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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: 6/16/25

Lions and Pride win, USMNT beats Trinidad & Tobago in Gold Cup opener, FIFA Club World Cup weekend recap, and more.

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17 hours ago

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June 16, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you and belated happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there. The Lions and the Pride both won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blank Colorado Rapids on the Road

Orlando City defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Martin Ojeda scored the lone goal for the Lions in the first half to snap their two-match winless streak. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made two saves and earned his eighth clean sheet of the season. With the win, Orlando moved up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 30 points. Orlando City will be off this weekend but will be return to action June 25 on the road at St. Louis City.

Banda’s Goal Lifts Pride Over Bay FC

The Orlando Pride defeated Bay FC 1-0 Friday at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA. After a scoreless first half, Barbra Banda scored the only goal in the match — her eighth goal of the season — and the Pride held on for the win. It’s the team’s third straight 1-0 victory over Bay FC, and the Pride also claimed their fifth clean sheet of the season. Orlando has won three matches in a row and remains second in the NWSL table with 25 points. The Pride will be on the road to take on Racing Louisville Friday.

USMNT Dominates Trinidad & Tobago in Gold Cup Opener

The U.S. Men’s National Team beat Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 Sunday in the opening match of the Concacaf Gold Cup at PayPal Park. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started the match and played 90 minutes. Malik Tillman scored twice, and Patrick Agyemang added one to give the USMNT a 3-0 lead before halftime. In the second half, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright each added a goal to extend the USMNT’s lead to 5-0. With the win, the Yanks snapped a four-match winless streak. The USMNT will take on Saudi Arabia Thursday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX.

FIFA Club World Cup Weekend Recap

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off on Saturday, with Inter Miami and Al Ahly playing to a scoreless draw in the opening match of the group stage. Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made eight saves, including a penalty kick saved in the 43rd minute against Trezeguet of Al Ahly as the teams split the points. On Sunday, Jamal Musiala scored a hat trick as Bayern Munich crushed Auckland City 10-0, Paris Saint-Germain routed Atletico Madrid 4-0, and Palmeiras and FC Porto ended in a scoreless draw. The Seattle Sounders battled Botafogo in the late match. Today’s matchups feature Chelsea taking on LAFC, Boca Juniors facing Benfica, and Flamengo taking on Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

Tampa Bay Sun Wins USL Super League Championship

The Tampa Bay Sun defeated Fort Lauderdale United 1-0 after extra time to win the inaugural USL Super League championship on Saturday at Riverfront Stadium in Tampa. Former Pride players Jordyn Listro and Erika Tymrak were part of the squad’s stellar run to its first championship title in the inaugural season of the USL Super League. After no goals came from either side during the 90 minutes of play, the match went to extra time, and Cecilie Floe scored the winning goal for the Sun. Sydny Nasello was named the 2025 USL Super League Final MVP.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players giving their dads a surprise phone call on Father’s Day.
  • PayPal Park will host the 2025 NWSL Championship match on Nov. 22.

From the home of legends to the stage of champions 🏆The 2025 NWSL Championship presented by Google Pixel is coming to the Bay Area and PayPal Park.

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-06-13T12:14:48.657Z

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: 6/13/25

Orlando City prepares for the Colorado Rapids, Concacaf W Champions Cup schedule released, USWNT tops FIFA rankings, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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June 13, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! We have some exciting soccer ahead of us over the next few days, starting with the Orlando Pride’s road game against Bay FC tonight at 10 p.m. I’ll be spending most of the weekend working and visiting family for Father’s Day. Let’s go ahead and get this Friday started with today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for the Colorado Rapids

The Lions are back in action on Saturday for a road match in high altitude against the Colorado Rapids. Orlando City is coming off a needed break in the schedule after losing two games in a row to close out a busy May. The Rapids have also lost their past two league games and will be without goalkeeper Zack Steffen due to injury. This will be the team’s first match against the Rapids since a 2-0 victory in Orlando back in 2023 and the first in Colorado since a 1-1 draw in 2022. Hopefully the Lions can get back on track with a win to kickstart another strong summer.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Schedule Revealed

