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Lion Links: 3/15/21

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5 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! There’s a lot going on right now between Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. No spoilers, but WandaVision was incredible and we get the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier this Friday.

I know many people might want to gather for St. Patrick’s Day this Wednesday, but I implore you to maintain mask wearing and social distancing. Being smart right now is how we can potentially reach a full Exploria Stadium. Let’s also wish a happy birthday to Orlando midfielder Mauricio Pereyra as he turns 31 today.

Pedro Gallese Listed as One of MLS’ Best

I’ve often said that Orlando’s Pedro Gallese is one of the top goalkeepers in MLS and it looks like Extratime host David Gass agrees. It only took one shortened season for El Pulpo to be recognized among other MLS greats like Andre Blake, Matt Turner, Stefan Frei, and Tim Melia. Although ranked fifth on that list, Gallese certainly has the skill to be the best goalkeeper in the league. It might just take a little more time for others around the league to notice.

Pride Win Preseason Matches

In their second preseason game, the Orlando Pride won 2-1 against the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday. The Pride were able to score goals in the 37th and 40th minutes to secure the lead before the Seminoles pulled one back. Alex Morgan scored the first off a corner delivered by Marta. The Brazilian then scored the second goal after Marisa Viggiano fed her the ball in the box. The Seminoles are one of the top college teams in the country and provided a good match for the Pride.

On Sunday, the Pride hosted Flagler College for their third preseason match. The Pride delivered on offense against the Division II team, defeating Flagler 4-0. Taylor Kornieck got things going for the Pride with a goal assisted by Meggie Dougherty Howard in the sixth minute. Ally Haran added a second in the 16th minute, and Chelsee Washington scored a brace in the second half.

The Pride’s next match is on March 20 on the road against the Washington Spirit as the Pride prepare for the upcoming season.

Sleepless in Orlando

For those of you who are not parents, you may not know that you don’t get much sleep when you have a newborn. It’s one of the first challenges for new parents. The Pride’s Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger are dealing with this challenge with their daughter Sloane as we speak. Of course, while this is difficult for any parent to deal with, the lack of sleep takes on a different meaning when someone is a professional soccer player. Fortunately, not only are Harris and Krieger getting help from family, but the club is also working with the co-captains to ensure training isn’t demanding too much of them.

“They’re not crushing me. They’re not asking me to do things that my body isn’t capable of doing right now on a little bit less sleep than I’m used to,” Harris said. “They’re just making sure that I’m healthy and Ali’s healthy…They’re constantly checking in and making sure we’re in a good place and if we need anything. It’s been a really good, open line of communication and understanding, and we couldn’t ask for more.”

Orlando’s Young Players Impress at Camp

Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja is well known for developing young talent, and he is continuing those efforts in Orlando. Pareja brought in five academy players to train with the senior squad during the training camp in Bradenton. Thomas Williams, Quembol Guadalupe, Moises Tablante, Wilfredo Rivera, and Raul Aguilera Jr. were all given the opportunity to see what it is like to train with an MLS club. The speed, skill, and most importantly the culture are all on display for these youngsters to take in and learn. It’s this type of thing that will pay dividends for Orlando City in the future.

“It’s a great experience for them to see it, especially because they are very young. Thomas Williams for example, Wilfredo, Tablante, Raul, Quembol, a kid who played in our Under-17s that is not even turning 17 yet. But he’s competing every day with Nani and with Mauricio. So I know that collection of experiences will mature those boys and make them feel the game differently when they come out of this camp.”

Free Kicks

  • In honor of National Good Samaritan Day, Nani delivered bags of food for those in the Orlando Area.

  • Daryl Dike might not have scored in Barnsley’s 3-2 win over AFC Bournemouth this weekend, but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t plenty going on with the big man and other Americans playing abroad.
  • The MLS preseason is here, but Toronto FC hasn’t been able to participate yet as the club has nine reported cases of Covid-19 among players and staff. Toronto has a Concacaf Champions League round of 16 tie coming up on April 7 in Mexico. The club is following safety protocols and hopes to be ready for the season.

That will do it for today. Be safe, be smart, and I’ll see you later this week.

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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.

Published

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.

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

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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.

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: 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

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.

Free Kicks

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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