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Lion Links: 2/9/20

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7 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. As you read this, I’m most likely playing a match with my own club team, Orlando United FC! Today marks the season opener for the Central Florida Soccer League, and I couldn’t be any happier. Adding to that happiness? A Nani backflip! That’s right, the Portuguese star was shining brightly last night, as Orlando City SC won a preseason match. Ah, the positivity and optimism is flowing. What a time to be alive.

All right, let’s do this thing. Here’s your Sunday helping of Lion Links. Enjoy!

Lions Down the Impact in Open Door Scrimmage

The Lions played host to the Montreal Impact last night in preseason play at Exploria Stadium and managed to walk out with a 1-0 win courtesy of a peach of a goal from Nani. He notched a goal for the Lions with a free kick and followed it up with his favorite celebration: the Nani backflip (which, I love, but holy hell do I get nervous when he does this). The match was a back and forth affair, but the Lions looked strong and appeared to be the deserved winners. The last few minutes of this one were particularly chippy, which is an interesting takeaway from a preseason match that doesn’t actually mean anything, but I expect nothing less from both professional clubs.

Nani Beat the Odds

Speaking of Nani, the man himself opened up in a recent interview, touching on the long, crazy, and unlikely path he took to become a professional soccer player. Apparently, young Nani fell in love with the sport at the tender age of seven thanks to his brother. Due to a friend of his in school, he decided to join a club and begin training. It wasn’t an easy journey for a young child, as his new training ground wasn’t close to him and he was forced to walk or run to the facility, which was about an hour and a half from his home. Upon arrival, he wasn’t received as you would expect. He was laughed at and mocked initially, but he quickly proved himself and turned his doubters into believers. He didn’t stick around there for long, though, as he revealed that it wasn’t sustainable on an everyday basis. Nani then reveals that, against his mother’s demands, he found a new group of friends that he could travel with to a different club in order to train. That club quickly recognized the inherent talent that the young Nani brought to the pitch, and in the middle of a training session, he was taken away to sign his first soccer contract. The club promised to work with he and his mother to ensure that it works out for all parties involved. The rest is history that we’re all more than aware of. Legend.

The U.S. Women Face Off with Canada Today

With qualification for the Olympics already in the bag, the U.S. Women’s National Team will host the Canadian National Team in Los Angeles in qualification play. I would expect to see a few fresh faces in this one, as the Yanks have already qualified. This should, ideally, serve as a valuable experience for some of the women on the roster who don’t see regular minutes for the national team. Canada has also qualified, meaning this could be a match with new names on the pitch for both sides — and an exciting opportunity to look into the future of each team. It’s definitely one to keep an eye on, and I can only hope that both sides avoid injuries in the buildup to what’s bound to be an exciting Olympic tournament this summer.

MLS Standing Sections: Orlando Set the Trend

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Orlando City was first! That’s right, we won something! Orlando City created the first large-scale safe standing section in North America when the club’s grounds opened in 2017. And now? The LA Galaxy, D.C. United, the New York Red Bulls, and MLS newcomers Inter Miami will all include similar standing sections for their respective stadiums in 2020. It should be noted that the San Jose Earthquakes have had a section for standing that they’ve dubbed the “Supporter’s Terrace,” but it’s quite small in comparison to Exploria Stadium’s famed purple wall. The trend may pick up even more steam in 2021, as Austin FC should feature a similar section. But hey, the Lions did it in MLS first. Just saying.

Free Kicks

  • In case anyone was wondering, former Lions captain Kaká still has that magic touch in his boots. If you listen closely, you’ll hear someone directing him to “cut back.” As Mr. T would say, “I pity the fool.”

