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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/2/20

Published

6 years ago

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Happy Super Bowl Sunday, Mane Landers! Before we jump to the real football, I just want my prediction out there now. I want the Chiefs to win, but I’m taking the 49ers, 27-24. But again, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, I really, really want you guys to win this thing. I hope I’m wrong.

Okay, back to the norm. I trust you’re all having a wonderful week (despite the tragic news that seems to be constantly flowing into our every day lives). If you are, excellent. That’s what it’s all about. If you aren’t, let’s try to turn things around. Every morning is a fresh start. You got this.

All right, enough of my cornball motivational talk, you’re here for some juicy Links. Let’s do this.

Lions vs. Crew Cancelled, Snark Ensues

The Lions were scheduled to scrimmage the Columbus Crew yesterday in Mexico but, well, that didn’t happen. The ensuing snark on social media, in my own personal opinion, was awesome. It all started with the Lions’ Twitter account shooting out a playful tweet. The Crew’s response? Oh, it was quite excellent:

Regardless, the lads in purple scrimmaged against themselves yesterday. They’ll try again with a different opponent on Tuesday against Inter Playa.

U.S. Downs Costa Rica, 1-0

The U.S. Men’s National Team hosted Costa Rica in Los Angeles yesterday for a friendly — the first of 2020 — and, while the result may not tell the entire tale, the young Yanks cruised to a comfortable win, 1-0. The goal, courtesy of Uly Llanez, came via a spot kick in the 50th minute. Llanez became the youngest USMNT player to score a penalty in the modern era. Take a bow, sir. Your swish celebration in honor of Kobe Bryant was admirable, too. That deserves another bow. Other young Yanks were handed their debuts in the Stars & Stripes, including Sam Vines, Brenden Aaronson, Jesus Ferreira, Chase Gasper, Brandon Servania, and Mark McKenzie. Several could take part in the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship next month. I sure hope they do, too, because it’s time for the USMNT to embrace the budding youth movement that’s happening across this country. We’ll see, but I’m far more than hopeful.

Zadorsky and Plummer Face Off in Olympic Qualifying Action

Some Pride players were in action yesterday at the international level as well, with Shelina Zadorsky of Canada and draftee Konya Plummer of Jamaica facing off in Olympic qualifying, both lining up as center backs for their countries. This one, well, this one wasn’t even close. Like, at all. The final result was 9-0 to the Canadians, and that came even after Canada seemingly pumped the brakes a bit after the match was clearly out of reach for the Reggae Girlz. Notably, Jordyn Huitema of PSG netted five times — twice in the first half and three times in the second. Great Scott, ladies…sheesh.

Eyeing Your Rivals: Inter Miami CF and Fort Lauderdale Club de Fútbol

Inter Miami CF is here, whether you and I like it or not. Now, their official affiliate team has been announced as Fort Lauderdale Club de Fútbol. The developmental team begins play in March, and will immediately jump into the USL League One fray. Much like Orlando City B, this club’s purpose will be to serve as a pipeline for youth players who wish to break into the ranks of the first team in Miami.

“Establishing an identity for Fort Lauderdale CF has been a process the organization has put a lot of thought into because it will be our permanent team playing in the Fort Lauderdale stadium for the long-term,” said Inter Miami CF Sporting Director Paul McDonough. “The team also serves an important role in providing higher-level competition for talented players who are in between the Academy and First Team levels of their careers. We can keep them competing in a professional structure until a good opportunity arises for them either with us or elsewhere.”

They’re [/audible groan] probably going to be decent, and I expect them, much like I expect Inter Miami itself, to be a strong competitor for years to come for the Young Lions and first team alike. Keep an eye on these guys, Mane Landers. They’ll soon become your least favorite MLS players.

