Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/22/20

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s finally Friday and the Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. I hope the week has gone well for you so far, and if not then hopefully this weekend can give some needed rest and relaxation.
Before we jump into today’s links, let’s wish Orlando Pride midfielder Kristen Edmonds a happy birthday today!
Details Emerge for MLS Tournament in Orlando
There have been plenty of reports regarding the return of MLS soccer in the form of a tournament featuring all 26 teams playing in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Although nothing is official quite yet, there are updates on what is being proposed. The 26 teams would be split into four groups, each with a seeded team that does not take place in the random draw. The Seattle Sounders, LAFC, Atlanta United and Orlando City will be the four seeded teams, with Orlando landing on the list for serving as hosts.
The teams will play five games each against conference opponents, with the top two teams in each group advancing to a knockout round. These games would count towards the regular season, although how the MLS schedule will be affected is not clear at this stage. The article from The Athletic ($) also mentioned Nani having reservations about the idea, but Orlando City clarified things through Twitter with a quote from the star midfielder.
A statement from our captain regarding today's article in @TheAthletic. pic.twitter.com/c4uKwPj2m6
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 21, 2020
Orlando City Classic Preview
Tomorrow’s Orlando City Classic will feature Orlando’s 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers in 2016 at home. Seb Hines, Brek Shea, Kaká, and Kevin Molino all scored in the match, but Joe Bendik’s huge save on a penalty kick in front of the home crowd was probably the most memorable moment. Miguel Gallardo and company get you all set to enjoy the match and relive one of Orlando’s best performances since joining MLS.
Buckle up, goals are inbound again Saturday night. 🙌@Rasmussen | #CityClassics pic.twitter.com/70p9U2Dipj
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 21, 2020
Marisa Viggiano Adjusting to Training
While the Orlando Pride await the green light to return to play from the National Women’s Soccer League, the players continue to train and prepare. Pride midfielder Marisa Viggiano discussed what it has been like adjusting to training alone. The key thing Viggiano is working on during her reps is awareness, which can be difficult without training alongside teammates. Regardless, she is keeping her head up while training to make sure she is ready to roll when the season gets started. She also makes a killer banana bread.
"It's been good to be back out here." #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/BpAjaeIpah
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) May 21, 2020
The Making of a Tifo
As part of the club’s effort to give credit to the important artists and creators in the community who support Orlando City, Miguel Gallardo spoke with the minds behind some of the greatest tifos in club history. A tifo is a great way to visualize a message from fan to club and can be a memorable part of the game-day experience.
What goes into the making of a tifo? @migallardo01 talks to some special guests to find out. #CreditToCreators pic.twitter.com/O9Hyh5k7pY
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 21, 2020
FC Cincinnati Hires New Coach…Again
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam is FC Cincinnati’s new head coach, filling the vacancy left by Ron Jans’ departure this preseason. A Dutch native, Stam has played with PSV Eindhoven, Lazio, Milan and Ajax over the years and recently coached at Feyenoord until his resignation this past October. The 47-year-old will now try to right the ship of a team that finished last in the league in its debut season last year.
In a bit of an embarrassing moment, FC Cincinnati’s social team created a welcome graphic for Stam — only the photo used wasn’t of Stam. This led to quite a bit of fun on soccer Twitter yesterday. The problem apparently stemmed from a similar-looking coach being misidentified by the wire service that provided the photo. Both Stam and the coach pictured — Tinus van Teunenbroek — are bald white guys, and the internet ran with it.
Congrats, Jaap! pic.twitter.com/jiwqCHAqkQ
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) May 21, 2020
FC Cincinnati names Jaap Stam as new head coach pic.twitter.com/ssz0M1L6mp
— Kyle Schnitzer (@Kyle_Schnitzer) May 21, 2020
FC Cincinnati are like "join us in welcoming the new head coach of #FCCincy, Jaap Stam!" pic.twitter.com/djb7Q58OAa
— Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) May 21, 2020
Congratulations to Jaap Stam…on getting the #FCCincy job pic.twitter.com/DcI7xyVQhO
— MLS Ireland (@MLSwatch) May 21, 2020
This is actually Jaap Stam. pic.twitter.com/1MiG8Ot5fA
— ManeLandMichael (@ManeLandMichael) May 21, 2020
Free Kicks
- The Lions remain hard at work, training and preparing for MLS matches when they return.
Another day, another sesh. #CreditToCreators: Video shot and edited by Eli Walker: @_EWmedia IG/_ewmedia pic.twitter.com/0ZQ2fdOsmW
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 21, 2020
- The Major Arena Soccer League gave a statement on how the 2019-2020 playoffs may be conducted. Although the Orlando SeaWolves won’t be playing, more soccer to watch is always good news.
- United States Men’s National Team midfielder Weston McKennie believes the team has a growing identity as it works together.
- Lydia Wahlke resigned as U.S. Soccer Federation’s Chief Legal Officer as the USSF is investigated for its legal strategy in the equal pay lawsuit with the United States Women’s National Team.
- FC Seoul received a record fine for putting sex dolls in the stands instead of mannequins to help simulate a live crowd.