  • Andres Iniesta lifted the Japanese Super Cup yesterday in historic fashion, as both Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos performed dreadfully in the penalty kick shootout, with the two teams missing a combined nine consecutive pens. Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe finally claimed the win on pens, 3-2. Iniesta, of course, made his.
  • The Italian Serie A race is now considered to be wide open, as Juventus dropped to Hellas Verona yesterday, 2-1. Cristiano Ronaldo did, however, set a record at Juve by scoring in a 10th consecutive league match.
  • I’m sure you’ve heard about the coronavirus and its fatal impact, so this shouldn’t really be too surprising. New Manchester United loanee Ighalo won’t be making it to the club’s warm weather training camp in Spain due to his possible (major emphasis on possible) exposure, as he was in China prior to his recent move to Manchester. The fear from the club is that he’ll have his travel restricted, as everyone coming from the area are at the moment.
  • Let’s end on a funny, shall we? Everton’s Djibril Sidibe was forced to make a quick substitution when Theo Walcott went down due to an injury, and well, let’s just say that it wasn’t actually quick. The man forgot his left sock in the dressing room, so he ran back to grab it before jumping out onto the pitch minutes later. Carlo Ancelotti was left fuming, at least at first, but I’m confident that the three points taken away from the match will calm that a bit. Let this be a lesson to all of us: always have your gear ready to go!
  • Also, what a play by the father here…cheeky is an understatement, but the lads walked away with a souvenir that’s priceless! Well played, sirs, well played.

All right folks, that’s it for me today. Vamos Orlando (City and United!) and have a great week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 8/21/26

Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, MLS playoff changes reportedly coming, Hall of Fame finalists unveiled, and more.

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2 days ago

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August 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a bit of a rough month for all three of Orlando’s soccer teams, but hopefully they can turn things around this weekend. Things haven’t been great, but surely that just means things can only go up from here, right? Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are on the road this weekend for a match against the Washington Spirit on Sunday. It’s been a cruel summer for the Pride, as they’ve lost four of their past five games and are currently 13th in the league standings. Despite being on a three-game winless streak, the Spirit are second in the standings and will be a tough opponent for the Pride to face on the road. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on where the team needs to improve in order to get a result away from home against one of the league’s top teams.

Changes Reportedly Coming to MLS Playoff Format

For the umpteenth time, MLS is reportedly planning on overhauling its playoff format. The changes would go into effect when the league changes its calendar and they include allowing 20 teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the overall league standings being used to determine those top 20 teams. After a play-in round, the remaining 16 teams will play in a double elimination format that also features reseeding between rounds. If these changes do come to pass, hopefully the league decides to stick with it rather than constantly fiddling it with it.

National Soccer Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2027 were announced, with nine candidates making the list in their first year of eligibility. Former Orlando Pride player Ali Krieger is one of those nine, along with Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore. Central Florida native Graham Zusi was also named as a finalist. The two players who receive the most votes and are on at least half the ballots will make the Hall of Fame, with a third player able to make it if they’re on 75% of ballots.

Storylines Ahead of English Premier League Season

The English Premier League season begins today with Arsenal starting its title defense at home against Coventry City. Arsenal has a talented team once again, but it will be interesting to see how much of a challenge Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City can pose with new managers at the helm. Managers seem to be a focal point this season, as other storylines include whether or not Michael Carrick and Unai Emery can keep succeeding at Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. I’m just hoping we have an exciting title race by the time spring rolls around.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann tied with Robert Lewandowski for the second-highest rating of all MLS players in EA Sports FC 27.

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: 8/20/26

Orlando City defeated at home, Simone Jackson loaned to FC Rosengard, U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup roster unveiled, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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August 20, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

I think we can confidently say Orlando City’s Wednesday night excellence has come to an end after last night’s loss. I’m not going to claim the new kits are cursed after just two games, but I’ve bought some sage just in case. Before we get to that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman.

Orlando City Falls at Home

The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire and got burned in a 2-1 loss that included a lengthy weather delay that paused things right before halftime. The Fire struck first with an early goal, but Orlando leveled things after the lightning storm passed. However, Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick from a needless foul in the box for the winner, with the Lions failing to claw their way back a second time. It’s a disappointing result at home and Orlando will need to figure things out before hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

Simone Jackson Heads to Sweden on Loan

The Orlando Pride loaned forward Simone Jackson to FC Rosengard in Sweden through June of 2027. Jackson was signed by the Pride in 2025 after four years playing collegiately at the University of Southern California and she has since made 20 appearances for the club. Hopefully this move gives her some more minutes to develop her game abroad so that she can make an impact with the Pride when she returns next summer.

