Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/30/20

How’s it going, Mane Landers? October is nearly over and then we just have two months to go until this year ends, so hang in there folks. I’m still reveling in Orlando City’s win over Atlanta earlier this week and am looking forward to even more soccer this weekend. Before we jump into today’s links, let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride and New Zealand defender Ali Riley!
Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller Earn Recognition
After a dominant performance in Orlando’s win, Dike was named as a starter on the MLS Team of the Week for the first time. The rookie had a goal and assist, but really shined in his hold-up play and tenacity both with and without the ball at his feet. Although he wasn’t able to edge out Chris Wondolowski for Player of the Week, Dike finished third in the voting with a nice share of support with fans.
I know it's just Player of the Week but not sure if the people who voted Wondo actually watched the game's the past two days. https://t.co/zn15DN4qKo pic.twitter.com/2VLXWsrGaz
— Ben Baer (@BenBaer89) October 29, 2020
Mueller didn’t make the Team of the Week, but he was nominated for Goal of the Week thanks to his goal right before halftime off of a free kick.
⚽️ Nicolás Lodeiro
⚽️ Chris Mueller
⚽️ Rodolfo Pizarro
⚽️ Robin Lod
⚽️ Andy PoloVote now for #ATTGotW ⬇️https://t.co/ARtr9hRdMH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 29, 2020
The curling strike gave Orlando some breathing room in the match and kept Mueller in the discussion for the Golden Boot with nine goals, although it would take a serious run of form in the last three games to overtake Diego Rossi’s 13.
Lions Build Momentum Before Postseason
Orlando’s win came at just the right time for the club, ending a rough four-game skid and winning the season series against Atlanta United. It was Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s 112th win in MLS, tying him with Steve Nicol at ninth on the all-time list and just a win away from tying Ben Olsen.
The result also kept Orlando’s unbeaten home record intact and the Lions’ last two games of the season will be in Exploria Stadium. But before that, Orlando must travel to New Jersey to take on the Montreal Impact on Sunday. The last time the two sides met was in the MLS is Back Tournament when Orlando won 1-0 in the knockout round. The Lions will try to maintain momentum and stay near the top of the Eastern Conference standings while the Impact fight to claim one of the two playoff spots left.
Breaking Down Dike’s Goal
Orlando’s first goal against Atlanta was a team effort and former Lion Miguel Gallardo picked out the key moments in its buildup. From Nani’s positioning to Tesho Akindele’s run to peel a defender and open up space for Dike to spin and score, the goal showcased what’s made Orlando so lethal this season.
.@migallardo01 was loving the manipulation of space in #ORLvATL. pic.twitter.com/CJEk9NSzJP
— x – Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) October 29, 2020
Orlando Pride Waive Three Players
Abby Elinsky, Julie King, and Morgan Reid were all waived by the Pride as the team makes changes before the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Season. Defenders King and Reid were often injured and struggled to find a spot on the Pride’s back line. Elinsky played in all four of the team’s games during the Fall Series, starting in three of them, and had an assist on Sydney Leroux’s goal against the Houston Dash. All three waived players are available on the Re-Entry Wire, and expansion side Racing Louisville FC has first dibs to claim them.
Orlando City B Releases a Dozen Players
The USL League One season is over. After multiple positive tests for COVID-19 from Union Omaha, the USL League One final that was set to take place today is now cancelled. Greenville Triumph SC was declared champion after finishing the season more points per game than Omaha.
With the end of the season, OCB announced changes to its roster and released 12 players. Of those let go, the most notable are 2020 MLS SuperDraft picks Austin Aviza and Nicholas O’Callaghan, as well as Austin Amer, who played with OCB in both of the teams season’s in USL League One. As for the players who weren’t released, midfielder Raul Aguilera will begin training with the first team and others will join him in the future.
MLS Standings Format Shifts as Playoffs Near
In an MLS season unlike any other, all MLS teams won’t finish the season with the same amount of games played. Because of this, the final standings will be decided by points per game rather than total points. While this may not have an impact in the Eastern Conference as all teams are on pace to play all 23 games, it’s a big change to the Western Conference standings. This is largely due to the Colorado Rapids, who are now in a playoff position with only 15 games played while the Vancouver Whitecaps are on the outside looking in. The season will officially end on Decision Day on Nov. 8, with six postponed games now cancelled.
I personally would’ve liked to see a play-in game between the teams that wind up in eighth and ninth just to ensure the better team moves forward. What do you think? Did MLS get it right with this decision? Let me know in the comments below.
Free Kicks
- Guillermo Barros Schelotto was fired as head coach of the LA Galaxy after a 5-2 loss against the Portland Timbers. Dominic Kinnear will take the reins of the Galaxy for the rest of what has been a difficult season.
- In other MLS coaching news, Jill Ellis reportedly met with D.C. United for an informal interview about the head coaching job.
- Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake injured his hand in the team’s 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but former Lion Joe Bendik may have to step up in the Union’s game against the Columbus Crew on Sunday.
- There’s certainly been a buzz around both Mueller and Dike as potential options for Gregg Berhalter to consider for United States Men’s National Team training camps. But there are also other players who can step up and score for the U.S.
- We’ll end our links with some sound advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic about the pandemic.
Some advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. pic.twitter.com/lwhcTT9VyS
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 29, 2020
That’s going to do it for me, folks. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/4/25
Orlando City gets ready for the Philadelphia Union, OCSC partners with Footy Access, USWNT prepares for Brazil, and more.

