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Lion Links: 5/7/21

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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.

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’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.

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  • 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.

  • 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.


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: 7/15/25

Lions earn weekly recognition, United States Men’s National Team announces friendlies, talking points about the women’s Euros, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Good morning, everyone. I write to you all from the great state of South Carolina, as I continue my summer of frequent and widespread traveling. We have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B’s Tristan Himes and get into today’s links!

Lions Earn Weekly Recognition

A pair of Orlando City players have earned some recognition for their contributions during the Lions’ 1-1 draw with CF Montreal on Saturday. First up is Martin Ojeda, who garnered a nomination for the MLS Goal of the Matchday for this pinpoint, low free kick he scored which gave Orlando a lead in the first half.

We also can’t forget about Alex Freeman, who got a shoutout as a well-performing young player due to another solid performance at right back. Here’s hoping both men keep up the good work!

USMNT Announces October Friendlies

The United States Men’s National Team has announced that it will play friendlies against Ecuador and Australia during the October international window. The USMNT will face Ecuador on Oct. 10 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX, before playing Australia at Dick’s Sporting Good Park in Commerce City, CO. Both opponents are ranked in the top 25 in the world, and have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The games are exactly the sort of contests that the U.S. should be scheduling in the buildup to the tournament, and it’ll be interesting to see the performances of whatever roster Mauricio Pochettino chooses to deploy.

Women’s Euro Talking Points

The group stage of the women’s European Championship has come to an end, and there are plenty of things to talk about while we wait for the knockout stages to start later this week. Teams like Italy and Sweden have exceeded the expectations that many people had for them ahead of the tournament starting, while others like the Netherlands and Denmark had poor showings compared to what was expected of them. Alexia Putellas has unsurprisingly shone, and the quarterfinal matchup between France and Germany is the one that many people will have circled on their calendars.

Club World Cup Takeaways

Now that the Club World Cup has come to a conclusion, what did we learn from the tournament? For one, the quality of play was mostly good, as teams certainly took the competition seriously. Lessons need to be learned when it comes to pricing tickets appropriately and not kicking games off in the middle of the day during the heat of summer, but if the right adjustments are made, it could grow into a really fun competition to look forward to. Brazilian fans were one of the highlights of the tournament, while extremely low attendance numbers for some games were more of a blemish. Overall, the tournament is probably a net positive, but there are absolutely things that can and must be improved upon if it’s going to continue in this form.

Free Kicks

  • Martin Ojeda has now gone seven straight matches with a goal contribution, which is a new club record!

That does it for me this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/14/25

Lions draw against CF Montreal, Pride players in action abroad, OCB wins, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work. Our Lions and OCB were both in action over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Drop Points in Home Draw against CF Montreal

Orlando City picked up a 1-1 draw against CF Montreal on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions got off to a good start in the first half as Martin Ojeda scored the opening goal. In the second half, defender Kyle Smith came off the bench and became the second player in club history to make 200 appearances for the club across all competitions.

However, Orlando was unable to hold onto the lead as Rodrigo Schlegel fouled Prince Owusu, and Montreal was awarded a penalty kick late in the second half. Owusu buried his shot from the spot to tie the match as the teams split the points. Orlando is winless in its last three matches and dropped to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with 35 points. Orlando City will face New York City FC Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Pride Players in Women’s AFCON, Euros, and Copa America

Orlando Pride forwards Barbra Banda and Prisca Chilufya were in action for Zambia in their final group stage match in the 2025 Women’s African Cup of Nations against Congo DR over the weekend. Grace Chanda did not play, but Zambia defeated Congo 1-0 with a goal from Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji to book a spot in the quarterfinals.

Zambia finished second in the group behind host Morocco on goal difference with seven points. The Copper Queens will take on Nigeria Friday in the quarterfinals at Stade Larbi Zaouli. On Sunday, England crushed Wales 6-1 in the third match of the group stage in the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was on the bench. England finished second in its group and will face Sweden Thursday in the quarterfinals. Lastly, Brazil was in action Sunday in the group stage of the 2025 Copa America Feminina against Venezuela. Orlando Pride forward Marta and midfielder Angelina played as Brazil defeated Venezuela 2-0.