U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster Announced

United States U-20 Women’s National Team Head Coach Vicky Jepson called up 21 players for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, including eight from NWSL clubs. Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Nyanya Touray, and forward Emeri Adames are a few of the U.S. players to keep an eye out for this tournament.

The team will be without notable eligible players like Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg though, as youth tournaments take place outside of official FIFA windows when teams are required to release players. United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes also spoke on the importance of tournaments like this one to develop talent while uncertainty looms over the event due to UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions. The U.S. is set to start its campaign on Sept. 6 against Italy.

Americans to Watch in the English Premier League

The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend and there are a number of Americans to root for across the league. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson are all still in the league but have new managers at the helm of their respective teams. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United avoided relegation last season and will look to build on that, while Haji Wright and Coventry City will fight to stay after earning promotion last season. Unfortunately, Wright will miss multiple weeks at the start of the season due to a quad injury.

Free Kicks

  • Alhassan Yusuf scored a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 3-0 win over D.C. United, with Jack Harrison recording three assists.
  • Americans Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both played every minute of Celtic’s 3-0 win over LASK in the first leg of its matchup against the Austrian club in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  • Bay FC announced that the club and midfielder Tess Boade mutually agreed to terminate her contract, which was set to end after this season. Boade had been with the club since being selected in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and was the captain last season.
  • Aston Villa signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for a reported $40 million transfer fee. Suzuki played for Japan at the recent World Cup and it will be interesting to see what this move means for Emiliano Martinez’s future at the club.
  • Brighton is covering the cost of tickets for its fans who will be making the trip to the Arctic Circle for its UEFA Conference League playoff match against Tromso in Norway.

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: 8/19/26

Orlando City match day, Colin Guske reportedly being loaned to RSL, Banda is an MVP candidate, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City plays in a midweek match that thankfully isn’t a Leagues Cup match. There are those who will say they’re sad the Lions are out of Don Garber’s cash grab competition, but I’m not one of them. The U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season provide plenty of fixtures for now. The schedule congestion is real, as we can see this week. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Match Day

Orlando City hosts Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire tonight in an Eastern Conference clash. Defending against Lewandowski and Philip Zinckernagel will be a tough task for the Lions’ defense. Orlando City will need its offense to keep pace with the Fire if the Lions are going to take any points from the match. It will be interesting to see both Antoine Griezmann and Lewandowski on the pitch at the same time. Here is your official match guide from the club. Our match preview will drop later this morning at 11 a.m. You can also listen to our thoughts on the match on The Mane Land PawedCast.

Go West, Young Guske

It appears that Orlando City is loaning midfielder/defender Colin Guske to Real Salt Lake, according to Tom Bogert. This is not entirely surprising given how crowded Orlando City’s defensive midfield is with Joran Gerbet and Wilder Cartagena healthy and Luis Otavio rounding into form, not to mention Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda once they return. It’s a good opportunity for Guske to get some minutes, given he’s a bit down on the depth chart with the senior team — far enough down to see more minutes recently at center back with the first team than in the midfield.

MVP Candidate Banda

Despite being away for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and not scoring in her first game back, Barbra Banda maintains her slim lead in the Golden Boot competition and is still a League MVP candidate. If she hopes to win either of those accolades, she will need to resume scoring. The upcoming match against the Washington Spirit this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to extend that lead.

U.S. National Team News

USMNT defender Mark McKenzie is reportedly returning to the Philadelphia Union and will occupy a Designated Player spot. Real Salt Lake’s 19-year-old forward Zavier Gozo has been signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace. Of course, there are other USMNT players already playing in Europe, and some are making a quick return to form following the World Cup. USWNT players are also experiencing ups and downs in the NWSL.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini is headed to CE Sabadell FC of the Segunda División in Spain.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for match updates and we will also have a recap of the match. Vamos Orlando!

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