Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/7/21

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope you all are keeping nice and cool out there as temperatures keep climbing. Make sure to stay hydrated so you can make the most out of what should be a sunny weekend. Before we hop into today’s links, let’s wish Orlando Pride forward Sydney Leroux a happy birthday! With her birthday today and Mother’s Day this Sunday, it should be a nice couple of days for her. Now, let’s get to the links!
Jordan Bender Loaned to the Charlotte Independence
Orlando City midfielder Jordan Bender is headed to the USL Championship, where he will join the Charlotte Independence on loan for the 2021 season. The move will be a good chance for the Homegrown Player to get some minutes and Orlando retains the right to recall him from the loan. Given Orlando’s depth at midfield, Bender’s absence won’t leave the team shorthanded while he’s in North Carolina with the Independence.
Orlando Prepares for Tough Test Against New York City FC
The Lions will welcome NYCFC to Exploria Stadium tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. for a match between two of the Eastern Conference’s stronger teams. Orlando is undefeated through three matches while NYCFC has won its past two games after starting the season with a loss. The last meeting between the two teams was in last year’s playoffs when the Lions won the penalty shootout in dramatic fashion for their first MLS postseason victory. Orlando midfielder Mauricio Pereyra isn’t getting caught up in the past though, as his attention is on the task ahead after making his season debut last week.
“I think the emotions we lived in the last year and the playoffs, they are already gone,” added Orlando City midfielder Mauricio Pereyra. “This is a new season, this is a new year and this is a different game. Those emotions we should keep in our memories, but we know that this is a different game. [NYCFC] are coming from good results and are playing good football and we are in the same spot.”
Pereyra’s words contrast those from NYCFC right back Anton Tinnerholm, who is on the hunt for vengeance after Orlando eliminated his club from the playoffs.
“All of us, we’re not really over last year,” Tinnerholm said. “It was a brutal game for all of us and how it ended. Especially for me, I was forced to be subbed off in overtime…We don’t have very good memories from that game, but now we’re stepping into the game on Saturday here to do something. We [have] some revenge to take. You’re going to see all the guys, they’re going to really want to win the game from the first minute. I can’t expect anything else.”
As long as it doesn’t get brutal on the pitch, this revenge storyline should make for an exciting game. Miguel Gallardo and Evan Weston are looking forward to it as well and discussed what to watch for.
It's @EvanLWeston and @migallardo01 talking the dub and the Pigeons ahead. @Ford | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/q065MMDqDw
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 5, 2021
Nani Wins MLS Goal of the Week
After finishing second last week for his backheel goal, Orlando’s Nani won MLS Goal of the Week on Thursday. Nani’s fancy footwork at the top of the box helped him shake a defender to then blast the ball past FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton for his second goal of the season.
Nani twists & turns his way into winning #ATTGotW! 🔥 https://t.co/nHqxNdKH5O pic.twitter.com/zQJQb7E7t3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 6, 2021
Nani’s strike claimed 37.9% of the vote, with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill close behind in second with 30.1%. Orlando’s captain is off to a great start so far with two impressive goals in Orlando’s first three games this season.
Oscar Pareja Discusses Unrest in Colombia
Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja was born in Colombia and played for the national team for a few years before moving to the United States in 1998. Now, his home country is in the midst of conflict between protestors and riot police after a tax reform sparked unrest over human rights issues. Pareja has reached out to his friends and family in Colombia as he wishes for peace in Colombia during this difficult time.
“I just have the opportunity … to send the message to our people and ask them [to have] a lot of confidence in God that things will get better,” Pareja said. “But at the same times we have to be patient and not [get] so desperate and just take our frustrations towards other people or institutions. I think that will damage not just our image but most important that will damage ourselves.”
USWNT Will Play in Summer Series
The United States Women’s National Team will head to Texas for the 2021 WNT Summer Series against nations that did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The USWNT’s first game will be against Portugal on June 10 and then it plays Jamaica on June 13, with both matches taking place at BBVA Stadium in Houston. The last match will be the first soccer game ever played at Austin FC’s new Q2 Stadium as the U.S. takes on Nigeria on June 16. The format should help USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski get the team prepared for the Olympics later this summer as he works on finalizing the 18-player roster.
As for how this news affects the Pride, Alex Morgan will likely make the trip to Texas. Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger may also head that way, but the exhibitions will be during a break in NWSL scheduling as the Pride play on June 6 and June 20.
