Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/3/20

Published

6 years ago

on

Happy Sunday, everyone. The weirdest spring ever is still underway and although optimism reigns supreme with governors across the country starting to loosen some of the restrictions, it’s probably best that we take a very patient wait-and-see approach rather than get our hopes up for a return to how things were just a few months ago (has it really only been a few months?). We all want soccer back, but we might have to settle for watching it on TV for a while before we can start going to games again.

How are you coping? My latest activities include a full rewatch of the Marvel Comics Universe movies (I started yesterday with the original Iron Man) and trying to figure out a solution for our daughter’s day care. She previously attended before- and after-school care at her elementary school but that’s closed and my job has called us all back to the office starting a week from tomorrow. My wife’s office will also be ramping back up so it seems like it’s going to be tricky to figure out how our child will be supervised during weekdays.

But I can’t solve that right now because I’ve got to bring you the soccer news of the day.

Moutinho a Rising Star

Chris Smith of World Football Index picked a rising star from each team in the MLS Eastern Conference and making the grade for Orlando City was 22-year-old left back Joao Moutinho.

Moutinho is intelligent with his position and generally strong in the tackle. He could play a key role in Orlando finally ending their wait for a play-off spot.

Despite also boasting young talent like Benji Michel and Ruan, it’s hard to argue that Moutinho isn’t Orlando City’s best young, up-and-coming player with his high soccer IQ, ability to read the play, and excellent left foot.

Orlando City’s Larin Among Most Efficient MLS Goal Scorers

A lot of people forget just how good Canadian striker Cyle Larin was for Orlando City. That’s partly to do with the team’s poor showing in the standings and partially because of the acrimonious split between the player and the club, for which there was sufficient blame to place on Larin, his agent, Besiktas, and even Orlando City. Jonathan Sigal of MLSsoccer.com dove into the data, paying attention to players who scored at least 40 goals throughout their career, with their conversion rate expressed as goals/shots on goal. Sigal’s findings show (unsurprisingly) that Josef Martinez is the most efficient, with a 55.8% conversion rate. Larin is sixth on the list, with his 45.74% conversion rate across his three MLS seasons — surprisingly ahead of such players as Zlatan Ibrahimovic (45.61%) and Robbie Keane (43.92%). It’s a shame we never got to see Larin with a stronger MLS side behind him.

Nani Named One of Most Skilled MLS Players

Sticking with the theme of Orlando City players appearing on lists recently, Greg Seltzer of MLSSoccer.com named his top 12 current MLS players with the most pure skill. While not able to base such a column on data the way Sigal did with his most efficient scorers, Seltzer relied on the eye test to determine the most technically adept players in the league and it’s no surprise that Orlando captain Nani made the cut.

The Orlando City winger has long been known as one of the world’s fanciest technical players. From his beginnings at Sporting CP and Manchester United to later days in MLS, Nani has constantly dazzled with his dribbling, crossing and shooting skills. Then, the veteran put an exclamation point on his reputation with a buzzer-beating crossbar ding from midfield to win last year’s All-Star Game Skills Challenge.

Weird Graduation for Pride’s Konya Plummer

I can’t imagine what life is like for this year’s graduating seniors — high school or college. I have vivid and happy memories of walking the stadium to get both my high school diploma and college degree. That’s not the case for new Orlando Pride defender Konya Plummer. Her graduation from UCF is a virtual one and that’s as sad as it is strange, but at least she accomplished her goal. The NWSL rookie has yet to play a match for the Pride, but you have to be encouraged to see a player who was once called “young Marta,” even if she is a center back. Julia Poe of ProSoccerUSA.com talked to Plummer and you can read more about her soccer background, including how she slept with the ball her mom gave her.

Free Kicks

  • In the midst of recent controversy and accusations, presidential candidate Joe Biden vowed to hold U.S. Soccer accountable for equal treatment of the USWNT. (Please note that there is nothing political in the preceding sentence. The existence of controversy and accusations is not in dispute, regardless of your opinion.)

