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Lion Links: 5/21/21

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5 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week wasn’t too rough on you as we head into another soccer-filled weekend. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are both in action at 7 p.m. tomorrow night. Leagues across Europe will also reach their conclusions over the next few days, so there’s plenty of soccer to look forward to. But for now, enjoy today’s links!

Orlando City Takes On Toronto FC Tomorrow

After a 1-0 road win against D.C. United last week, the Lions return to Exploria Stadium to face Toronto. The Lions have been a defensive powerhouse so far this season by only conceding two goals, a giveaway pounced on by Sporting Kansas City’s Gianluca Busio and a penalty kick from New York City FC’s Valentin Castellanos. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese already has three clean sheets to his name, most in the league alongside Nashville SC’s Joe Willis, and center back Antonio Carlos anchors a back line that is excelling despite injuries.

It will be the first time Orlando has played Toronto since August of 2019, when the two sides drew 1-1. Jozy Altidore, who has scored six goals against the Lions over the years, got his first start of the season last week in Toronto’s 1-1 draw with NYCFC and should feature in this one as well. Former Lion Dom Dwyer also made his season debut in that match and tomorrow could be his return to Exploria Stadium.

Andres Perea Reflects on His Journey to Orlando

In his first year as a Lion in 2020, Perea found plenty of playing time due to his versatility in the midfield. Capable of playing well both offensively and defensively, Perea can fill most roles asked of him by Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja. Perea’s father, who played for Colombia’s Atletico Nacional and later coached its U-20 team, has encouraged him over the course of his career to gain the needed skills to excel as a midfielder.

“He was able to teach me the things that I would need for the future in that position and make sure that I knew everything that I had going,” Perea said. “We always said that football runs through our blood.”

When watching him now as a Lion, you can easily spot his unselfishness and awareness once the ball is at his feet. Although he’s only started once this year, Perea has featured in all five of the Lions’ games, usually as a substitute to shift the game in Orlando’s favor. He’s become a great weapon for Pareja this way, given the coach’s penchant for changing the team’s shape or tactics at will. As he gets more opportunity at both the club and national levels, Perea will only improve further as a midfielder.

The Orlando Pride Prepare for the North Carolina Courage

The Pride’s first road game of the season will take place tomorrow as they take on the North Carolina Courage. The past three meetings between the two teams have been draws, including a scoreless one on May 1 in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup. Sam Mewis is returning to the Courage, but won’t be available for this match. Debinha and Jessica McDonald are the two Courage players who could give the Pride’s defense the most trouble.

It will be a tough task for Pride center back Phoebe McClernon, who has started in all of the Pride’s games so far. However, McClernon has improved each match and is getting better at communicating with teammates as she finds her footing with the team. Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner had high praise for McClernon and her confident style of play.

“She’s super competitive,” Skinner said. “She knows who she is. She’s authentic. When you have that, when you step into an arena where you have to make decisions, you are able to kind of sit in your own head with that. … I’ve seen so many brilliant players not be able to take the pressure on, and she can take the pressure.”

Members of OCSC Staff Announced as Award Finalists

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission released the 52 finalists for the 2021 SPORTYS, awards aimed at recognizing sports business professionals throughout the region. Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao was nominated for Executive of the Year, Pedro Araujo was nominated for Best in Marketing, Chris Spano for Best in Sales, and Marcos Peres for Best in Sports media. The Pride’s Ad Astra jersey launch, where they literally sent a jersey into space, was nominated for Sponsorship Activation of the Year. The winners of each of the 12 categories will be revealed on June 19.

Daryl Dike Called Up to USMNT

Orlando forward Daryl Dike was one of 27 players called up for the United States Men’s National Team training camp ahead of its friendly with Switzerland on May 30. That game will be the last tune-up for Head Coach Gregg Berhalter and the USMNT before the Nations League semifinal with Honduras on June 3. With this news, it looks like Dike won’t play for the Lions on May 29 against the New York Red Bulls, which was a possibility if Barnsley FC lost on aggregate against Swansea City tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Weston McKennie, John Brooks, Sergino Dest, Giovanni Reyna, and Josh Sargent are some of the bigger names also called up for the camp. Forward Matthew Hoppe, goalkeeper David Ochoa, and defender Justin Che will all have a shot at earning their first appearances for the USMNT as well. Galatasaray defender DeAndre Yedlin also earned a call-up, his first since November of 2019.