Manchester United and Villarreal Reach Europa League Final
After winning the first leg 6-2, Manchester United went on the road and took care of business against AS Roma. Edinson Cavani scored in both halves for a brace as United lost 3-2 but advanced on aggregate to reach the Europa League final. In the other semifinal, Arsenal had a chance to mirror the Champions League’s all-English final but couldn’t score in a 0-0 draw with Villarreal and lost on aggregate.
It all sets up for a clash between United’s soaring offense and Villarreal’s smothering defense on May 26. United has scored 18 goals since joining the knockout stage while Villarreal has only conceded eight goals in the tournament, with three of those goals coming from one game in the group stage.
Free Kicks
- Daryl Dike is one of four finalists for the English Football League Championship Player of the Month. In April, Dike scored four goals in six games to help book Barnsley FC a spot in the Championship playoffs.
- In some happy news, Tesho Akindele’s family will be welcoming a new addition in the future.
When you find out you’re gonna be a big brother 😳🤨😁
Baby #2 coming soon!! 👶🏽😍🤰🏼 pic.twitter.com/VgdoyIJ79y
— Tesho Akindele (@Tesho13) May 6, 2021
- The schedule for CONMEBOL qualifiers in June was released. Pedro Gallese and Peru will take on Colombia on June 3 while Sebas Mendez and Ecuador will face Brazil on June 4. Then Peru will play Ecuador on June 8.
The official date and times for the Conmebol qualifiers in June!
🇵🇪 🆚 🇨🇴- June 3 at 8pm
🇪🇨 🆚 🇵🇪- June 8 at 4pm pic.twitter.com/wX5OykpsMH— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) May 6, 2021
- Oscar Pareja was noted as a coach who would excel in Europe, along with others such as Jim Curtin and Brian Schmetzer.
- Orlando City Academy teams both had clean sheet victories against South Florida FC.
- The Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea will still take place in Istanbul despite the lockdown.
- Ed Sheeran will be the shirt sponsor for Ipswich Town next season. His logo will be on the kits for both the men’s and women’s first teams.
- Out west, the upcoming National Women’s Soccer League expansion team is moving from Sacramento to San Diego.
That’s going to be it for today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/8/23
Orlando City will play Flamengo in preseason friendly, Kylie Strom signs new deal, USMNT’s Copa America group draw, and more.

Happy Friday! The work week is almost over and I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I’ll be celebrating a friend’s birthday and knocking out most of the holiday shopping that I haven’t gotten around to just yet. Hopefully the malls aren’t too chaotic. Regardless, it should be a nice next few days. But for now, let’s get to the links!
Orlando Will Face Flamengo in 2024 FC Series
Orlando City’s first preseason game will take place on Jan. 27 when it takes on Flamengo at Camping World Stadium as part of the 2024 FC Series, which was previously known as the Florida Cup. Going up against one of Brazil’s powerhouses should be great preparation for the Lions after a record season in 2023 that earned them a spot in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. It will be the second meeting between the two sides after a 2015 friendly in Brazil that Flamengo won 1-0. It will be nice to see the Lions in action at Camping World Stadium again and the kickoff time for next month’s match will be unveiled at a later time.
Kylie Strom Signs New Deal With Pride
Defender Kylie Strom, who was a free agent following the 2023 season, will return to the Orlando Pride after signing a three-year deal with the club. She joined the Pride in the summer of 2021 from Atletico Madrid and started in 26 games this past year, holding down the left back position. The Pride now retain their starting back line heading into 2024 and have full protection in Tuesday’s expansion draft. Although the defense struggled at times, it improved as the season wore on and the Pride nearly made the playoffs. Jordyn Listro is now the only free agent left from last year’s squad.
NWSL Announces Blueprint for 2024 Schedule
The framework for the 2024 NWSL season was revealed and the 182-match regular season has been formatted so that NWSL games don’t take place during international breaks. The biggest change is that the NWSL Challenge Cup is no longer a tournament and now just a match between the NWSL Shield winner and the NWSL champion, meaning San Diego Wave FC will play NJ/NY Gotham FC on March 15. However, there will be a weekend tournament organized by the league for all 14 teams during a break in the regular season while the Summer Olympics take place. The playoffs will feature eight teams and won’t include byes this year, with the quarterfinals starting on Nov. 9 and the NWSL Championship set for Nov. 23. Clubs can begin their preseason camps as early as Jan. 22 and no later than Jan. 29.