  • RSL General Manager Elliot Fall discussed what upcoming individual workouts in MLS might consist of.
  • Houston’s Christian Ramirez says that an MLS-Liga MX Super League would “take over the world.” I think it could, but only if player spending limits were removed. The reason the world’s best players are mainly in Europe is because that’s where the money is.
  • Those born on this date include former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir (1898), Bing Crosby (1903), boxing’s Sugar Ray Robinson (1921), James Brown (1933), Frankie Valli (1934), baseball’s Davey Lopes (1945), sportscaster Greg Gumbel (1946), Christopher Cross (1951), REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall (1953), hockey’s Ron Hextall (1964), D.C. United manager Ben Olsen (1977), and Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins (1997).

That’s all I’ve got for you today. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend and please be safe when integrating back into businesses that are reopening.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/15/26

Orlando City concedes late in draw with Toronto FC, Justin Ellis earns praise, U.S. Soccer announces Crest Cup for women’s soccer, and more.

Published

3 hours ago

on

October 15, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann and Justin Ellis celebrating a goal against Real Salt Lake.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How are you feeling after last night’s Orlando City game? I don’t think my thoughts have ever been as mixed, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles at times when supporting the Cardiac Cats. It could’ve gone worse though, and being able to watch Antoine Griezmann work his magic is always a treat. Today marks nine years since Kaká’s final game with Orlando City, and I’ve loved being able to see world class players like him, Griezmann, Nani, and more over the years in Orlando. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Lead Late in Dramatic Draw

Orlando City went on the road to Canada and played to a 3-3 draw against Toronto FC in a rollercoaster of a match. The Lions clawed their way back to equalize twice and managed to take the lead late in the match, but couldn’t close things out despite another solid performance by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau behind a leaky defense. Make sure to check out our match recap of what was an exciting, yet frustrating, match that at least featured a couple of great Orlando goals.

Justin Ellis Earns Praise During Breakout Season

The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert ranked his top 22 MLS players under the age of 22 and Orlando City forward Justin Ellis ranked eighth on his list. The 19-year-old has 10 assists and a goal to his name this season, thriving in the attack with an intriguing combination of creativity, strength, and positioning. He’s also already scored for the United States Men’s National Team, doing so in Orlando last month against Peru. Bogert predictably has Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan at the top of his list and Julian Hall in second. We’ll see if Ellis lands a bit higher than eighth when the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list is unveiled later this year.

U.S. Soccer Announces Crest Cup

A new club tournament is coming to women’s soccer. U.S. Soccer announced the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup for women’s soccer teams across the country to compete against each other in a single-elimination format. Official details such as when this will take place and which teams will be allowed to participate haven’t been unveiled at this point, but it does seem like it will at least include teams from both the NWSL and USL Super League. The winner of the Crest Cup will receive $1.1 million and qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Toothpaste jokes aside regarding the name, I’m excited for a tournament that puts a spotlight on more women’s soccer teams.

Takeaways From USWNT Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team may not have beaten Spain in either of its two friendlies against the European powerhouse, but it at least finished strong by rallying to a 2-2 draw in the second meeting. Not many of the problems the USWNT faced were unexpected either. Naomi Girma’s absence was felt on defense, neither Claudia Dickey nor Phallon Tullis-Joyce emerged as the clear starter in goal, and the midfield looked suboptimal against the best team in the world. Head Coach Emma Hayes has multiple decisions to make before the Women’s World Cup next summer, with the USWNT’s next match coming on Nov. 27 against El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The UEFA Champions League returned this week and there were plenty of good games across Europe. In one of the bigger matchups of this round, Paris Saint-Germain went to England and beat Manchester City 4-2 to move to the top of the table. Elsewhere, Real Madrid mounted a late comeback to beat AS Roma 4-3 in Italy, Bradley Barcola scored a hat trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over LAK Linz, and Bodo/Glimt won 1-0 in Norway against Borussia Dortmund. The teams will play again on Tuesday and Wednesday, with PSG going up against Barcelona and Bayern Munich hosting Arsenal as two of the heavyweight showdowns.

Free Kicks

  • Congratulations to Orlando Pride newlyweds Rafaelle and Hailie Mace on tying the knot!

