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Lion Links: 7/13/20

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5 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! I didn’t take the time to go see how long it has been since I wrote Lions Links following an Orlando City victory, but it’s been quite a while. It feels good, doesn’t it? It was a great distraction from all the other things going on in the world and in our state. Fortunately, we only have one more day to wait until the Lions play New York City FC tomorrow at 8 p.m. Let’s get to the links!

MLS Match Postponed After Positive Tests

Toronto FC and D.C. United were supposed to play in the MLS is Back Tournament yesterday morning, however the match was postponed and then rescheduled for this morning at 9 a.m. One D.C. United player tested positive for COVID-19 and a Toronto FC player tested inconclusive on Saturday. MLS protocol is to test each player every other day, and on the day before a match. This is the second time the match was rescheduled after Toronto’s delayed arrival in Orlando moved the match from Friday to Sunday.

As teams are withdrawn and matches postponed, there are concerns about the tournament’s future. However, MLS is keeping a close eye on the tournament and it will continue. Orlando City defender João Moutinho weighed in on how he is feeling regarding the postponed match and the tournament itself.

“I feel good, to be honest,” defender João Moutinho said Sunday afternoon. “We’re all here, we stay in our rooms, we go to training, we come back. So I know that the likelihood of one of us getting infected is really, really slim. I think we’re even more protected here than if we were to stay at home. So I feel good, I feel confident. That’s something that I really don’t think much about. I’m just happy to be here and I’m happy that we get to play the tournament.”

MLS is Back Tournament Weekend Results

In the matches that were played this weekend, Saturday featured the New York Red Bulls defeating Atlanta United 1-0. The defeat marked the first time in 27 matches that Atlanta failed to score a goal. As satisfying as that result might be, it wasn’t the wildest match of the day. That honor went to the 4-0 drubbing the Columbus Crew gave FC Cincinnati. Lucas Zelarayán started the scoring for the Crew, Gyasi Zardes added a brace, and Youness Mokhtar finished it off. Cincinnati was completely outclassed and that doesn’t bode well for the club going forward in the tournament.

Even though the early match on Sunday was postponed, the two late matches did proceed as planned. In its match against Minnesota United last night, Sporting Kansas City was without Andreu Fontas due to a quad strain, midfielder Felipe Gutierrez thanks to season-ending knee surgery, and an unidentified player, who tested positive Thursday and is in quarantine.

The actual match was a bit of a wild affair, with SKC going up at the end of the first half after a Khiry Shelton goal. SKC goalkeeper Tim Melia was shown red in the 74th minute and it took Minnesota until stoppage time to score. After an own goal by Shelton, Kevin Molino scored in the dying moments of the match for the Loons to win 2-1.

In the late night match, Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids squared off. Albert Rusnak scored in the 27th minute and Damir Kreilach doubled the lead in the 76th minute in a dominant 2-0 win for Real Salt Lake.

In addition to the rescheduled Toronto FC and D.C. United match, the tournament continues tonight with LAFC taking on the Houston Dynamo at 8 p.m., and the LA Galaxy against the Portland Timbers in the 10:30 p.m. match.

NWSL Challenge Cup Results

The NWSL Challenge Cup continued Sunday as the Washington Spirit defeated the Houston Dash 1-0 after an early goal by Bayley Feist. The win lifted the Spirit into second place, though there are still other matches that will determine the standings heading into the quarterfinals. The second match of the day saw the Chicago Red Stars defeat the Utah Royals 1-0, with Casey Short scoring late to give the Red Stars their first win of 2020.

The final two matches of the qualification round are today and will have the Portland Thorns and OL Reign squaring off at 12:30 p.m. and Sky Blue FC facing the North Carolina Courage at 10 p.m.

Players and Fans Adapting to Tournament

While not a surprise to us, it’s very hot in Orlando. Toronto forward Jozy Altidore even tweeted about it. I’m not sure what you call it when someone whines in a tweet, but he’s not enjoying the warm welcome to Florida.

Of course, it’s not just the heat that teams are adapting to. As Jozy mentioned, there are the 9 a.m. matches as well. As professional athletes, players have sleep and meal schedules, and particular ways to prepare before matches. All of that has been thrown out the window for these early matches. It hasn’t been easy on supporters either. While we don’t have to get up too early to watch here in Orlando, others across the country have to get up before breakfast just to watch their team play.

Free Kicks

  • If you somehow haven’t seen what getting tested for COVID-19 looks like, here’s a closer look from the Orlando Pride’s Ali Riley.