Copa America Teams Learn Their Groups
The United States Men’s National Team will take on Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia in its group in the 2024 Copa America. Uruguay was one of the strongest opponents the U.S. could get drawn against, as the South American team has scored 13 goals so far in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. The important match between the USMNT and Uruguay will take place on July 1 in Kansas City. We’ll see how much Orlando City winger Facundo Torres plays for Uruguay in the tournament. As for Orlando’s Peruvian pair of Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Peru is in a tough group against Argentina, Chile, and whichever nation prevails between Canada and Trinidad & Tobago.
We also have a clearer idea on which teams will be playing in Orlando. Two games will take place at Exploria Stadium, with Chile playing either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago on June 29 before Bolivia and Panama face off on July 1.
Gisele Thompson Signs With Angel City FC
Angel City FC signed young defender Gisele Thompson to a three-year contract that had this year count as the first year, with an option for an additional year in 2026. She turned 18 earlier this month and turned down an offer to play at Stanford to instead sign with Angel City, meaning the club did not need to use a draft pick for her to join. Gisele is the sister of Alyssa Thompson, who Angel City traded up to select with the first pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. They are the youngest players on Angel City’s roster and will become the second pair of sisters to play in the league.
Free Kicks
- The Colorado Rapids are reportedly in talks with American goalkeeper Zack Steffen to sign him from Manchester City.
- According to reports, St. Louis City will trade away Lucas Bartlett, Jared Stroud, and $300,000 in General Allocation Money to D.C. United in exchange for 23-year-old midfielder Chris Durkin.
- Everton broke out of the relegation zone with a surprising 3-0 win over Newcastle United. Everton has responded well after being handed a 10-point reduction last month, winning three of its past four games.
- Prosecutors in Italy requested the maximum ban of four years for Paul Pogba for doping after he tested positive for testosterone.
- Brazilian club Santos was relegated for the first time in its 111-year history, and its fans aren’t handling it very well.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/7/23
Mauricio Pereyra and Orlando City part ways, Belgian club reportedly interested in Duncan McGuire, Marta scores in Brazil’s win, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been another hectic week for me and I’m hoping things start to slow down as December rolls on. It’s hard to believe we’re already a week into the month. I’ve enjoyed this colder weather over the past few days though. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world.
Mauricio Pereyra and Orlando City Part Ways
Orlando City captain Mauricio Pereyra will not be returning to the team for the 2024 season after he and the club mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The Uruguayan midfielder joined the Lions in the summer of 2019, going on to make 136 appearances across all competitions as a Lion. His 47 career assists were the most in club history and he led the Lions with 12 assists this past MLS season. Pereyra was a key part of Orlando’s turnaround over the past few years, and I’ll miss watching him break opposing back lines with his passing. That being said, his departure opens up some interesting possibilities in Orlando’s midfield. This could open the door for Martin Ojeda to fit in a bit more easily in the lineup, but the team also has an open Designated Player spot that could be used to bring in an attacking midfielder who can take the offense to another level. The club released a video thanking Pereyra for his time in Orlando, including some of his highlights and appreciation from teammates and staff.
Belgian Club Reportedly Interested in Duncan McGuire
Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire was one of the best young players in MLS this past year, so it’s not a surprise that European clubs are taking notice. Dutch and Belgian clubs reportedly had scouts at Orlando’s final game of 2023, and American Soccer Now‘s Brian Sciaretta stated that RWD Molenbeek is interested in McGuire.
The club has an American owner and is currently 11th in Belgium’s top flight after earning promotion last season. McGuire scored 13 goals in his rookie season and was a finalist for 2023 MLS Young Player of the Year. Hopefully the 22-year-old stays in Orlando for a while longer before making the jump to Europe.
Marta Scores in Brazil’s Win Over Nicaragua
The Orlando Pride’s Marta started and scored as Brazil’s captain in the team’s 4-0 friendly win over Nicaragua. She doubled Brazil’s lead in the 40th minute and came off in the second half for Pride teammate Adriana. Brazil then found two more goals and the defense secured the shutout in its final game of the year.
It was a nice way for Brazil to end the year after losing 2-0 Japan this past Sunday. Brazil has already qualified for next year’s Olympics after winning the 2022 Copa America and will shift its focus to doing well in the tournament after an early exit in this year’s World Cup.
Luis Rubiales Was Accused of Inappropriate Conduct With English Players
FIFA’s report of the Disciplinary Committee’s decision regarding former Spain federation president Luis Rubiales became public and England FA Chair England Debbie Hewitt’s testimony detailed inappropriate misconduct towards English players as well. According to Hewitt’s testimony, Rubiales seemingly forcefully kissed Lucy Bronze and stroked Laura Coombs face at the 2023 World Cup’s medal ceremony. FIFA stated that more severe sanctions than the three-year ban Rubiales was handed were considered.
