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Lion Links: 4/11/21

Published

5 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: 5/12/26

Barbra Banda up for weekly honors, Johnny Cardoso to have surgery, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

20 hours ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B both picked up victories, while Orlando City lost. There’s no rest for the wicked though, because the Pride take on Boston Legacy on the road tonight, while the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Barbra Banda up for Weekly Honors

Barbra Banda’s game-winning strike over the North Carolina Courage has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. Banda cut across her marker in the 87th minute with the match tied 0-0 and curled a great strike inside the far post to give the Pride a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. The victory got Orlando back on track after dropping two games in a row, and the goal was Banda’s league-leading eighth strike of the year. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Surgery for Johnny Cardoso

Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that midfielder Johnny Cardoso will have surgery to repair an injury to his right ankle. Cardoso was hurt during a training session, with Atletico classifying the injury as a “high-grade sprain involving joint damage.” The club’s statement did not specify a timeline for his return to the field and U.S. Soccer has not made any statement besides wishing Cardoso a speedy recovery. That said, with this summer’s World Cup less than a month away, its tough to imagine that he’ll be healed up and ready to be part of the United States Men’s National Team roster. If that’s the case, it’ll be a bitter blow for both the USMNT and a midfielder that looked like a sure bet to be on the squad.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s make sure we’ve got everything on the schedule. Things got started on Monday when Brenden Aaronson played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Action continues today when Aidan Morris and Middlesborough face Southampton in the second leg of an EFL Championship playoff promotion semifinal. Wednesday sees Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Motherwell in a game with massive ramifications on the title race in the Scottish Premier League. Wednesday also has Alex Freeman and Villarreal hosting Sevilla in La Liga play, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will try to play spoiler against Manchester City.

MLS Matchday 12 Lessons

Matchday 12 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, Jack McGlynn was imperious in his second game back from injury, as his brace helped the Houston Dynamo knock off LAFC on the road while USMNT assistant Jesus Perez was watching from the stands. The New England Revolution are now unbeaten in the club’s last seven league games, and Carles Gil was a big reason why, as he nabbed a goal and an assist in the Revs’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. He’s got four goals and four assists so far, and the Revs are sitting pretty at second in the Eastern Conference.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

European seasons aren’t quite wrapped up yet, but that isn’t stopping transfer rumors from flying thick and fast. We start with the Premier League, where Manchester City is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, before immediately sending the player on loan to continue his development. Elsewhere in England, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said to be interested in signing Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso. Switching lanes to the managerial side of things, Chelsea has reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the team, with the Spaniard said to be open to taking the job. Finally, Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the Real Madrid job, although he reportedly has a couple conditions that he wants met first.

Free Kicks

  • Kickoff times have been set for Orlando City’s three group stages matches in this year’s Leagues Cup.
  • The Lions will be launching a new merch collection Friday at The Final Whistle.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/11/26

Lions fall to CF Montreal, Pride defeat North Carolina Courage, OCB beats Atlanta United 2, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda taking a shot against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.
  • James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
  • Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
  • Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/8/26

Orlando City prepares for CF Montreal, Pride host North Carolina tonight, Johnny Cardoso injured, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 8, 2026

By

Image of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! We have some exciting games ahead of us over the next few days, with three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy. It all starts with the Orlando Pride’s game tonight, with Orlando City playing Saturday afternoon, and Orlando City B wrapping things up on Sunday. Make sure to plan your weekend accordingly! Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Gets Ready for Road Match

The Lions are on the road this weekend for a game in Canada against CF Montreal on Saturday. Orlando is coming off of a dramatic 4-3 win over rival Inter Miami, with Martin Ojeda scoring a hat trick. Ojeda has had Montreal’s number in recent years, scoring at least once against the Canadian club each year for the past three years. Orlando hasn’t lost to Montreal since 2023, but it also hasn’t won on the road against Montreal since 2021. Saturday’s match will also be a reunion of sorts for goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who joined Montreal’s academy at age 15 and played there for nine years. He was excellent in Orlando’s win in Miami, so hopefully he can keep it up in his home country.

Orlando Pride Host North Carolina Courage Tonight

The Orlando Pride are back in action tonight with a home game against the North Carolina Courage. Both teams are coming off of losses last week, with the Pride falling 4-2 to the Washington Spirit. Tonight’s match will pit the league’s top two scorers against each other, with Barbra Banda scoring seven so far while Ashley Sanchez has scored five. The Pride will play three consecutive road games after tonight, putting an emphasis on a strong showing at home. It’s also Survivor Night at the stadium, so make sure to bring any immunity idols if you’ll be in attendance. The Pride could use any advantage they can get.

Johnny Cardoso Injured Ahead of World Cup

Atletico Madrid announced that American midfielder Johnny Cardoso was diagnosed with an ankle sprain he sustained in training, casting doubt on his availability for the World Cup next month. He’ll now work on rehabilitation before the club provides a timetable for his return. The 24-year-old started in the United States Men’s National Team’s game against Belgium in March, but he had to exit that camp due to injury as well. Hopefully he has a smooth and successful recovery from this.

English Clubs Reach European Finals

Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the Europa League, overcoming a loss in the first leg to secure a spot in the final. John McGinn scored twice to help his team reach its first major European final since 1982. Villa will play in the final on May 20 against SC Freiburg, which also bounced back from a loss in the first leg by beating Braga 3-1 in Germany. A red card to Mario Dorgeles in the sixth minute reduced Braga to 10 men early on and Lukas Kubler bagged a brace for Freiburg.

In the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace won 2-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk to advance to the final on May 27 against Rayo Vallecano. As a result of this week’s semifinals across the continent, English clubs are in contention to win the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.

Free Kicks

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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