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Lion Links: 7/6/20

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5 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. My family was very fortunate, as we could see some fireworks from our backyard. Add in some traditional hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, and a fine time was had by all. But, now we’re really getting into the thick of things with Orlando City’s match just days away. Let’s get to the links!

Rivalries Must Start Somewhere

For five years, Major League Soccer has tried to manufacture one rival after another for Orlando City, with mixed results. The first was New York City FC, as the two expansion clubs joined MLS at the same time, but NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls had a more natural rivalry. MLS tried again when Atlanta United entered the league, but given the Lions’ lack of success against Atlanta, it hasn’t really been much of a rivalry. Perhaps the third time will be the charm, as Orlando City has in-state competition from Inter Miami CF. There are some ties between the two clubs, with former Orlando City players and staff now at Miami. Still, Lions’ Head Coach Óscar Pareja put it all in perspective.

“This will come naturally,” Pareja said. “We can’t manufacture it. It comes with tradition — it comes with time, it comes with confronting each other — that comes from histories between the two teams and players and clubs. It’s going to build with the time, and we are all excited to be the first to do that building.”

Will this finally be a rivalry that makes sense for Orlando City and supporters? The first chance to find out comes in two short days, as the Lions face Inter Miami to start the MLS is Back Tournament on July 8.

MLS is Back Tournament Updates

Almost all of the clubs have arrived, though Toronto FC and the Colorado Rapids have both delayed their departures. The Vancouver Whitecaps are scheduled to arrive today.

Positive tests have increased as the competition gets closer though.

The entire FC Dallas club is quarantined following six positive tests for the coronavirus after arriving in Orlando. Because of that, Dallas’ opening match against Vancouver on July 9 has been postponed. Each club will start the tournament against their second opponents, with the first match date still to be determined.

All of this comes as cases are rising in Florida and Disney is moving forward with its plans to reopen the park. That is not to say that MLS, Disney, or the clubs are not taking the pandemic seriously. It’s just that the virus might not care.

NWSL Challenge Cup Results

The NWSL Challenge Cup continued without the Orlando Pride with matches on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Utah Royals FC earned its first win of 2020 defeating Sky Blue FC 1-0. In the other match, the Houston Dash defeated OL Reign 2-0 to move into second place in the competition.

On Sunday, the North Carolina Courage logged another win, defeating the Chicago Red Stars 1-0. The victory puts the Courage five points clear of the Dash and firmly at the top of the table. The final match of the weekend saw the Portland Thorns take on the Washington Spirit late last night, with both teams scoring in the second half for a 1-1 draw.

Americans Abroad

Plenty of Americans played across Europe this weekend. In Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Watford this weekend, United States Men’s National Team midfielder Christian Pulisic drew a penalty and gave defenders headaches. Pulisic has drawn comparisons to former Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, but has really come into his own with the team since the season restarted.

In other American news, there’s a big match today for American forward Josh Sargent as he and Werder Bremen face off against Heidenheim with relegation on the line. The two teams had a scoreless draw in the first leg so it all comes down to this.

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  • Defender Matt Polster is reportedly leaving Rangers FC for another stint in MLS with the New England Revolution. Polster was a first-round pick for the Chicago Fire in 2015, but made a move to Rangers in 2019. Polster didn’t have to go through the allocation process as he left Chicago on a free transfer and was not on the Allocation Ranking List.
  • Liverpool earned the club’s first victory since winning the English Premier League, defeating Aston Villa 2-0 at home on Sunday.
  • MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott talked about the return of MLS, and waxes poetic about some of the good old days when the league was in its infancy.
  • South African soccer team Kaiser Chiefs Football Club is helping women in Africa learn to code by supporting Pink Codrs Africa.
  • I don’t think this is what MLS had in mind when it talked about the bubble, but frankly it’s pretty flipping awesome.

I know we’re all excited about Orlando City returning, but please stay safe. Cases are on the rise throughout our state. Wear a mask and practice social distancing. Be kind, be considerate, and go Lions!

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Lion Links: 6/5/25

MLS All-Star voting update, Kerry Abello shines with USWNT, Sergio Zapata earns recognition, and more.

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24 hours ago

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June 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been treating you well as we enjoy some international soccer and prepare for the return of NWSL action this weekend. Before we jump right into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Dylan Judelson!

Pair of Lions Lead MLS All-Star Voting

Voting for this year’s MLS All-Star Game remains underway and an update was provided on which players are leading at each position. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman leads all right backs as he enjoys a breakout season. I was aware of the buzz he’s been getting this year, but it’s still surprising to see a Lion as an All-Star frontrunner. What’s even more surprising is that Pedro Gallese leads the voting for goalkeepers. The Peruvian made a rough gaffe last week, but has otherwise had a stellar season with Orlando that’s included seven clean sheets. Voting will close on June 11, so make sure to get those votes in before then.

Kerry Abello Impresses With USMNT

Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello made her first appearance for the United States Women’s National Team Tuesday, playing every minute of the 4-0 win over Jamaica. The versatility she’s shown with the Pride translated well in Head Coach Emma Hayes’ system, as she was able to hold things down defensively and contribute to the attack as well. Abello could end up bringing solid depth to the USWNT as Hayes figures out the team’s future core of players. Enjoy this video from the USWNT that provides a look behind the scenes of Abello’s international debut.

