Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/18/20

Published

5 years ago

on

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope everyone is doing well this weekend as we are more than halfway through the month. Work has been busier for me now with the Disney theme parks open. I barely had time to watch some soccer, but I’ll be free to watch Orlando City’s next game Monday night. Now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Trades for First-Round Pick

Orlando City SC acquired a first-round pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in a trade with the Philadelphia Union. In the other half of the trade, the Lions traded away the Homegrown Player rights for defender Nathan Harriel. The 19-year-old is a Florida native, but became a member of the Union’s academy and signed with the Bethlehem Steel last year. It’s a pretty good trade for the Lions, although the value of that draft pick will depend on how well the Union perform this season.

Oscar Pareja and the Lions Prepare for Monday

Speaking of the Union, the Lions need a win or a draw against them Monday to finish on top of Group A and position themselves nicely moving forward in the MLS is Back tournament. Head Coach Oscar Pareja is keeping the Lions focused in training with a shot at nine points in the group stage on the line.

“The group has been training normally…learning, progressing, and trying to be a better team every day,” said Pareja after Friday’s session. “The group has been concentrating on the things we have done well, but also the things we need to improve, knowing that the next match is very important as well. The objective [is to] keep adding [regular season] points but at the same time have the opportunity to take the next step for what is coming in the tournament.”

The Spotlight Won’t Blind Chris Mueller

Chris Mueller has been in good form since the MLS is Back Tournament started. With three goals in two games, the 23-year-old is just trying to stay focused on his game and not the attention he’s been getting from it.

“Honestly I’m just trying to continue to play my game and not focus too much on the hype,” Mueller said. “I know that nothing’s really happened yet, I just want to continue to play my football and take it game by game. It’s easy to get caught up in that stuff if you read it and look into it a lot and obviously it feels good to score goals and help my team win which is ultimately what I love to do. I think all those things will come in due time as long as I stay focused on the task at hand.”

There’s chatter about Mueller deserving a look to join the United States Men’s National team as well. I expected Mueller to score more this year than in the past. USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter should call him up soon if he keeps this up. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below if Mueller deserves a shot in the Stars & Stripes.

NWSL Challenge Cup Quarterfinal Recap

There was a huge upset in the NWSL Challenge Cup quarterfinals as the top-seeded, two-time league champion North Carolina Courage lost 1-0 to the Portland Thorns. Rookie Morgan Weaver scored the only goal in the 68th minute to send the Thorns into the semifinals. This was the first win in the tournament for the Thorns and they ended the Courage’s four-game win streak and tournament run.

A full 90 minutes couldn’t separate Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash, with the game coming down to penalty kicks. The Houston Dash came out on top thanks to three big saves by Jane Campbell.

Today’s games will include OL Reign taking on the Chicago Red Stars and the Washington Spirit playing against Sky Blue FC. You can watch these games with a CBS All Access subscription, or follow along on social media. NWSL fans are working hard to make sure the league not only gets the attention it deserves, but encourages growth in the sport moving forward.

Orlando City B Schedule Released

USL League One announced the full league schedule for the 2020 season which starts tonight. There was a change in format for the season and Orlando City B will now play 16 games instead of 20. The Young Lions will start their season on Aug. 1 on the road against South Georgia Tormenta FC. They will then continue the road trip on Aug. 7 against New England Revolution II and will play their first home game at Osceola Heritage Park Aug. 14 against Fort Lauderdale CF.

OCB will conclude its season with a two-game home stand against the Richmond Kickers Oct. 21 and the Greenville Triumph Oct. 24. Fort Lauderdale CF will host Greenville Triumph tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, and Orlando fans may see a familiar face if they tune in as former Lion and Alex Morgan’s husband Servando Carrasco signed with Fort Lauderdale.

MLS is Back Tournament Results

The New England Revolution took the lead after a goal by Designated Player Adam Buksa, but Federico Higuain scored to salvage a point for D.C. United in a 1-1 draw. The Revolution are now tied at the top of Group B with four points and the two teams will fight for control of the group Tuesday morning.

Kellyn Acosta gave the Colorado Rapids an early lead over Sporting Kansas City with a goal in the sixth minute, but the game broke wide open when Rapids center back Danny Wilson was sent off in the 61st minute. Soon after the red card, Sporting KC scored twice to take the lead. Rapids forward Jonathan Lewis scored to level the score, but Graham Zusi scored late in stoppage time to give Sporting KC the 3-2 win.

Both Minnesota United and Real Salt Lake had a chance to clinch a spot in the knockout round, but they played to a 0-0 draw in an even contest. Although they couldn’t come away with a win, the Loons duo of former Lion Kevin Molino and former Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath are doing well in their old stomping ground. The pair were undefeated in the home games played at this venue back in 2014 and have continued that trend in their return with Minnesota.

Free Kicks

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your weekend, take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you next time.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

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

18 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!

Continue Reading

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!

Continue Reading

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!

Continue Reading

Trending