancho was dropped and fined by his club team, Borussia Dortmund, for arriving later than permitted following Sancho’s Monday match with the Three Lions.
  • I hate (insert expletive here) like this, but it needs to be touched on because it’s important. There’s no room for racism, not only in this game, but in this world. Be better than this.

  • Gigi…how do you do it?

  • This is certainly one way to show the front office that you’re collectively upset with unpaid wages (I mean, who wouldn’t be?). I hear that people are upset with Tigres for scoring during the protest. What do you think?

All right folks, that’s all that’s fit to print on this fine Sunday. Before I take my leave, watch this brilliant celebration. No need to thank me — thank Ciro Immobile.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/3/25

Orlando Pride loan five players out, Orlando City academy players selected for All-Star Team, USMNT beats Guatemala, and more.

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6 hours ago

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July 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a weird week for me so far, as it’s felt simultaneously like it’s flying by and taking forever for the weekend to get here. All of the soccer has been nice at least, and I’ve been able to get some reading and painting done when not swamped. But enough about me, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Loan Multiple Players Out

The Orlando Pride loaned out five players for the rest of the 2025 season, with four of them joining USL Super League teams. Forward Amanda Allen, who was loaned to Lexington SC last year and injured her shoulder in December, is headed to her home country of Canada to join Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League. As for the players headed to the USL Super League, right back Brianna Martinez will join Carolina Ascent FC, goalkeeper Kat Asman and forward Mariana Larroquette were loaned to Lexington, and Aryssa Mahrt was sent to Spokane Zephyr FC. These loans should provide solid opportunities for minutes for these players, so hopefully they can make some noise with their respective teams.

Orlando City Academy Players Make All-Star Team

The rosters for the 2025 MLS NEXT All-Star Game are out and Orlando City B midfielders Gustavo Caraballo and Dylan Judelson were both selected for the event. The East All-Stars will be coached by Orlando City SC Academy Director Javier Carrillo, who also coached Orlando’s U-18 team to victory in the Generation Adidas Cup this year. Caraballo was named MVP of that tournament’s U-18 age group and scored 16 goals over the course of the MLS NEXT season. Judelson appeared in 32 games for Orlando this season and could factor into Canada’s U-17 World Cup plans come November. The MLS NEXT All-Star Game will take place on July 21 and can be viewed on the MLS YouTube channel.

USMNT Takes Down Guatemala in Gold Cup

The United States Men’s National Team secured a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup final after winning 2-1 against Guatemala in St. Louis. The Yanks got off to a hot start thanks to Diego Luna’s brace in the first 15 minutes of the match. The offense wasn’t able to extend the lead beyond that though, and a late goal by Olger Escobar made the match a bit more tense the U.S. would have liked. Regardless, the U.S. got the job done in the end and will play in Sunday’s final in Houston.

USWNT Breezes Past Canada in Friendly

The United States Women’s National Team beat Canada in convincing fashion, shutting out its northern rival 3-0 in a friendly. Sam Coffey and Claire Hutton scored in the first half to give the USWNT a nice lead, and Yazmeen Ryan came off the bench to put the nail in the coffin with a late goal. The defense did well to claim its third clean sheet of this series of summer friendlies. Emily Sams didn’t make an appearance for the U.S., and Zara Chavoshi didn’t come off the bench for Canada either.

NWSL Announces Layout For 2026 Schedule

The 2026 NWSL regular season will kick off on March 13 and finish on Nov. 1 according to the league’s announced framework for next year’s action. Although there will be 16 teams next year, the playoff format remains the same and the top eight teams in the standings will qualify, with the 2026 NWSL Championship set for Nov. 21. There will once again be a balanced schedule, with each team playing 30 matches over the course of 27 weeks. The league will also notably be on break for a majority of June due to the FIFA World Cup, citing expectations to accommodate stadium demands in markets where World Cup games will take place

Free Kicks

  • Boston Legacy FC signed American midfielder Annie Karich as its first player ahead of its inaugural season next year. Karich spent the past two seasons with SC Freiburg in Germany and joins Boston as a free agent.
  • San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer was named MLS Player of the Month after recording three goals and six assists in June. He leads the league with 23 goal contributions this season and is a major reason behind San Diego’s rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.
  • Atlanta United bolstered its defense by signing Albanian center back Enea Mihaj to a contract through 2028. The 26-year-old joins as a free agent after spending the past three seasons with FC Famalicao in Portugal top flight.
  • The 2025 Women’s European Championship kicked off in Switzerland, with Finland beating Iceland 1-0 in the first match of the tournament. Switzerland struck first against Norway, but Ada Hegerberg scored an equalizer and an own goal by Swiss defender Julia Stierli gave Norway the 2-1 win.
  • It seems the Concacaf co-hosts for next year’s World Cup will be able to serve suspensions in friendlies rather than missing out on the World Cup.

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

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Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

— Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

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

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Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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July 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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