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Lion Links: 7/28/20

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5 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, everyone. The MLS is Back Tournament continues to chug along, and considering the uncertainty currently surrounding the bubble-less Major League Baseball season, we should probably be extra grateful that it’s doing so. There’s plenty to talk about today so let’s hop in, right after we take a moment to wish Orlando Pride and USWNT defender Ali Krieger a happy birthday!

Orlando City to Face LAFC on Friday

We now know who the Lions will face on Friday in the MLS is Back quarterfinals, and the road ahead couldn’t be more difficult. Orlando City will play LAFC, which thumped the Seattle Sounders 4-1 last night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. LAFC blitzed Seattle early with intense, sustained pressure in the opening 20 minutes, taking a 1-0 lead on a Diego Rossi penalty. Seattle finally settled down a bit but the LAFC lead still grew to 2-0 before the break when former Lion Shane O’Neill deflected a Latif Blessing shot past Stefan Frei and into his own net to make it 2-0. Will Bruin gave Seattle a late lifeline but LAFC added two more quick goals in the closing 10 minutes. LAFC has scored three or more goals four times in six matches in 2020 and has yet to lose this season. Yikes.

In the other Round of 16 match Monday, the San Jose Earthquakes dispatched Real Salt Lake, 5-2. The Quakes blew open a 3-2 match at the end and RSL’s Marcelo Silva (84’) and Kyle Beckerman (90’) were sent off late.

Reasons for De Boer’s Departure

Atlanta United president Darren Eales has given an interview in which he speaks about the club’s decision to part ways with former head coach Frank de Boer. The long and short of it is that the people in charge didn’t believe that the team was performing under de Boer in a way that reflected their standards of the club. Eales made specific mention to the way the club plays being just as important to results, saying:

“We want to be a top club and play in way that’s exciting, dynamic and winning trophies.”

While Atlanta won both the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup, many felt the difference in the way the team played under de Boer as opposed to how it played under original manager Tata Martino was evident, and not necessarily in a good way. The club also announced that Atlanta United 2 head coach Stephen Glass has been named interim head coach of the first team effective immediately.

Arriola Extended

Paul Arriola has agreed to a new long-term contract extension with D.C. United. The extension runs through the 2023 season and has an option for 2024. The 25-year-old Designated Player has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL during preseason, and the fact that the club signed him to an extension despite his injury isn’t something that was lost on him.

“To show belief in me after I tore my ACL, that loyalty goes a long way. I want to give everything I have for this club, for good people. I can’t thank them enough for putting the trust in me and I’m 100% certain I won’t let them down.”

Arriola’s absence hampered D.C. at the MLS is Back Tournament, as the team only picked up two points during the group stage and finished bottom of Group C.

Concacaf Qualifying Format Changed

Concacaf has announced updates to its men’s international calendar and has also changed the format by which Concacaf teams will qualify for the 2022 World Cup. To begin, the sixth to 25th ranked nations in the FIFA rankings will be drawn into six groups of five, and each team will play the others in its group once. The six group winners will then face off against each other in a two-legged tie, with the three winners advancing to the final round of qualifying. The last round will see those three teams join the Concacaf teams ranked 1-5 in the FIFA rankings, with all eight teams then playing each other twice. Once that’s been done, the top three teams will qualify directly to the 2022 World Cup, with the fourth-place team going to an Intercontinental Playoff. Simple, right?

Mbappe Injury Update

Kylian Mbappe will miss approximately three weeks after spraining his ankle in the French Cup final. That means he will likely miss Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal match with Atalanta on Aug. 12, dealing a big blow to the French champions. Mbappe came off worst in a nasty tackle from Saint Etienne captain Loic Perrin in the first half of last Friday’s win, that both sprained his right ankle and did some damage to some ligaments in the ankle. While he’s doubtful to play in the quarterfinals, if PSG can advance he might be able to participate in the semifinals.

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  • Check out Miguel Gallardo breaking down the buildup play that led to Orlando City’s winning goal on Saturday.

That does it for me today. Y’all stay safe out there.

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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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19 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.

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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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