Free Kicks

  • With the Super Bowl set for today, the San Jose Earthquakes are backing their local franchise, the San Francisco 49ers, to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Even Chris Wondolowski, a devout Raiders fan — rivals of the 49ers — will be pulling for the Bay area team. I’ve already put my prediction out there, but as I stated earlier, I hope I’m wrong.
  • Kylian Mbappe, please don’t take on the traits of Neymar. Please just stay humble. The young world beater was scolded by PSG manager Thomas Tuchel after his tantrum following a 68th-minute substitution in a 5-0 win yesterday. “Stay gold, Pony Boy. Stay gold.” Please.
  • Liverpool continues their impressive march for the first-ever Premier League title, beating Southampton yesterday 2-0, courtesy of goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson. You’ll Never Walk Alone! For context, Liverpool is my Premier League club (same ownership group that holds the Red Sox, and I was born in Massachusetts. Save the Patriots hate for an ear that cares).
  • This one’s for you, Coach Mike (Orlando United FC). Everton, Mike’s team of choice, down 2-0 for almost half of the match, pulled multiple proverbial rabbits out of their hat to come back and ultimately score what has to be a heartbreaking goal against Watford, winning 3-2 despite playing a man down for the final 20 minutes or so. Well done, lads!

  • Here’s yet another Erling Haaland share — the kid can’t stop scoring for his new club in Germany — Dortmund! He bagged another brace, bringing his tally to seven league goals in just three matches (an average of about a goal per 20 minutes of play). I love it, but as a Bayern Munich supporter, I hate it. I’m clearly conflicted. But cheers to this youngster, I can’t wait to watch what is sure to be a successful career unfold! Oh, and the kid is making an impact on Norway’s state pension fund. I’m not kidding. We have budding superstar on our hands here and hey man, you interested in wearing red?

  • Okay, now we can end on a Bayern note. Thiago, you sly dog you…

All right, that’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Enjoy the precious remainder of your Sunday and then, as always, kick some ass this week. You know that I know that you’re more than capable. Get it done, whatever it is. Much love.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/13/26

Orlando City hosts the Philadelphia Union tonight, Orlando Pride defeated on the road, MLS player salary information released, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 13, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Not only have we made it to the middle of the week, but we have Orlando City soccer waiting for us tonight. It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs this year when it comes to supporting our favorite players in purple, but I’m still excited for some midweek soccer. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Hosts the Philadelphia Union Tonight

After a loss on the road to CF Montreal on Saturday, Orlando City will aim to bounce back when it plays the Philadelphia Union tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. Both teams have struggled mightily this year and Philadelphia sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just one win from 12 games. While the Union have only scored a measly 10 goals this season, the Lions have conceded a whopping 34 times. It’s the age-old battle between a movable object and a stoppable force. Tonight’s match will be the first of three consecutive home games across all competitions for the Lions, so hopefully they can start this homestand off with a win.

Orlando Pride Lose Late to Boston Legacy FC

The Orlando Pride don’t have anything to show from a frustrating 2-1 loss on the road to the Boston Legacy. The Pride struck first from the penalty spot and carried that lead into halftime, but Boston equalized in the second half and then scored a penalty kick of its own in stoppage time to win it late. It’s a brutal loss for an Orlando team that has struggled with consistency and has yet to win twice in a row this season. There’s not much time for the Pride to regroup before their next match, as they’re set to take on the Denver Summit on the road on Saturday.

MLSPA Releases Player Salary Information

The Major League Soccer Players Association shared the salary information for players under contract as of April 16. Designated Players Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic are the only Lions with base salaries over $1 million, with each having a salary of $1.6 million. As for some of the new faces in the City Beautiful this year, Braian Ojeda’s salary is $725,000, Maxime Crepeau’s is $600,000, and Tiago’s is $500,000.

There’s no prize for guessing which player has the highest salary in the league, with Lionel Messi’s $25 million salary at more than double that of Son Heung-Min’s $10.3 million. In third is another Miami player, with Rodrigo De Paul’s base salary listed as $7.5 million. It at least makes Orlando’s recent win in Miami feel a bit sweeter.

Orlando City B Makes MLS NEXT Pro Power Rankings

In the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, which only list the top 10 teams in the league, Orlando City B placed eighth. This comes following a 2-0 win over Atlanta United 2 as OCB extended its unbeaten run to four games. Harvey Sarajian and Gustavo Caraballo have led OCB’s attack so far this season, while Issah Haruna has now scored in two consecutive games as well. Goalkeeper Luca Maxim was also stellar between the sticks for his first professional clean sheet in that win against Atlanta. It’s nice to see the Young Lions receive some recognition and they will have a chance to keep their streak going when they play New England Revolution II on the road on Sunday.

