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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/28/20

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5 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers! That’s weird for me to type, as I usually dish out Links on Sundays, but here we are. We have a full plate today, so let’s skip that small talk and hop right into it, shall we?

Orlando City Honors the Black Mamba

As we all know by now, in a cruel, sudden, and tragic event, basketball icon Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, Sarah and Payton Chester, John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli, and Ara Zobayan all passed away following a helicopter crash on Sunday. I grew up watching the Black Mamba, admiring his tenacity and prowess both on and off the court, so this news hit me like a brick to the face as I was walking into Camping World Stadium to catch the NFL Pro Bowl. Truthfully, I couldn’t enjoy the event, because this was the only thing on my mind, but I was grateful that they acknowledged the tragedy and held their own moment of silence. You could see the shock on the faces of the players. It was clear that some of them didn’t know until it was announced to a crowd of about 54,000 people. In a show of solidarity, support, love, and respect, Orlando City held a moment of silence for those affected by the horrific tragedy. I don’t know what else to say, quite frankly. Bryant was an inspiration to millions and I know his legacy will live on.

Lions Look to Improve Fitness, Chemistry in Mexico

Following their aforementioned moment of silence in honor of Kobe, the Lions got in one final training session before they jetted off to Mexico for a nine-day training camp. The club is hoping that this getaway will serve as a catalyst for the players in many ways — most notably in improving the overall fitness of the squad, and probably more importantly, helping the lads in purple jell as a team. The trip, which began yesterday, will include spending time in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and the Lions plan to use this trip as a primer for the 2020 campaign. New OCSC Head Coach Oscar Pareja made it clear that this isn’t a vacation; it’s a business trip.

“We’re going to overload the group,” Pareja said. “We’ll use this week to level many of the players who came in from the off-season. Preseason is like that. We have youngsters that this is going to be the first preseason that we’re very excited to bring on the trip, some others that already have many preseasons on their bodies and they know this time is to overload themselves.”

I’m coming off of a preseason with my own club team (Vamos Orlando United FC), and I can only imagine the difference between the levels of fitness training, quality, and competition for spots in the starting 11. Get ready, lads. It’s going to be a long nine days.

Orlando SeaWolves’ Tom Traxler: A Candid Interview

Let’s be painfully honest; it’s been a disaster for the SeaWolves so far this season. In 10 matches, the boys have only managed a single win, while putting up an embarrassing goal differential of -52. Ouch. But, we should keep in mind that this is a new franchise, and things take time. Tom Traxler, the head coach of the SeaWolves, sat down and explained to the fans what’s been going on behind the scenes with the club. It’s well worth a watch, and the insight does help me empathize with this struggling squad. Hopefully the SeaWolves get this season turned around, but if they don’t, at least it appears that Traxler is laying a foundation for success in the future (fingers crossed).

Gregg Berhalter Provides Updates

We all know that Christian Pulisic has been out for a few weeks now with a thigh injury that he picked up in London with Chelsea, but we haven’t heard much concerning when he’ll return. Fear not, for U.S. Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter is here to provide us with some details. According to Berhalter, Pulisic and his club’s staff have worked closely with the USMNT staff to ensure a proper recovery, and neither expect the American dynamo to be out for an extended period of time (well, moving forward at least). Meanwhile, Zack Steffen’s knee held him out of Fortuna Dusseldorf’s first match back after the winter break, but Berhalter also stated that they’re working closely with his club, much like they are with Chelsea, to aid in the goalkeeper’s return. Keep an eye on that. Tyler Adams, recovering from a groin injury, has made his return, playing right back for Red Bull Leipzig. That’s interesting to say the least. And finally, and unfortunately, Josh Sargent hasn’t quite been up to snuff for Werder Bremen, last scoring in October of last year. I mean Werder Bremen hasn’t been up to snuff in general as they sit near the bottom of the Bundesliga table, but Sargent’s struggles have been well documented as of late. That’s another situation to keep an eye on as the Summer Olympics creep up on us.

Free Kicks

  • Former UCF Knight and Jamaican National Team captain Konya Plummer, only 22 years of age, helped her country reach its first World Cup in 2019, and she believes that the experience gained during that triumphant appearance will push the Reggae Girlz even further. Keep an eye on these ladies. Something tells me they’re on the come up.
  • We heard rumblings of how much allocation money the Pride used in the deal that sent Rachel Hill to Chicago and brought back the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft. Now the NWSL has (correctly) made the amounts public and will do so moving forward in the name of transparency. It’s a good decision by the league and the only one that should have been considered. The Pride parted with $50,000 in the aforementioned deal.

  • Speaking of the Pride…in case anyone was wondering, yes, Alex Morgan is still putting her boots on and getting training in while pregnant, much like Sydney Leroux did last year. If yesterday’s session was anything like the last one we saw via social media, then she’s still burying balls into the upper 90. Sheesh.

  • Fanendo Adi is headed from southwest Ohio to central Ohio, where he’ll reunite with his former head coach, Caleb Porter.
  • I touched on this on Sunday, but I need to give props where they’re due — Espanyol, a club with supporters who hurled racist insults at Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao, has identified nine “club members” who will immediately be punished for their part in this disgusting incident. Good on you, Espanyol, and let this be a lesson to others who have sadistic urges to spew racist garbage from their face holes.
  • In closing, I don’t often feel old — I’m only 27. But this? This made me feel old.

All right, that’s about it from me today, folks. Have yourselves an excellent day, and enjoy the USWNT match tonight. I fully expect a rout (no offense, Haiti).

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

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

Published

10 hours ago

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April 2, 2025

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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.

Free Kicks

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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1 day ago

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April 1, 2025

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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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

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

Published

2 days ago

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March 31, 2025

By

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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