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Lion Links: 11/21/20

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Hello, Mane Landers. It’s playoff time as we have an Orlando City game day. The Lions will make their first appearance in the MLS playoffs today. If you’re going to the game, please stay safe. Like many of you right now, I’m pumped and noon can’t get here soon enough. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Ready for First Playoff Appearance

Today, the Lions will make their MLS postseason debut against New York City FC at noon in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. All available tickets for the match have sold out, but you’ll be able to watch the game locally on Fox 35 Plus or UniMás/TUDN for the Spanish broadcast. Ironically, the Lions make their playoff debut against the same team they entered MLS expansion with back in 2015. Oscar Pareja has the team ready for the next challenge in this historic season for the Lions.

“We’re very proud to play our first [playoff] game in team history. The boys have done a terrific effort on taking the team to this stage and we want more. I think we’re capable, I think we have a team who has proved themselves, that we have the players and the idea of the game to compete with anyone in the league,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “Now it’s a new story, it’s a new tournament, it’s everybody playing for that one game and we will try to do as much as we can at our training ground just to prepare ourselves to do that.”

This match will be the third meeting between these two clubs this season. NYCFC enters the game on a four-game winning streak. Valentín Castellanos finished the year as the leading scorer for NYCFC with six goals while Chris Mueller leads the Lions with 10 goals, followed by rookie Daryl Dike with eight. The winner of this game will move on to the semifinals, which start on Nov. 29.

Dike Discusses Past and Future

On the ExtraTime podcast, Dike shared about his time with Orlando City and his international future. The rookie weighed in on the impact soccer and the Nigerian national team have had on him and his family. Dike also spoke about the strikers he’s looked up to over the years, including Didier Drogba and Romelu Lukaku. He’s had a stellar year with the Lions and the interview is well worth checking out.

MLS Play-In Round Recap

The postseason got off to a great start as the New England Revolution defeated the Montreal Impact 2-1 at Gillette Stadium. Carles Gil scored the first goal in the 38th minute to give the Revs a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Romell Quioto equalized on a header but Gustavo Bou scored a laser strike from distance late in stoppage time to send the Revs through in dramatic fashion. The Revolution will play the Philadelphia Union on Nov. 24.

In the later game, Nashville SC won 3-0 over a shorthanded Inter Miami squad that was without Gonzalo Higuain, Federico Higuain, and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez after they tested positive for COVID-19. Randall Leal, Hany Mukhtar, and Dax McCarty all found the back of the net at home and Nashville will now take on Toronto FC on Nov. 24.

MLS Best XI Revealed

No Lions made the cut for the 2020 MLS Best XI. Big names like Diego Rossi, Jonathan Mensah, and Andre Blake highlight the list, with seven clubs represented for this shortened season. The other forwards include Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz, while Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Pozuelo, Diego Chara, and Nicolas Lodeiro make up the midfield. Joining Mensah on defense is Walker Zimmerman and Mark McKenzie after strong years from both.

U.S. to Play El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale

The United States Men’s National Team will play a friendly Dec. 9 against El Salvador at Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. This will be a closed door friendly and the first international match held at the 18,000-seat stadium. The USMNT just finished a pair of international friendlies, getting a 0-0 draw against Wales and a 6-2 win against Panama. For El Salvador, this will be its first match in nearly 10 months since the coronavirus pandemic began. Presumably, Gregg Berhalter will use the match to evaluate MLS players since the last two friendlies featured European-based American players.

Americans Abroad

Speaking of Americans abroad, European soccer returns this weekend after the international break. Christian Pulisic is expected to be out for Chelsea when it faces Newcastle United this morning at 7:30 a.m. Over on ESPN+ in the Bundesliga, Josh Sargent’s Werder Bremen will travel to face FC Bayern Munich, John Brooks’ Wolfsburg side looks to stay unbeaten when it plays FC Schalke 04, and Tyler Adams’ RB Leipzig travels to face Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Giovanni Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund squad looks to bounce back from defeat as it travels to the capital to play Hertha Berlin.

In Serie A, Weston McKennie’s Juventus hosts Cagliari at 2:45 p.m. as it tries to get its season back on track. Tomorrow, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson could play as Fulham takes on an Everton team that has lost three straight matches.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Miguel Gallardo named his rookie of the year. Can you guess who it is?

  • Former Orlando City captain Kaká wished the Lions good luck for their first playoff match.

  • Iron Man athlete Chris Nikic also pumped up the Lions ahead of today’s game.


That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy the game today, take care of yourselves, and go Lions!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

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.

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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!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road

On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.

Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home

The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.

NWSL Weekend Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.

FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap

The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
  • Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.

  • That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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