Free Kicks

  • San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris underwent successful groin surgery and is expected to miss three or four months. The 20-year-old has been great this season, recording three goals and seven assists while leading the league with 34 created chances.
  • American midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough were beaten 2-1 by Southampton in the playoffs for promotion to the English Premier League. Shea Charles scored in extra time to book Southampton’s ticket to the final against Hull City at Wembley Stadium.
  • The United States Men’s National Team’s roster for the World Cup is released later this month and Giovanni Reyna is one of the biggest names on the bubble. A goal for Borussia Monchengladbach this past Saturday likely didn’t hurt his chances.
  • Cristo Fernandez, who you may know as Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso, has signed a contract to play for El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship after a trial with the team. El Paso is life?
  • Arsenal defender Ben White will miss the remainder of the season due to MCL damage and won’t be available for England for the World Cup either.
  • Slavia Prague was handed a 3-0 forfeit loss after its fans invaded the pitch in stoppage time against rival Sparta Prague. The club was also fined and will play its next four home games without fans.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/12/26

Barbra Banda up for weekly honors, Johnny Cardoso to have surgery, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B both picked up victories, while Orlando City lost. There’s no rest for the wicked though, because the Pride take on Boston Legacy on the road tonight, while the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Barbra Banda up for Weekly Honors

Barbra Banda’s game-winning strike over the North Carolina Courage has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. Banda cut across her marker in the 87th minute with the match tied 0-0 and curled a great strike inside the far post to give the Pride a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. The victory got Orlando back on track after dropping two games in a row, and the goal was Banda’s league-leading eighth strike of the year. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Surgery for Johnny Cardoso

Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that midfielder Johnny Cardoso will have surgery to repair an injury to his right ankle. Cardoso was hurt during a training session, with Atletico classifying the injury as a “high-grade sprain involving joint damage.” The club’s statement did not specify a timeline for his return to the field and U.S. Soccer has not made any statement besides wishing Cardoso a speedy recovery. That said, with this summer’s World Cup less than a month away, its tough to imagine that he’ll be healed up and ready to be part of the United States Men’s National Team roster. If that’s the case, it’ll be a bitter blow for both the USMNT and a midfielder that looked like a sure bet to be on the squad.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s make sure we’ve got everything on the schedule. Things got started on Monday when Brenden Aaronson played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Action continues today when Aidan Morris and Middlesborough face Southampton in the second leg of an EFL Championship playoff promotion semifinal. Wednesday sees Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Motherwell in a game with massive ramifications on the title race in the Scottish Premier League. Wednesday also has Alex Freeman and Villarreal hosting Sevilla in La Liga play, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will try to play spoiler against Manchester City.

MLS Matchday 12 Lessons

Matchday 12 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, Jack McGlynn was imperious in his second game back from injury, as his brace helped the Houston Dynamo knock off LAFC on the road while USMNT assistant Jesus Perez was watching from the stands. The New England Revolution are now unbeaten in the club’s last seven league games, and Carles Gil was a big reason why, as he nabbed a goal and an assist in the Revs’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. He’s got four goals and four assists so far, and the Revs are sitting pretty at second in the Eastern Conference.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

European seasons aren’t quite wrapped up yet, but that isn’t stopping transfer rumors from flying thick and fast. We start with the Premier League, where Manchester City is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, before immediately sending the player on loan to continue his development. Elsewhere in England, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said to be interested in signing Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso. Switching lanes to the managerial side of things, Chelsea has reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the team, with the Spaniard said to be open to taking the job. Finally, Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the Real Madrid job, although he reportedly has a couple conditions that he wants met first.

Free Kicks

  • Kickoff times have been set for Orlando City’s three group stages matches in this year’s Leagues Cup.
  • The Lions will be launching a new merch collection Friday at The Final Whistle.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/11/26

Lions fall to CF Montreal, Pride defeat North Carolina Courage, OCB beats Atlanta United 2, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda taking a shot against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.
  • James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
  • Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
  • Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

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

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