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Lion Links: 6/4/21

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4 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? MLS may be on an international break, but there is still plenty of soccer to look forward to this weekend thanks to the Orlando Pride and United States Men’s National Team. I’m on vacation these next few days and am looking forward to just relaxing a bit. Today is also National Donut Day so be sure to look into your favorite local place to see if they’re running any promotions. Now, let’s get this Friday started with some links from around the soccer world.

Keeping Up With the Lions

Although the Lions won’t be playing during this international break, they are still staying busy. The break actually comes at a great time for the Lions as multiple players heal up from injuries. Forward Alexandre Pato hasn’t played since the season opener back on April 17, but should be ready to return later this month. Fullbacks Ruan and João Moutinho should also get needed healing before Orlando takes to the field again on June 19 against Toronto FC.

There are also Lions on international duty to watch as Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Ecuadorian midfielder Sebas Mendez are taking part in World Cup qualifiers. Gallese had a rough night against Colombia in a 3-0 loss as Peru’s struggles continued. Mendez and Ecuador will take on Brazil tonight at 8:30 p.m. The two Lions will then face off against each other on June 8 in Ecuador.

Daryl Dike is with the USMNT and is expected to feature in its friendly with Costa Rica on June 9. Coincidentally, June 9 is also the day the summer transfer window opens up and there are sure to be offers for Dike once it does.

Alex Morgan Named NWSL Player of the Month

The Pride were dominant over the course of May, winning three of their four National Women’s Soccer League regular-season matches. Pride forward Alex Morgan led the offense and was named NWSL Player of the Month. With four goals so far this season, Morgan leads the league in scoring and also has an assist to her name.

The Pride also had the most players on May’s Team of the Month as Morgan, Sydney Leroux, and Phoebe McClernon were all selected. Leroux has two goals for the Pride, including the game-winner against the Portland Thorns. On defense, McClernon has played every minute for the Pride this season to help secure leads and see out games.

Learning More About Orlando City’s Academy

The first episode of a video series called Orlando City Next Gen was released. The episode provided a closer look at the club’s academy and its players and coaching staff. Academy Director Marcelo Neveleff detailed the academy’s efforts to help players reach the first team or further their education in college. The video is definitely worth checking out as Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi and Director of Scouting Ricardo Moreira also weighed in on the process.

The academy travelled to Atlanta this past weekend for the MLS Academy Cup, with both the U-17 and U-15 sides winning two of their three exhibition games. Ethan Subachan notably scored four goals across three games for the U-17 squad.

USMNT Advances to Concacaf Nations League Final

Jordan Siebatcheu scored his first goal for the USMNT and it was the difference maker in the USMNT’s 1-0 win over Honduras in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal. In the 88th minute, John Brooks did a fantastic job finding Weston McKennie in a pocket of space. McKennie headed the ball towards goal and it bounced right to Siebatcheu wide open in front of goal. The 25-year-old made a nice diving header to send the ball into the back of the net and give the USMNT the win. You can check out the goal below, including a cameo from Dike as Siebatcheu points him out to celebrate the goal.

The USMNT had a majority of possession and although it out-shot Honduras 10-7, both sides had four shots on target. The midfield lacked creativity at times and Zack Steffen stepped up to make great saves. Now the USMNT turns its attention to Sunday for the Nations League final against a Mexico team that beat Costa Rica in penalties in the other semifinal.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Homegrown Player Wilfredo Rivera had an assist in Puerto Rico’s 7-0 win over the Bahamas. Puerto Rico’s next World Cup qualifying match will be on June 8 against Guyana.