  • We bid a sad farewell to England and Leeds United legend Jack Charlton, who passed away at the age of 85 years old. Charlton had 35 caps for England, including a victory in the 1966 World Cup. He also made a club record 773 appearances for Leeds over his 23-year career.
  • In a bit of good news, Andrés Reyes should be ready to play in Inter Miami’s next game following the injury he sustained in the match against Orlando City.
  • The hits keep coming for Inter Miami CF, as Chelsea’s Willian declined a three-year offer to play in South Florida.
  • It’s tough being an Orlando Pride supporter while the rest of the NWSL plays in the Challenge Cup. It’s also tough being the teams the club is rallying behind in each match, as the support is becoming a curse of sorts in matches.

I must say, it’s a bit weird writing about all this soccer stuff. It’s also very nice, so let’s keep things going by everybody being safe and wearing masks. Go City!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/9/25

Orlando City’s next U.S. Open Cup match date revealed, MLS matches to watch, top soccer club valuations, and more.

Published

12 hours ago

on

May 9, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Friday! I hope the week has treated you well as we get ready for a Mother’s Day weekend packed with soccer. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are both in action at the same time on Saturday, so make sure to plan accordingly depending on how you want to enjoy the action. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Will Face Nashville in USOC on May 21

Orlando City will officially host Nashville SC on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16. That match is sandwiched between a road game against Inter Miami on May 18 and a home game against the Portland Timbers May 24, so at least there won’t be much travel during that week during an already jam-packed month. The Lions reached this stage of the tournament after beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 Wednesday, while Nashville won 1-0 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Tuesday.

What to Watch In MLS This Weekend

We’ll all be tuned in for Orlando City’s match on Saturday against the New England Revolution, but there’s plenty more MLS action to look forward to as well. Before Orlando’s match, Inter Miami will head to St. Paul to take on a Minnesota United team that leads the league with six clean sheets this season. Another notable match this weekend is a clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings when the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew. That game has Daniel Gazdag written all over it. Sunday night’s match should be a doozy between two heavyweight Western Conference teams, as LAFC will hit the road to take on the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS Clubs Listed Among World’s Most Valuable

Sportico announced the valuations for the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, and a whopping 19 MLS teams made the list. The Lions aren’t included, but it’s still neat to see some clubs like Minnesota, Sporting Kansas City, and Charlotte FC listed. LAFC is the highest listed MLS side, coming in at 16th with a $1.28 billion valuation. Real Madrid tops the list at $6.53 billion, and six of the top 10 are from the English Premier League. While valuations aren’t exactly hard evidence of success or influence, I think this is a testament to the growth and parity of MLS through an international lens.

English Clubs Reach Europa League Final

This year’s Europa League final will feature a pair of EPL teams as Manchester United and Tottenham breezed through the semifinals. United overcame a shaky first half to beat Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford, with Mason Mount scoring two of the team’s four goals in the second half. Tottenham avoided an upset in Norway by winning 2-0 against Bodo/Glimt. The final will take place on May 21 in Spain, and there’s both a trophy and Champions League qualification on the line. Both United and Tottenham struggled this season and are respectively 15th and 16th in the league standings, but winning the Europa League is all that matters now.

Free Kicks

  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso played every minute of Real Betis’ 2-2 result against Fiorentina to advance to the Europa Conference League final, where the Spanish club will face Chelsea on May 28. Enjoy this goal from Antony to help his side prevail.
  • In honor of Mother’s Day, AC Milan players will wear their mothers’ last names on the back of their jerseys in today’s match against Bologna. I love this idea and hope more clubs follow suit moving forward.
  • An ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville acquired Salford City of England’s League Two.
  • Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra’s MMA debut will have to wait, as the 43-year-old’s fight set for May 23 in Paris was postponed.
  • We’ll end our links with what looks to be some unexpected Orlando Pride representation in Vatican City!

That’s all I have for you this time around. Have a fantastic Friday and enjoy the holiday weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/8/25

Orlando City steamrolls the Tampa Bay Rowdies in I-4 Derby, Orlando Pride aim to bounce back, U.S. Open Cup results, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 8, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s not often we get to celebrate an Orlando City victory in the middle of the week these days, but hopefully it’s a habit we get used to. The Lions took care of business in my neck of the woods, and it’s given some nice optimism to finish this week strongly. Let’s dive into the big win and more in today’s links!

Orlando City Trounces Tampa Bay Rowdies

Take a bow, Gustavo Caraballo! The 16-year-old was the star of the show in Orlando City’s dominant 5-0 U.S. Open Cup win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, scoring twice to jumpstart Orlando’s attack and making history along the way. There’s plenty of scoring to enjoy, so be sure to check out our full recap!

