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Lion Links: 4/11/21

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6 years ago

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Happy Sunday, everyone. I am one day away from getting my second vaccination shot and while I’m apprehensive at what that might do to my body, because people I know have reacted about every way imaginable, I’m excited to get it over with.

We’ve officially moved into the Orlando Pride’s competitive soccer season and the first game week of Orlando City’s 2021 MLS campaign. Look for season previews and roundtables and all kinds of cool content this week as we get ready for the Lions’ match-up with Atlanta United next weekend.

But for now, let’s get to the news of the day.

Orlando Pride Drop Two Points in Stoppage Time

The Orlando Pride kicked off their NWSL Challenge Cup Saturday night in Kentucky against expansion Racing Louisville. It appeared the Pride would get run off the pitch as the NWSL noobs threaded ball after ball through the defense and created chances in the first 15 minutes. But the Pride settled in, equalized before the break on a Taylor Kornieck goal, then took a late lead through an absolute screamer by Abi Kim. You have to see this even if you don’t click the link below to read the recap (but honestly, you should read it):

Just when Orlando seemed poised to get its first come-from-behind win since 2018, Ali Krieger conceded a free kick, the Pride failed to win the aerial ball on the service, and absolutely no one marked Brooke Hendrix. So, obviously Hendrix got to the loose ball first and slotted home in stoppage time to cap the scoring in a 2-2 draw.

It was a disappointing end to an entertaining game, but if the order of the final two goals was reversed, it would feel a lot better. It was probably a fair result but now Marc Skinner knows where he needs to make improvements. Meggie Dougherty Howard assisted on both goals.

The Pride will be back in action at home on Wednesday when Gotham FC visits Exploria Stadium at 7 p.m.

Daryl Dike Can. Not. Stop. Scoring.

Orlando City striker Daryl Dike continued his scorching form in the Championship on Saturday, scoring his eighth goal of the season in 14 appearances (nine starts) since joining Barnsley FC on loan. Dike’s header gave Barnsley some insurance late in an eventual 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. The Reds have won 11 games, drawn two, and lost only one since the big man arrived in South Yorkshire. Dike scored eight goals for Orlando City in 17 appearances in 2020, so the only logical conclusions one can draw is that he got even better since arriving in England or the Championship is easier than MLS and Orlando City pretty much would have won the league over there. There can be no other conclusion. I have spoken.

Pride EVP Amanda Duffy Outlines Club’s Commitment

In an open letter to Orlando Pride fans, Executive Vice President Amanda Duffy spelled out the club’s commitment and intentions.

Our commitment locally is to bring Orlando Pride into every business, community, and home that we can reach. Our intention is to elevate and strengthen the Orlando Pride brand and business while driving awareness, visibility, relevance, and value to our fans and to Central Florida at large. We will do this because we understand that athletes, our athletes, can impact the lives of those in our community. We will do this because we understand that through sports, we can inspire and unite.

Duffy asked fans to show up at the stadium and be part of the club’s revival and to show support for the club’s athletes and leadership and made a promise to Pride fans.

Our commitment to all, each day, is for the Orlando Pride to inspire you.

2021 should be a year unlike any other for Orlando Pride. The promise this statement represents is our promise to be more thoughtful, to show progress, and always strive to be the best versions of ourselves – as individuals, as a team, as a business, and as a community.

USWNT Needs Late Penalty to Draw Sweden, 1-1

Look, it’s not an indictment of the U.S. that it required a late Megan Rapinoe penalty to secure a 1-1 draw on the road at Sweden on Saturday. After all, the Swedes are one of the world’s best teams — currently sitting fifth in the FIFA world rankings. Sweden played an excellent defensive game, forcing the USWNT to be sharp to break them down. The Yanks, however, were not sharp. Credit some of that to Sweden but there were far too many bad decisions, poorly weighted — or just plain errant — passes, misses, and shots right at the goalkeeper from the talented U.S. forwards.

Sweden also should have been better, blowing two outstanding chances to put the game away. The hosts’ lone goal came off a corner kick when no one bothered to even stand near striker Lina Hurtig, who sent her free header off the back post and in. Some thought the foul that led to the tying penalty was outside the box, and it was close, but I think the ref got it right. Kelley O’Hara, who also didn’t have a great game, had her run cut off while just inside the line and was knocked outside the box. I watched that play frame by frame about 30 times and O’Hara’s left foot was well inside the box when contact was made and her right foot was in the air. The contact came from inside. Penalty for me, but others saw it differently.

  • Pride striker Alex Morgan entered in the second half but didn’t make too much of an impact on the match.
  • Hurtig’s goal was the first conceded by Alyssa Naeher in 10 matches.
  • The U.S. conceded for the first time since March of 2020 and trailed for the first time since October of 2019.
  • Vlatko Andonovski remains unbeaten as USWNT coach, but his side didn’t win for the first time since he took over for Jill Ellis.
  • The Yanks will face France on the road Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Free Kicks

  • ESPN singled out Orlando City’s Alexandre Pato as a player ready to leave a mark in 2021 as part of their storylines for the upcoming MLS season.
  • Orlando City draft pick Derek Dodson assisted on the game-winning goal with a heads-up quick restart in Georgetown’s 1-0 win over St. John’s on Saturday. Check it out:

  • Tom Bogert from mlssoccer.com gave Orlando City a grade of B+ for the club’s off-season transfers.
  • Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit became the youngest player to score in NWSL history on her debut. The Spirit lost to the North Carolina Courage, but check out this beauty:

  • People’s lack of awareness in the year 2021 continues to amaze me. USMNT and LA Galaxy attacker Sebastian Lletget is under investigation by MLS after directing a gay slur at teammate Julian Araujo and then posting it to Instagram. Lletget has apologized.
  • Christian Pulisic is officially in form with three goals in two matches. His brace yesterday helped lift Chelsea to a 4-1 win at Crystal Palace.
  • Those born on this date include Animal House star Peter “Boone” Riegert (1947), late Big Country guitarist and lead singer Stuart Adamson (1958), singer Lisa Stansfield (1966), Spin City’s Jennifer Esposito (1972), and England international Dele Alli (1996).

That’s all for me today. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend, prepare for next Saturday, and get vaxxed up (like me), so we can all be together in greater numbers sooner rather than later.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

Published

16 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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October 22, 2026

By

Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

Free Kicks

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: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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October 21, 2026

By

Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

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

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