I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and an even better Memorial Day weekend. I personally have a lot of work ahead of me, but I also pretty much perfected a tequila and lime chicken taco recipe I’ve been tinkering with for a few weeks now. So at least I’ll have something to look forward to.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/25
Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City jumped eight places to no. 11 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Meanwhile the Orlando Pride continue to hold sway at no. 1 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Germany great Thomas Muller has reportedly received offers from MLS teams.
- Tierna Davidson will not play in the USWNT’s upcoming games against Brazil due to a knee injury, with Gisele Thompson replacing her on the roster.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/31/25
Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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.
- Antoine Griezmann is reportedly staying at Atletico Madrid next season despite being linked to a potential move to join LAFC in MLS.
- RB Leipzig has fired manager Marco Rose, as the club is sixth in the Bundesliga table and has appointed Zsolt Low as interim manager until the end of the season.
- David Blitzer is reportedly close to selling his majority ownership stake in the Utah Royals and Real Salt Lake after owning both clubs since 2022.
- Sports Illustrated released its list of MLS Coaches on the hot seat after poor starts, mentioning Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, the LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney, and the New England Revolution’s Caleb Porter.
- FIFA is reportedly considering having a one-game playoff between LAFC and Club America, with the winner replacing Club Leon in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/28/25
Orlando Pride prepare for the San Diego Wave, NWSL weekend matches, USMNT roster predictions, and more.

We made it to Friday! Celebrate however you see fit, whether that’s an indulgent breakfast or just your favorite cup of coffee. This week has flown by a bit for me and I’m looking forward to a weekend filled with soccer. I’ll be spending the next few days working, reading a new book or two, and working out the kinks of making a frozen coconut mojito. My blender hates me. Let’s get to today’s links!
Orlando Pride Prepare for the San Diego Wave
The Orlando Pride will look to extend their 2025 win streak to three games — and their overall win streak to seven — on Saturday when they host the San Diego Wave at noon. Orlando has looked the part of a defending champion so far, leading the league with eight goals without conceding a single one in two games. The Pride will take on a revamped San Diego team that is unbeaten under Head Coach Jonas Eidevall. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how Orlando will need to set the tone early on at home against the Wave and keep up the momentum.
NWSL Provides Entertaining Slate of Weekend Matches
While it’s far too early to think about the NWSL Shield race, it never hurts to check out how the Pride’s competitors are doing while enjoying some great soccer. Tonight features a pair of matches at the same time, with the Washington Spirit hosting Bay FC and the Houston Dash playing on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC. Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga will have a chance to tie her own record of scoring in eight straight games when her team plays the Utah Royals on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll get to see if the Seattle Reign’s solid start continues against an unbeaten Angel City FC team searching for its first win of the season.
USMNT Roster Predictions for Concacaf Gold Cup
The pressure is on United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino to turn things around after a rough showing in the final four of the Concacaf Nations League. This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup will be an opportunity for the USMNT to impress in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, and Pro Soccer Wire dove into how the roster could look for the tournament. Injuries to Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun complicate things up top, but we could see Brenden Aaronson or Alex Zendejas could return to the attack. The Gold Cup will likely also determine which goalkeeper between Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, and Patrick Schulte emerges as the true starter. Players like Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Johnny Cardoso are other notable names to keep an eye out for leading into the tournament.
FA Cup Quarterfinals Kick Off This Weekend
Only eight teams remain in the FA Cup and the action returns with enticing quarterfinal matchups. Preston North End is the only team outside of the English Premier League still fighting, but Manchester City is the only traditional giant left in the field as well. City will face off against a Bournemouth side that beat it 2-1 back in November, while Preston will have to get past Aston Villa, which has only won two of its last eight games. Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood’s injury adds an obstacle to overcome when the team travels to play Brighton and Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace gets star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta back from injury for its clash with Fulham.
Free Kicks
- Time is running out for Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Peru to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the latest CONMEBOL matches. Peru did well to beat Bolivia, but lost a crucial match against Venezuela.
- Angel City FC signed Brazilian midfielder Maiara Niehues from Sporting CP on a three-year contract. The 20-year-old recorded 18 goals and three assists in 57 matches across all competitions with the Portuguese club.
- MLS announced an expanded partnership with the media company Footballco to increase coverage of the league and its players. Hopefully this partnership results in a spotlight being put on smaller market teams and lesser known stars in the league, but only time will tell.
- Denver’s NWSL team announced its plans for a new training center and temporary stadium that will seat 12,000 fans for 2026 and 2027.
- The English Premier League’s transfer window will temporarily open on June 1 and close on June 10 to allow clubs participating in the Club World Cup to sign players before the tournament.
- After losing 2-0 in the first leg, Chelsea beat Manchester City 3-0 to advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals. The semifinals will have Chelsea take on Barcelona and Arsenal square off against Lyon.
- UEFA is investigating Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos for indecent conduct in the Champions League. If a ban is handed out, that player would miss the first leg of Madrid’s quarterfinal matchup with Arsenal.
- Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0 to move three points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, but forward Dani Olmo sustained a leg injury that could see him miss time.
That’s all I have for you for today’s links. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
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