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/26

Orlando City plays Toronto FC, Orlando Pride prepare for Houston, the USWNT draws Spain, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

October 14, 2026

By

Image of Iago passing the ball against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. As the regular season winds down, the tension ramps up. The Lions are currently above the playoff line, but it’s a precarious perch. With two matches this week, earning crucial points will be even more difficult. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Visits Toronto FC Tonight

Orlando City travels to the Great White North tonight for a match against Eastern Conference opponent Toronto FC. Points are at a premium as both teams chase a playoff appearance. Rest assured that Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman is making sure the team is prepared and taking it one match at a time. It is a double match week so we’ll see how Perelman rotates the starting lineup.

Orlando Pride News and Notes

Yolanda Thomas is getting the Orlando Pride ready for Sunday’s road match against the Houston Dash. Of course, there are several players on international duty before then. Oihane got the start for Spain against the USWNT (see below) on Tuesday night. Barbra Banda scored a brace for Zambia in a 4-1 win over Uganda in an Olympic qualifier. Ally Lemos contributed two assists in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team’s 5-0 dismantling of the Dominican Republic.

USWNT Comes from Behind to Draw Spain

The USWNT played its second friendly against top-ranked Spain Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Philadelphia. Much like the previous match, Spain was able to build a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half. Unlike last time, the U.S. was able to score two goals to draw Spain. Ashley Sanchez scored in the 49th minute in her first USWNT start in nearly two years, and Mallory Swanson added the second goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, the USWNT wasn’t able to get a third, but a 2-2 draw is still a better result than last time and coming back from two goals down made it feel more like a win in the end.

USMNT Players in Club Action

Former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman came on in the 63rd minute of Villarreal’s 3-1 victory over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid in his club’s 2-0 win over Manchester United. He almost scored a goal, but it was disallowed after video review. Sergino Dest’s PSV lost 1-0 to RB Leipzig. Dest is Top 10 when it comes to Champions League appearances by U.S. players. There are a few more USMNT players making appearances in the matches today.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/13/26

Orlando City players named to MLS Team of the Matchday, USWNT takes on Spain tonight, Americans in action this week, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 13, 2026

By

Image of Ivan Angulo playing against D.C. United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a pep in my step so far this week after Orlando City’s win this weekend. Hopefully, the soccer we have ahead of us tonight and Wednesday night doesn’t end up dimming that enthusiasm. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Maxime Crepeau and Ivan Angulo were both named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, with Antoine Griezmann landing on the bench. Crepeau was immense in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew, recording a club-record 12 saves. Angulo also excelled with a goal and an assist, with his late winner landing a spot on Sports Illustrated‘s top five goals of the week as well. Griezmann also chipped in a goal and an assist. There are a couple of familiar faces on the bench with Griezmann, with former Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. earning the honor after making nine saves for the San Jose Earthquakes and former Lion Shak Mohammed recording a goal and an assist in Nashville’s win.

USWNT Aims to Bounce Back Against Spain Tonight

After a 2-0 loss to Spain on Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team will play the top team in the world again tonight. It will be interesting to see what lineup changes Head Coach Emma Hayes makes following the loss, particularly with regard to the defense to help stop Spain’s potent attack. Spain got off to a hot start in Saturday’s match, but the team’s physicality likely won’t catch the U.S. by surprise this time around. Orlando Pride defender Oihane, who is with Spain for these friendlies, said she expects the U.S. to be more aggressive in this rematch.

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch:"I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive."(I would expect the same.)

— Jeff Kassouf (@jeffkassouf.bsky.social) 2026-10-12T15:37:35.556Z

Americans in Action Abroad This Week

The UEFA Champions League and Europa League return this week and there are many Americans to keep an eye out for across Europe. Former Lion Alex Freeman, who earned plenty of praise for his performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, could start in his first UEFA Champions League game today when Villarreal hosts Napoli. We may also see more of 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert when Borussia Dortmund plays Bodo/Glimt as he continues to impress at such a young age. Sergino Dest and Johnny Cardoso are other Americans who could play in the Champions League, while Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Weah may suit up for Europa League play.

U.S. Soccer Announces Referee Development Program

U.S. Soccer unveiled a new program aimed at improving referee development and making the pathway for aspiring officials more consistent. Named R90+, the program will give referees access to mentors and coaches for them to improve across multiple aspects of officiating, such as game management, physical preparation, and tactical awareness. The first edition of this program will take place in the South, with 10 of the 60 officials coming from Florida. Hopefully this investment in officiating improves things for everyone involved.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Trending