Free Kicks
- As a result of pyrotechnics being used by LAFC supporters group 3252, the club was fined $100,000 and 3252 will have all supporter privileges suspended pending a review by the club and LAFC.
- MLS unveiled the ball that will be used next season and I like the design well enough to want to kick it.
- UEFA announced that it is creating a health panel to gain insight on why ACL injuries occur so frequently in women’s soccer.
- In the DFB Pokal, third-division side Saarbruecken beat Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the quarterfinals.
- Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is estimated to miss the next four months after dislocating his left shoulder and requiring surgery.
- Kevin de Bruyne was named to Manchester City’s roster for the Club World Cup later this month, meaning he may make his return from a hamstring injury before the year’s end.
- Liverpool center back Joel Matip may miss the rest of the season after an ACL injury in his team’s win this past weekend.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/6/23
Antonio Carlos linked with move to Fluminense, Emily Madril agrees to new contract with the Pride, USWNT beats China, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. There is not much new with me, I’ve just been staying busy working at Under Armour and covering high school basketball and wrestling lately. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Antonio Carlos Linked with Fluminense
Orlando City center back Antonio Carlos was linked with a move back to Brazil, with Fluminense reportedly close to finalizing a deal to sign him.
Carlos initially joined Orlando on loan from Palmeiras before the 2020 season. Following that season, the club signed him to a three-year contract with an option for an additional year. The 30-year-old has been a key part of Orlando’s defense under Head Coach Oscar Pareja, although Carlos missed some time this past season due to injury.
Emily Madril Agrees to New Contract With the Pride
The Orlando Pride announced that defender Emily Madril has reached an agreement with the club on a new three-year contract through the 2026 NWSL season. Madril just finished her first season with the Pride, making 27 appearances for the club across all competitions and leading all rookies with 1,977 minutes played in the NWSL regular season. She was already signed to a three-year deal through 2025, but the Pride were able to find a way to keep her with the club for another year. Now the club can work on retooling its roster with a back line anchored by Madril and Rafaelle.
MLS 2023 College Showcase Begins Today
Major League Soccer announced the 44 invitees for the 2023 MLS College Showcase. The event will kick off today through Dec. 9 in Phoenix. One local player to keep an eye on is defender Jahlane Forbes out of Wake Forest. Forbes is from Clermont, FL and joined Orlando City’s academy in 2016. He has also played for Orlando City B, making three appearances. Forbes made 19 appearances for Wake Forest in the 2023 season, recording five goals and seven assists. Other top prospects to watch include Louisville defender Josh Jones, High Point’s Jefferson Amaya, and Marshall forward Matthew Bell.
USWNT Beats China in Final Friendly of 2023
The U.S. Women’s National team defeated China 2-1 at Toyota Stadium in its final match of 2023. The USWNT trailed 1-0 at halftime, but bounced back in the second half thanks to a pair of goals and a solid defensive effort. Jaedyn Shaw gave the USWNT its winner in the 79th minute, scoring in her hometown in a memorable moment for the 19-year-old. It was the USWNT’s second win over China this month after winning the first match 3-0 this past Saturday in Fort Lauderdale.
Former Lion Daryl Dike Nears Return with West Brom
After being sidelined with an Achilles injury since March, former Lion Daryl Dike could make his return to West Brom this month. Dike has been back at training with the club since last month to work his way back to fitness, and West Brom’s manager, Carlos Corberan, stated that that he would be an option in the squad by the end of the December if he keeps progressing well. The 23-year-old joined West Brom in December of 2021, but injuries have limited his playing time while in England.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride had a message for former Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod after her farewell ceremony with the Canadian Women’s National Team during its friendly against Australia on Tuesday.
- The Chicago Fire have announced that Frank Klopas will return to the club to serve as head coach for the second time. Klopas was the head coach for the Fire from 2011 to 2013 and was the interim coach this past season after Ezra Hendrickson’s departure in May.
- Minnesota United announced that Sean McAuley will remain with the club as its interim head coach going into the 2024 season.
- Former Portland Timbers Head Coach Gio Savarese is reportedly in consideration for the open head coach position with the New England Revolution.
- The Seattle Sounders have reached an agreement with goalkeeper Stefan Frei on a new two-year contract that will keep him at the club through the 2025 season.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
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