OCB Beats Carolina Core FC at Home

Orlando City B beat Carolina Core FC 3-1 Sunday at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions struck first with a goal from Justin Ellis. OCB held onto the lead through halftime. In the second half, Orlando City B won a penalty kick, and Ellis converted to give the Young Lions a 2-0 lead. Carolina Core FC scored to pull within one, but Thalles scored his first goal for OCB late in the second half to clinch the three points. OCB won its first home match since June 6 and remains unbeaten in its last three matches. The Young Lions will be on the road to face New England Revolution II Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Chelsea Wins the FIFA Club World Cup

Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Chelsea dominated PSG in the first half, as Cole Palmer scored twice and Joao Pedro added one. Palmer also assisted on Pedro’s goal. Palmer scored three goals and recorded two assists throughout the competition and won the Best Player of the Tournament Award. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez won the Golden Glove Award as the best goalkeeper in the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue won the Best Young Player Award, and Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia won the Golden Boot, scoring four goals in the tournament.

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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: 7/11/25

Storylines ahead of Orlando City’s match with CF Montreal, Mia Fishel signs with Seattle Reign FC, D.C. United coach Troy Lesesne fired, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Happy Friday! The weekend is nearly here, which means it’s almost time to pack Inter&Co Stadium to enjoy some Orlando City soccer. It should be a nice next few days, and I’m hoping I can catch the new Superman movie at some point if the crowds aren’t too crazy. Let’s get to the links!

Storylines Ahead of Orlando City’s vs. Montreal

Orlando City takes on CF Montreal Saturday, and there’s plenty to watch for as the Lions aim to get back in the win column. Martin Ojeda has had a goal contribution in six straight matches, while fellow Designated Player Marco Pasalic is one of three MLS newcomers with double-digit goals so far this season. The Lions will be without Pedro Gallese and Robin Jansson due to yellow card accumulation, although right back Alex Freeman is back from international duty. Orlando is unbeaten in its past five matches against Montreal, including a scoreless draw in Canada on April 19.

Seattle Reign FC Signs Mia Fishel

American forward Mia Fishel made the move to the NWSL, signing a contract with the Seattle Reign through the 2029 season. She was drafted by the Orlando Pride with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, but opted to join Tigres in Mexico instead of coming to the City Beautiful. The 24-year-old has spent the past two seasons with Chelsea and should get more playing time in a Seattle offense that could use a dynamic player like her. Fishel and the Reign will be in Orlando to take on the Pride on Nov. 2, adding another wrinkle to the Decision Day match.

D.C. United Fires Troy Lesesne

Troy Lesesne was fired as D.C. United’s head coach Thursday, with assistant coach Zach Prince leaving the club as well. This decision comes while D.C. United is 12th in the Eastern Conference and just lost to Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Academy Director Kevin Flanagan will take over as the interim head coach, but the club has reportedly agreed to terms with Swiss manager Rene Weiler as a replacement.

Switzerland and Norway Advance to Euro Quarterfinals

Switzerland booked its spot in the 2025 Women’s European Championship quarterfinals in dramatic fashion against Finland. The game was a scoreless affair until Finland took the lead in the 79th minute, but Riola Xhemaili scored an equalizer in stoppage time for the host nation to secure a 1-1 draw. Norway advanced after a 4-3 win over Iceland, with Signe Gaupset scoring twice and assisting on both of Frida Maanum’s goals. Iceland rallied late but finished the tournament without a win.

Today’s action includes a solid matchup between Italy and Spain for the top spot in the group. Meanwhile, Portugal and Belgium will mostly be playing for pride, although Portugal could sneak into the quarterfinals depending on how goal differential shakes out.

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

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