Hopefully this game was a nice shot in the arm for Orlando’s offense and something to build on in league play. It’s always nice to take down the Rowdies and the Lions are now the last Floridian team standing in the tournament. They’ll host Nashville SC in the round of 16 later this month in what should be a good game in the City Beautiful.

Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back in North Carolina

After a 1-0 loss on the road to the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride will look to return to their winning ways when they face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough environment for the Pride to play in, although the Courage have lost two of their three home games so far this season. Pride defender Emily Sams spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match and how the team can raise its level after a disappointing loss in Portland.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Wraps Up

MLS teams mostly cruised in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32, but it was still an exciting round of soccer filled with drama. In a vintage “cupset,” the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat New York City FC 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Orlando native Beto Ydrach. Indy Eleven nearly took down the Philadelphia Union, but the MLS side converted all five kicks in the penalty shootout to advance after a 1-1 draw.

The New England Revolution escaped Pawtucket with a 2-1 road win against Rhode Island FC, with 17-year-old Cristiano Oliveira scoring a late winner. Minnesota United squeezed past Louisville City 1-0, the Chicago Fire put Detroit City to the sword in a 4-0 win, and FC Dallas won 3-1 against USL League One side AV Alta FC.

UEFA Champions League Final Set

Paris Saint-Germain did everything it needed to and more at home against Arsenal, winning 2-1 to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. Great saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi propelled PSG to victory, with Bukayo Saka providing Arsenal’s only goal of the two-leg series. PSG will take on Inter Milan in the final on May 31 and it should be an interesting matchup at Allianz Arena to close out the tournament. Will PSG lift its first Champions League trophy only a year after Kylian Mbappe left the club, or will Inter come out on top after finishing as runner-up in 2023? I can’t wait to find out.

Free Kicks

  • Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team star Mallory Swanson and her husband Dansby Swanson, as the couple announced that they’re expecting their first child!
  • Racing Louisville announced that goalkeeper Katie Lund and midfielder Maddie Pokorny will both miss the remainder of the season due to hip injuries. Jordyn Bloomer, who had five saves in Friday’s win over the Houston Dash, will serve as the team’s goalkeeper in Lund’s stead.
  • The Columbus Crew signed Daniel Gazdag to a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028 as well.
  • Arsene Wenger proposed a change to the offside rule so that attacking players are onside so long as any part of their body is lined up with the last defender. We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it could lead to more goals in the future.
  • Here’s what to watch for in the second legs of the Europa League semifinals. Manchester United will host Athletic Club with a three-goal lead in aggregate, while Tottenham will aim to defend its two-goal advantage in Norway against a Bodo/Glimt side that has key players returning from suspension.
  • Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

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

Lion Links 5/7/25

Orlando City takes on the Rowdies, sponsors like MLS, the NWSL is growing, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 7, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day as the Lions begin their 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign. I’ve repeatedly said on The Mane Land PawedCast that I want Oscar Pareja to focus on this competition more than another one (*cough* Leagues Cup *cough*). That all starts tonight, and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get to the links.

I-4 Derby Tonight

Orlando City enters the 2025 U.S. Open Cup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions make the perilous 112-mile trip along I-4 — which feels approximately like flying to Seattle — to take on an old geographical rival. We’re likely to see a rotated lineup for this match, but Pareja said he has confidence in the younger players to get the job done. If you’re not making the trip to Tampa here is how you can watch the match. We will have our normal match coverage for you tonight.

Nobody Likes Nil-Nil

You know something is going on when Orlando City attracts the attention of the national media. Unfortunately, that thing is the overabundance of 0-0 draws in four out of the last five matches. The theory is that the Lions aren’t getting enough service out of the midfield for the players up top. It may be as simple as players getting healthy for Orlando City to reignite the offense. For the sake of a certain The Mane Land editor’s sanity, I hope that is the case.

MLS News and Notes

Soccer’s popularity is growing in the United States. Are decades of being America’s next big sport finally paying off? It seems to actually be the case, at least when it comes to the sponsors. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, brands are investing in MLS and soccer in America. EA Sports is in on the action, partnering with MLS and Apple TV to show four live matches within the EA FC mobile gaming app this season

NWSL Keeps Growing

Big things are also happening in the NWSL. The growth has prompted the league to move its headquarters from one New York office to a bigger New York office. Part of that growth comes from owners like the Washington Spirit’s Michelle Kang. The billionaire is investing in the NWSL, U.S. Soccer, and other leagues and countries throughout the world. On a slightly different scale, Mikaela Shiffrin — the most decorated alpine skier of all time — has invested in the Denver NWSL expansion side.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match as well as the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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