The schedule was unveiled for the Concacaf W Champions Cup and we now know where the Pride will be playing this fall. Their campaign will begin at Inter&Co Stadium against Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense on Sept. 2. They’ll then hit the road for their next two matches, playing Chorrillo FC in Panama on Sept. 16 before facing Club America on Sept. 30. The Pride will close out their group play with a home game against Pachuca on Oct. 15. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals, and the winner of the tournament will earn a spot in both the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and 2028 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. It’s going to make for some late-season fixture congestion for the Pride, but that’s the price of success and earning a spot in continental competitions.

USWNT Remains Atop FIFA Rankings

The United States Women’s National Team is still the best team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings. The U.S. lost points overall in the time since the last rankings in March though, and the gap has narrowed between it and Spain and Germany. Brazil had a decent rise in the rankings, moving up four spots to fourth after beating Japan twice in recent friendlies. With notable international tournaments lined up for this summer, it will be interesting to see how much things shake up when the next rankings come out.

Michael Bradley Named New York Red Bulls II Head Coach

Former USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley was hired as head coach of the MLS NEXT Pro’s New York Red Bulls II. It’s the 37-year-old’s first professional head coaching job after spending time as an assistant coach under his father, Bob Bradley, at Stabaek in Norway. Bradley returns to where he began his professional playing career, as he was drafted by the MetroStars in 2004 at the age of 16.

“I couldn’t be more excited to come back to where my professional playing career began,” says Head Coach Michael Bradley. “This is a dream opportunity as a young coach. I’m looking forward to working everyday with this talented group of players, and I’ll give everything to help them take the next step in their careers. I’m thankful to the club for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/12/25

Reliving the Orlando Pride’s win, Orlando City B loses on the road, Jhon Solis Wins MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek, and more.

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5 days ago

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June 12, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been enjoying a pretty good week so far and actually made pizza for the first time last night. It was burnt beyond belief in the end, but still edible, which is a huge win in my book. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links!

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride beat the Houston Dash 1-0 at home in dramatic fashion and the club has released a video highlighting the action. Substitute Cori Dyke scored the winning goal deep in stoppage time to give the Pride all three points and second place in the league standings. The video includes Dyke being tossed in the air afterwards in celebration, as well as a pretty good pep talk from Marta. Let’s hope the Pride can win a bit more comfortably when they travel across the country to face Bay FC on Friday night.

Orlando City B Falls to Carolina Core FC

The Young Lions are returning to Orlando empty handed after a 1-0 loss to Carolina Core FC in North Carolina. A goal by Carolina right before halftime proved to be the difference, as OCB struggled to get much going offensively and couldn’t conjure some of the late magic it’s shown in recent matches. Ultimately, it’s a disappointing result after impressive wins over both Chattanooga FC and Huntsville City FC earlier this month. The Young Lions have a bit of a break to reset before trying to get back on track at home against Toronto FC II on June 25.

Jhon Solis Wins Goal of the Matchweek

OCB midfielder Jhon Solis won MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek for his strike in the club’s 3-2 road win over Huntsville on June 6. He curled a free kick towards goal with enough power behind it to beat the keeper and equalize things in the 84th minute. Solis also provided the assist from a corner kick on OCB’s first goal, so hopefully he can continue to make opponents pay in those instances this season.

Getting Ready for the Concacaf Gold Cup

The Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off this weekend and plenty of pressure is on the U.S. after a pair of losses in the friendlies leading into this tournament. The team is without many of its usual starters, and Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will have to figure things out in a group against Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Trinidad & Tobago. As for other things to watch out for in this Gold Cup, I’m interested to see how Canada fares in its group and if Miguel Herrera’s Costa Rican team can make some noise against Mexico. Panama’s group could end up as the most enticing though, as it features fellow dark horse Jamaica and a pair of underdogs in Guadeloupe and Guatemala.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to the unbearable part of summer here in Florida. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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