Sergio Zapata Named Player of the Month

Sergio Zapata scored a whopping 11 goals for Orlando City’s U-19 team over the course of just four matches in May, winning the honor of MLS NEXT Player of the Month. He had three hat tricks last month, including one against Hoosier Premier at MLS NEXT Fest. Zapata committed to Cornell, so hopefully we’ll get to see him tear it up in the Ivy League over the next couple of years.

Zack Steffen Sustains Knee Injury

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen injured his knee at the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp and will reportedly miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. It’s rough news for the 30-year-old, as he was expected to compete with Matt Turner for the starting job with the USMNT. He’s been having a great season with the Colorado Rapids and returned to the club for further evaluation on the injury.

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

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Lion Links: 6/4/25

USWNT wins as Abello gets first cap, Orlando Pride’s Concacaf W Champions Cup draw, Club World Cup in Orlando, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Tuesday was a busy soccer day, especially on the women’s side. We have plenty of Orlando Pride news, and the USWNT secured yet another victory. I’m hoping the good vibes continue since I’ll be coming down to Orlando for the Pride’s match this Saturday. If you’re going to the match, let me know, as I’d love to meet as many of our readers as possible. For now, let’s get to the links.

USWNT Blanks Jamaica

The USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Orlando Pride’s Kerry Abello got her first start and her first cap in the match. She went the full 90 minutes and almost had her first international goal in the second half, but the chance went a bit wide of the right post. Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scored a brace as the U.S. rolled to an easy win.

Pride Internationals

Abello wasn’t the only Pride player to make an international appearance. Marta returned to international duty for Brazil getting the start and the captain’s armband in a 2-1 win over Japan. Both Grace Chanda and Barbra Banda started for Zambia in the 2-0 loss to South Africa in the Three Nations Challenge. Congratulations are also due to Zara Chavoshi, who earned her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team in the match against Haiti.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Draw

The Concacaf W Champions Cup draw happened yesterday and the Orlando Pride are in Group A with Club America Femenil, CF Pachuca Femenil, LD Alajuelense, and Chorrillo FC. Group B consists of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, CF Monterrey Femenil, Vancouver Rise FC Academy, and Alianza Women FC. The competition kicks off Aug. 19-21.

FIFA Loves Orlando

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat for an interview with Jamie Seh of WKMG Orlando. Infantino spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium. FIFA loves Orlando enough for the city to host the Club World Cup, but not the actual World Cup. Here is the schedule for the matches in Orlando. We will be bringing you coverage of these matches.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the return of the Orlando Pride this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 6/3/25

Orlando City B announces signings, details of Concacaf W Champions Cup, UEFA Nations League preview, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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June 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It’s been a pretty brutal last two games for Orlando City, there’s no getting around that fact. While it’s never fun to not have the team in action, a two-week break between games maybe isn’t the worst thing in this particular case. Even though it’ll be a minute before the Lions are back in action, we still have plenty of things to talk about, so let’s get into today’s links.

Orlando City B Announces Signings

Orlando City B announced on Monday that it has signed Clovis Archange and Jackson Platts to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair are graduates of the Orlando City Development Academy and were part of the team that won the U-18 Generation Adidas Cup earlier this year. The 18-year-old Platts captained the team in the final, while Archange was named as one of the players to watch before the tournament started. They’ve both featured for their countries at the youth level, with Platts appearing for the United States U-16 and U-18 teams, and Archange suiting up for Canada’s U-17 side. Congratulations to both players!

Concacaf Announces W Champions Cup Details

Concacaf has named the 10 teams that will participate 2025-2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup and has announced the pots for tonight’s draw. The Orlando Pride are one of three American teams participating in the second year of the competition, and have been placed into Pot 2. Teams will be divided into two groups of five, with each team facing every club in its group once, and the top two sides from each group then advancing to the semifinals. The winner gets a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which is set to be held for the first time in 2028. The draw takes place tonight at 8 p.m.

UEFA Nations League Preview

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with the semifinals set for tomorrow and Thursday, and the third-place game and final taking place on Sunday. Things get started on Wednesday afternoon with Germany facing off against Portugal in Munich. Germany put away Italy 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to get to the semis for the first time, while Portugal beat Denmark 5-2, and is hunting for its second Nations League trophy. Thursday has Spain taking on France in Stuttgart. The Spanish beat the Netherlands on penalties in the semis to get here, while France took out Croatia on penalties to punch its ticket. There’s plenty of recent history in this one as these teams also met in the semifinals of Euro 2024 last year, with Spain claiming a 2-1 win.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The transfer rumor mill has kicked into full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the big talking points. Starting in England, Manchester United has reportedly increased its interest in Brian Mbuemo, with the Brentford forward said to also be interested in moving to the club. There are said to be a number of Premier League teams interested in signing Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling after his team was relegated to the Championship this season. Jobe Bellingham will reportedly follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, as he’s reportedly decided to join Borussia Dortmund. Finally, Inter Milan is reportedly interested in signing Marcus Rashford as the Italians look to rebuild the squad following a brutal defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

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  • Here’s a first look at Alex Freeman in his USMNT kit:

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

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