Happy Friday! It may feel a bit like the calm before the storm today, as Orlando City, Orlando City B, and the United States Women’s National Team are all in action on Saturday. It all makes for a fun next few days and I’m looking forward to it and also watching some kart racing on Sunday. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Gets Ready For the Philadelphia Union
The Lions are back in action Saturday with an away game against the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. Orlando has won its past two games and leads the league with 15 goals this season. The Union remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, but have lost two of their past three games. Duncan McGuire detailed how healthy competition and a willingness to defend has the offense firing on all cylinders heading into this match.
This will also be a rematch of the season opener on Feb. 22 when the Union won 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium. Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell spoke on how Orlando is a different team compared to that match due to changes on offense and center back Robin Jansson’s recovery from a knock.
Orlando City Partners With Footy Access
With the Generation Adidas Cup set to take place later this month, Orlando City has partnered with Footy Access, which is a media company focused on youth soccer. This collaboration means fans will be able to enjoy highlights and interviews from Orlando’s academy as it progresses through the tournament. I’m pretty excited about being able to see how well Orlando’s academy is doing.
MLS NEXT also announced that new rankings focused on development rather than results will be used for its U-13 and U-14 age groups. These rankings will use an analytical formula that measures game play and the caliber of offensive and defensive actions. There will also be encouragement for teams to have their own identities on how they want to play.
USWNT Prepares to Face Brazil in Friendlies
The United States Women’s National Team will take on Brazil on Saturday in the first of two friendlies this international break, with the second match set for Tuesday. These friendlies will be rematches of last year’s Olympic gold medal match, which the U.S. won 1-0. Marta has retired from international soccer, but Pride midfielder Angelina was called up for these friendlies, along with former Pride forward Adriana. Lorena, who has only conceded one goal in three games for the Kansas City Current this season, will likely get the start in goal for Brazil behind a talented back line anchored by Tarciane. The USWNT will need to find ways to limit attacking threats like Kerolin and Gabi Portilho as well. These should be matches, with familiar faces on both sides for Orlando fans.
U.S. Set to Host 2031 Women’s World Cup
It looks like the 2031 Women’s World Cup will be held in the U.S., as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the only bid came from the U.S. and potentially other Concacaf nations. The U.S., which withdrew from hosting the 2027 World Cup, would be the first country to host the tournament three times and last hosted it in 2007. The United Kingdom was also revealed as the lone valid bid to host the 2035 World Cup and it would be the first time the tournament is hosted there.
Free Kicks
- Shout out to Orlando City’s U-19 team for its title win and securing a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs.
- NJ/NY Gotham FC and Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós have reached an agreement for a contract extension that will keep him at the club through 2029.
- The schedule for the third round of the U.S. Open Cup is out, with more USL Championship teams joining the fray. Only two MLS NEXT Pro teams remain, while El Farolito is the lone team from an open division still standing.
- Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo was named MLS Player of the Month for his performance in March and February. The 27-year-old scored six goals in five games, with five of those goals coming in the Union’s first two games of the season.
- As for the NWSL’s monthly awards, Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga won Player of the Month after scoring in all three of her games so far this season. Houston Dash midfielder Maggie Graham claimed Rookie of the Month for scoring in her first two appearances.
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia has announced his retirement from professional soccer after a 17-year career that included 10 years with Sporting Kansas City.
- Toronto FC added midfielder Maxime Dominguez on loan from Vasco da Gama in Brazil’s top flight.
- Arsenal’s injury woes this season continue, with defender Gabriel Magalhaes set to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
- We’ll end our links with the Lions celebrating Rodrigo Schlegel’s birthday in style.
That’s all for this fine Friday, I hope you all have a fantastic day and a relaxing weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/3/25
Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!
Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials
Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.
Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty
Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.
Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.
USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season
American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
- San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
- New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
- El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
- Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/2/25
Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.
International Duty, Pride Edition
Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.
Pride Still on Top
It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.
Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties
You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.
On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.
USWNT Youth Movement
Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL is looking to expand its media rights deals to include Sunday nights beginning next year. It’s a growth league and a growth market, and I’m all for Sunday night matches.
- Power rankings have now made their way down to MLS NEXT Pro. Spoiler alert, Orlando City B comes in at fifth. Still, it’s nice to see a little love given to the development league. Maybe I should write a power rankings for the various power rankings.
- I’m always for more soccer, and we now know the USL Women’s Super League eight-team playoff dates and format.
- I know it can be hard to feel bad for people who make quite a bit money playing soccer, but I still side with them over the billionaire owners that pay them. Or don’t pay them in the case of Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
- Barcelona is trying to bring the NFL to Spain. If successful, it might be the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who make an appearance at Camp Nou. This will allow a bunch of Barcelona supporters the opportunity to ask if Taylor Swift will make an appearance.
- If you’re not watching the German Cup — and to be fair, I haven’t been either — you are missing some massive cupsets, including third-tier Arminia Bielefeld taking down Bundesliga champs Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to advance to the German Cup final.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Final Score 4-1 as Lions Blast D.C. at Home
-
Orlando City6 days ago
Orlando City vs. LA Galaxy: Final Score 2-1 as Cardiac Cats Score Late to Earn First Road Win
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 2-0 As Pride Take Three Points Away From Home
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City’s Offense Looks Different With Marco Pašalić on the Right
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Five Takeaways
-
Orlando Pride7 days ago
Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC: Final Score 2-1 as Pride Win Third Straight
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Player Grades and Man of the Match