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Lion Links: 10/19/20

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6 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! First off, let’s give a big happy birthday to Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris! Now, on to what will go down as a great day in Orlando City history, despite the Lions not winning the match last night.

I am, of course, talking about Orlando City clinching a spot in the MLS playoffs for the very first time! If you didn’t know that happened until now, I’m really glad I used an exclamation point. If you did, then you probably still appreciated my punctuation. Enough with that, let’s get to the links. 

Orlando City’s Best Draw Ever

Orlando City traveled to Red Bull Arena to take on the titular New York Red Bulls, riding an 11-match unbeaten streak and a possibility at clinching the playoffs. The Lions took the lead after Daryl Dike drew a penalty in the second half, and Nani stutter-stepped the kick past Ryan Meara. Unfortunately, the second half’s stoppage time ended up being six minutes, and the Red Bulls were able to equalize at the death. Regardless, Orlando City was able to extend its unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

Check back later today for the player grades and Man of the Match from Guilherme Torres, as well as the five takeaways from the match courtesy of Sean Rollins.

The Lions are Playoff Bound

Going into the match against the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City needed a better result than Atlanta United, which played against league-leading Toronto FC. That game started after Orlando’s, so once the Lions drew with the Red Bulls, attention turned to the other match. As if intending to make Orlando City fans wait another week, Toronto seemed to be on the way to a draw with Atlanta. That is until the 89th minute. Former Lion (forever a Lion) Richie Laryea drove into the right side of the area, and crossed the ball for Pablo Piatti to give Toronto the win and put Orlando City into the playoffs for the first time in the club’s MLS history. 

Dike and the Lions are already looking ahead for more than just making the playoffs though. The 20-year-old had another strong performance and remains in talks for MLS Rookie of the Year, but Dike is hungry for more this year.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good position,” Dike said. “Obviously we just made the playoffs today, but I think we’re going to carry on. The goal wasn’t just playoffs. We’re not done now. We just keep going and keep going. We want three points every single game and we want to finish the highest in the table. That’s the main goal.”

Morgan’s Debut Delayed

Those waiting for Alex Morgan’s debut with Tottenham Hotspur will have to continue waiting. That includes Morgan herself. Morgan joined Tottenham, but it looks like it will be a few more weeks until she will see any playing time. 

There are no specifics on what the “small setback” is, but given she had started training with the team, it might be some sort of knock. Of course, no club is sharing any kind of injury information these days, so your guess is as good as mine. Tottenham could certainly use her help once she’s ready, considering Alanna Kennedy, Shelina Zadorsky, and the rest of the team were crushed 6-1 by Arsenal this weekend.

Rooney’s COVID-19 Scare

It’s not often that I’m on Wayne Rooney’s side, but this is an exception. England and the English Football Association have rules regarding exposure to COVID-19 and quarantine protocols if a player encounters a person that tested positive. Rooney had a friend visit, who didn’t get tested prior to the visit and subsequently tested positive, after Rooney played a match. Rooney will take a test to see if he has to take any further measures regarding the situation. Needless to say, Rooney is livid over the situation, and I can understand his position. I’m agreeing with Wayne Rooney. 2020 is so weird. 

Free Kicks

  • You may have noticed that Ali Krieger wasn’t in the studio for Orlando City’s match. Well, she and Harris are still United States Women’s National Team players, and had to fly out to the USWNT camp for training today.

  • Emily van Egmond scored in West Ham United’s match against Manchester United, but it wasn’t enough as goals from Tobin Heath and Christen Press contributed to United’s 4-2 win over the Hammers.
  • Gonzalo Higuain won’t play in Inter Miami’s next game on Oct. 24 against Orlando thanks to a red card for arguing with the referee after Miami’s loss to the Montreal Impact.
  • The Seattle Sounders are set to trade winger Handwalla Bwana to Nashville SC for an attacking player not yet named.
  • United States Men’s National Team forward Aron Jóhannsson has scored seven goals in eight matches (and nine overall) after Hammarby’s win over Mjallby in the Swedish Allsvenskan. That is a pretty good stat. A congested international schedule could mean you’ll see Jóhannsson in a USMNT kit soon.

  • Things are getting a bit bitey in France’s Ligue 2. Valenciennes keeper Jerome Prior was apparently bit on the cheek in the 0-0 draw against Sochaux on Saturday. 
  • If you somehow missed the end of the Toronto match, I’m going to let Orlando City legend Miguel Gallardo tell you all about it. Vamos Orlando!

That’s going to be it from me today, Mane Landers. Have a great Monday and celebrate responsibly!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/22/26

Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Image of Angelina launching a long pass.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati

The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.

Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.

Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso

Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.

Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup

American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.

Free Kicks

  • MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links: 5/21/26

Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 21, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup

We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.

Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster

We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.

Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami

Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.

Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League

Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.

Free Kicks

  • ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
  • After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
  • MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
  • Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
  • Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.

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: 5/20/26

Orlando City defeats Atlanta United, Anna Moorhouse called up, Arsenal wins EPL championship, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey preparing to shoot on a breakaway against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I love the U.S. Open Cup. I love the history, the cupsets, and the magical moments. I especially love it when my team wins and wins big like Orlando City did Tuesday night. It was unexpected result but a very welcome one. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Advances to USOC Semifinals

Orlando City defeated rival Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. The Lions unleashed an offensive firestorm in the first half against Atlanta United, scoring four goals before halftime. Frankly, it could have been more. The Lions were unable to add to the lead in the second half and conceded one goal to Atlanta, but it was more than enough to secure the victory.

Moorhouse Called Up

Anna Moorhouse has once again been called up by England for Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine. It is always an honor for a player to represent their country. We are happy that Moorhouse will have the opportunity.

World Cup News

We are only weeks away from the start of the World Cup and we know who most of the players representing their countries will be. For example, Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland in the tournament. Most of us are primarily concerned with the USMNT and which players are in form for club and, hopefully, country.

Premier League News

The 23-year wait is over as Arsenal won the English Premier League championship following a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday. It is all but certain that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer. It’s not the ending that Guardiola wanted for his time at Manchester City, but he leaves the club in a good position. While the Gunners celebrate, Tottenham Hostpur is fighting relegation.

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That will do it for today. Check back later this week as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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