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Lion Links: 12/20/20

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5 years ago

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Happy Sunday, everyone. We’re only a few days out from Christmas, and whether you celebrate that particular brand of holiday or one of the many others, such as Festivus, we here at The Mane Land wish you the happiest of holiday seasons. As the year winds down, we’re busy finishing up our 2020 Orlando City Season in Review series of player ratings from the worst year ever (except on the pitch) and preparing our list of the club’s top moments of 2020 to count down for you over the final 10 days of the calendar year.

This morning I’ll be recovering from my third late-night Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League doubleheader in a week, as the semifinals took place at Exploria Stadium last night (more on that below). While I sleep off last night’s soccer activities, you can read the news of the day, starting…now!

Tigres UANL and LAFC Advance to CCL Final

The 2020 Concacaf Champions League final is set after last night’s semifinal action at Exploria Stadium. Tigres UANL defeated Honduran side CD Olimpia 3-0 in the first game. Olimpia held firm in the opening half right up until the end, when an intentional handball gave Tigres a penalty and resulted in a sending off. Andre-Pierre Gignac converted the penalty. Tigres won another penalty in the second half on a much less intentional handball and Gignac again converted the spot kick. An Olimpia own goal capped the scoring.

In the nightcap, LAFC went down a goal in the first half and down a man on the edge of halftime, but stormed back to beat Club América out of Mexico’s Liga MX, 3-1. Carlos Vela scored two goals in the first two minutes of the second half to turn the game around and Latif Blessing put the game away deep in stoppage time.

Here is my full summary of last night’s matches at Exploria Stadium.

Former Orlando City Goalkeeper Lands in New England

Ex-OCSC goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. was let go by D.C. United at the end of the 2020 MLS season but he already has a new job. The hated New England Revolution signed Edwards on Saturday and now he’ll be a backup goalkeeper for a team that plays in a giant football stadium on plastic grass. Edwards began his career in Orlando after he was selected by the Lions in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the No. 43 overall pick in the third round. He was used sparingly by the Lions for four seasons before being let go. He spent the last two years with D.C. United, where he was again a backup, making 16 appearances for the club’s USL Championship affiliate last year. Good luck to Earl, who is hopefully acting as OCSC’s Manchurian Candidate to destroy the Revs from within.

Former Lion Cam Lindley Lands in San Antonio

Ex-Orlando City midfielder Cam Lindley ultimately didn’t work out and landed in the USL Championship last season with Indy Eleven, where he created 11 scoring chances in 12 games in 2020. Lindley joined San Antonio FC on Saturday, pending league and federation approval.

“As a staff, we are delighted to add Cam to the SAFC family,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Over his young playing career, he has demonstrated selfless leadership qualities and has also served as a team captain at the USL level. Cam is a very talented player with high potential and already meaningful playing experience at various U.S. national team levels, MLS and USL.”

Lindley made three appearances (all starts) with Orlando City in 2018 but hasn’t appeared in MLS since then. We wish good luck to Cam in the upcoming season.

Pride’s Morgan, Zadorsky See COVID-19 Cancellation in WSL

Orlando Pride stars Alex Morgan and Shelina Zadorsky were set to face Sam Kerr’s Chelsea side today but that match has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

The decision was agreed between both teams and the FA after a number of positive tests for Covid-19 were returned within the Chelsea FC Women’s team set-up after the last round of testing. Those affected immediately began a period of self-isolation in accordance with Public Health England and Government guidelines.

Chelsea’s men’s side was not affected by the outbreak, according to the team’s statement. Hopefully Morgan and Zadorsky are staying safe and they perform well in their next match.

Mewis Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

The U.S. Soccer Federation has named midfielder Sam Mewis the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for 2020. Mewis played in eight of the nine USWNT matches in 2020 and scored four goals.

“It’s obviously a huge honor to be a part of the list of players that have won this award in the past,” said Mewis. “It should go without saying that it’s the team that does the work on the field and I just have so much respect for the other nominees this year and all my teammates. I’ve just loved playing with them on the U.S. Team, and with my teammates for the Courage and Man City. It’s still such an honor to even get called into a U.S. camp, to get playing time and to be able to score goals for my country. All that continues to be surreal to me. I owe so much to so many people who have helped me on my journey and any individual award is a credit to them.”

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That’s all my time for this morning. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend and — if you have one — your holiday break.

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Lion Links: 5/22/26

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

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3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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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.

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  • 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

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May 21, 2026

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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.

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  • 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

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May 20, 2026

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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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