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  • As a way to raise awareness regarding plastic waste in our oceans, MLS revealed PRIMEBLUE jerseys made from recycled plastics. While I think the jersey would look better with white rather than the orange, it still looks good on Orlando forward Alexandre Pato. If you’re planning on buying one, we urge you to visit the store through this link, which is something that costs you nothing extra and can help us a little.

That’s going to be it for today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/19/26

Lions set for international duty, lessons from MLS matchday 14, Austin FC makes changes at the top, and more.

Published

23 hours ago

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May 19, 2026

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Image of Marco Pasalic saluting the fans.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! It wasn’t a particularly successful weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, but we don’t have time to dwell on the past. Orlando City is set for a big U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match against Atlanta United tonight, and all three teams will be back in action over the weekend. We’ve got a whole host of things to talk about today, so let’s jump straight into the links.

Lions Called Up for International Duty

A busy summer break from MLS is almost upon us, and that means that the international call-ups are starting to roll in. Gustavo Caraballo will be joining Venezuela’s U-20 outfit as it gets ready for an upcoming youth tournament.

In addition, Marco Pasalic has been named to Croatia’s World Cup squad, so Orlando City will be represented on the biggest stage.

Congrats to both players!

Lessons from Matchday 14

Matchday 14 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so let’s take a look at what we learned from the weekend’s action. For one thing, despite a slightly slow start to the season by his high standards, Hany Mukhtar’s hat trick against LAFC proved that he should still be considered among the league’s elite. Marco Reus flashed his versatility in the LA Galaxy’s 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders, as he played striker and got an assist on LA’s first goal. Finally, while its too early to say things are definitely turned around for Sporting Kansas City, back-to-back wins means that there’s at least something to get excited about, and that’s very welcome in a season that’s been difficult for the most part. The spine of Sporting’s midfield looked improved on Saturday, and having Dejan Jovelic up top is never going to hurt a team’s chances.

Austin FC Makes Personnel Changes

Austin FC followed in the footsteps of the Columbus Crew by announcing the firing of head coach Nico Estevez on Monday. Where Austin went a step further was by also firing sporting director Rodolfo Borrell. The team has begun searches for permanent appointments to both positions immediately, while naming Davy Arnaud as interim manager in what will be his second stint in that role with the club. Austin has endured a difficult start to the season and is currently 13th in the Western Conference with a record of 3-6-5 and 14 points from 14 matches. The 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday seems to have been the final straw, and Austin will now be seeking its third permanent head coach since becoming an MLS club.

Americans in Midweek Action

Most major European seasons have already wrapped up or will be doing so shortly, but there’s still a number of Americans who will be competing during the working week. Things get started later today when Tyler Adams and Bournemouth play host to Manchester City in Premier League action. The stakes ratchet up considerably on Thursday when Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg play Paderborn in the first leg of the Bundesliga’s promotion/relegation tie. Things then finish up on Friday when Yunus Musah and Atalanta travel to take on Fiorentina in Serie A.

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

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Lion Links: 5/18/26

Lions draw Atlanta United, Pride and OCB lose, Americans abroad, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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Image of Griffin Dorsey playing against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve had a busy week covering high school playoff water polo and soccer. Our beloved Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Draw Atlanta United

Orlando City drew Atlanta United 1-1 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. Griffin Dorsey scored the opener for the Lions in the first half. Orlando was moments away from securing back-to-back wins. However, the Lions could not hold onto the lead, as Jay Fortune scored a late equalizer for Atlanta, and both teams ended up with a point. It will be a busy week for Orlando City, facing Atlanta United again Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup at home, followed by a road trip to take on FC Cincinnati Saturday at TQL Stadium.

Pride Fall to Denver Summit

The Orlando Pride fell 3-1 in their first road match against Denver Summit FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. It’s the second consecutive match in a week the Pride have lost to a 2026 NWSL expansion team on the road, following a defeat to Boston Legacy FC on Tuesday. Orlando conceded the first goal and trailed 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, Janine Sonis scored a penalty kick goal to give Denver a 2-0 lead. Angelina was sent off with a red card before Barbra Banda pulled one back, but Sonis added her second goal immediately after the Pride scored to put away Denver’s first-ever home win. The Pride will look to bounce back on the road, taking on the San Diego Wave Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium.

OCB Concedes Late in 1-0 Road Loss to New England Revolution II

Orlando City B fell 1-0 to New England Revolution II on the road Sunday at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI. Both teams struggled to score throughout the match, and it looked like the match was heading to a 0-0 draw and a shootout. However, Judah Siqueira scored a winner for New England in the dying moments of the match for the hosts. The result ends the Young Lions’ four-match points streak. OCB will return home to face Inter Miami II Sunday at Osceola County Stadium.

Americans Abroad

Auston Trusty played a full 90 minutes and helped Celtic overturn a 1-0 deficit to complete the comeback and defeat Hearts 3-1 to secure the club’s fifth straight Scottish Premiership title. Antonee Robinson scored his first Premier League goal for Fulham in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chris Richards came off the bench and played 29 minutes for Crystal Palace in a 2-2 draw against Brentford but suffered an ankle injury toward the end of the match. Christian Pulisic made his return to AC Milan after being sidelined with a lower back injury and came off the bench in the second half in a 2-1 win against Genoa. Ricardo Pepi scored for PSV Eindhoven in a 5-1 win against FC Twente. George Bello and Sam Adeniran helped LASK capture its first Austrian Bundesliga title since 1965, defeating Austria Vienna 3-0 and booking a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League playoff round.

Manchester City Defeats Chelsea to Win FA Cup

Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium Saturday to win the English FA Cup. After a scoreless first half, Antoine Semenyo’s lone goal in the second half was enough to pull Manchester City to victory and keep the club’s domestic treble hopes alive. It’s Manchester City’s second FA Cup trophy in four years.

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  • Orlando City midfielder Gustavo Caraballo has been called up to the Venezuela U-20 Men’s National Team for the upcoming Maurice Revello Tournament in France.
  • Orlando Pride defender Kylie Nadaner gave birth to her first child over the weekend.

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: 5/15/26

Martin Ojeda earns recognition, Orlando City prepares for Atlanta United, Orlando Pride set to face the Denver Summit, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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May 15, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s plenty of soccer ahead of us to look forward to this weekend, including a pair of games on Saturday. Apart from the soccer, I’ll be spending the next few days tearing my way through some mystery novels for a book club and trying out a new cinnamon roll pancake recipe. Cooking tends to either go swimmingly or horribly for me, so keep any spare fingers crossed for me. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Earns Praise After Winning Goal

Orlando City star Martin Ojeda’s diving header secured a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Union was chosen as the MLS Moment of the Matchday. Given how a league-record 58 goals were scored during Wednesday’s slate of games, it’s an impressive honor for Ojeda to receive. That winner was Ojeda’s second goal of the game and he has now scored 10 game-winning goals in his time as a Lion. The 27-year-old also made the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday for his role in the win.

Orlando City Prepares for Atlanta United

The Lions will look to keep the good times rolling on Saturday when they play Atlanta United in a rivalry game at home. While its defense has been a sieve all season, Orlando’s offense is finding its footing and should benefit from Marco Pasalic’s return from injury. Following this match, the two teams will turn right back around and face each other at Inter&Co Stadium again on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup each coach opts for on Saturday given the short time between the matches.

Orlando Pride Face the Denver Summit on Saturday

The Orlando Pride are also in action on Saturday and will play the Denver Summit in the club’s first-ever road game against the expansion side. The Pride are coming off of a frustrating 2-1 loss on the road to the Boston Legacy on Tuesday, while the Summit’s last game was on Saturday, when they thrashed the Houston Dash 4-1. While Barbra Banda leads the league with eight goals so far this season, Denver’s Natasha Flint has scored in three consecutive games and the Pride will need to find a way to stop her from extending that streak on Saturday. Other notable NWSL games to watch this weekend include the Washington Spirit putting their five-game win streak on the line tonight against the San Diego Wave and Sunday’s matchup between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC.

Sam Kerr Officially Exiting Chelsea

Australian striker Sam Kerr announced that she’s leaving Chelsea once her contract is up following this Women’s Super League season. She’s played for Chelsea for the past six years, scoring 115 goals across all competitions and winning the league title five times and the Golden Boot twice. The 32-year-old has been linked with a return to the NWSL to join the Denver Summit earlier this year, so we’ll see if that comes to pass. If so, I’m glad the Pride would already have both of their matches against the Summit out of the way by the time of her arrival.

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

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