  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was named MLS Player of the Month. After an underwhelming 2020 season, the LA Galaxy forward scored five goals in his first two games this season. Although he’s cooled off a bit since then, Chicharito still leads the league with seven goals.
  • Former USMNT midfielder Jermaine Jones spoke about his efforts to become a coach in this next stage of his career. The 39-year-old discussed the importance of having more Black representation at the coaching level in soccer and how his role as a coach will vastly differ from his reputation as a player.
  • USMNT forward Bobby Wood landed in Utah and should be ready to roll for the rest of Real Salt Lake’s season. Orlando fans can rest easy though since the Lions won’t have to face off against RSL or Wood this season. Instead we can all sit back, enjoy the bad puns, and watch him take on the Western Conference.

That’s going to be it from me today! I hope you all have a nice Friday and even nicer rest of your weekend.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/9/25

Orlando City’s next U.S. Open Cup match date revealed, MLS matches to watch, top soccer club valuations, and more.

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12 hours ago

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May 9, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Friday! I hope the week has treated you well as we get ready for a Mother’s Day weekend packed with soccer. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are both in action at the same time on Saturday, so make sure to plan accordingly depending on how you want to enjoy the action. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Will Face Nashville in USOC on May 21

Orlando City will officially host Nashville SC on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16. That match is sandwiched between a road game against Inter Miami on May 18 and a home game against the Portland Timbers May 24, so at least there won’t be much travel during that week during an already jam-packed month. The Lions reached this stage of the tournament after beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 Wednesday, while Nashville won 1-0 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Tuesday.

What to Watch In MLS This Weekend

We’ll all be tuned in for Orlando City’s match on Saturday against the New England Revolution, but there’s plenty more MLS action to look forward to as well. Before Orlando’s match, Inter Miami will head to St. Paul to take on a Minnesota United team that leads the league with six clean sheets this season. Another notable match this weekend is a clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings when the Philadelphia Union host the Columbus Crew. That game has Daniel Gazdag written all over it. Sunday night’s match should be a doozy between two heavyweight Western Conference teams, as LAFC will hit the road to take on the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS Clubs Listed Among World’s Most Valuable

Sportico announced the valuations for the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, and a whopping 19 MLS teams made the list. The Lions aren’t included, but it’s still neat to see some clubs like Minnesota, Sporting Kansas City, and Charlotte FC listed. LAFC is the highest listed MLS side, coming in at 16th with a $1.28 billion valuation. Real Madrid tops the list at $6.53 billion, and six of the top 10 are from the English Premier League. While valuations aren’t exactly hard evidence of success or influence, I think this is a testament to the growth and parity of MLS through an international lens.

English Clubs Reach Europa League Final

This year’s Europa League final will feature a pair of EPL teams as Manchester United and Tottenham breezed through the semifinals. United overcame a shaky first half to beat Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford, with Mason Mount scoring two of the team’s four goals in the second half. Tottenham avoided an upset in Norway by winning 2-0 against Bodo/Glimt. The final will take place on May 21 in Spain, and there’s both a trophy and Champions League qualification on the line. Both United and Tottenham struggled this season and are respectively 15th and 16th in the league standings, but winning the Europa League is all that matters now.

Free Kicks

  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso played every minute of Real Betis’ 2-2 result against Fiorentina to advance to the Europa Conference League final, where the Spanish club will face Chelsea on May 28. Enjoy this goal from Antony to help his side prevail.
  • In honor of Mother’s Day, AC Milan players will wear their mothers’ last names on the back of their jerseys in today’s match against Bologna. I love this idea and hope more clubs follow suit moving forward.
  • An ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville acquired Salford City of England’s League Two.
  • Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra’s MMA debut will have to wait, as the 43-year-old’s fight set for May 23 in Paris was postponed.
  • We’ll end our links with what looks to be some unexpected Orlando Pride representation in Vatican City!

That’s all I have for you this time around. Have a fantastic Friday and enjoy the holiday weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/8/25

Orlando City steamrolls the Tampa Bay Rowdies in I-4 Derby, Orlando Pride aim to bounce back, U.S. Open Cup results, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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May 8, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s not often we get to celebrate an Orlando City victory in the middle of the week these days, but hopefully it’s a habit we get used to. The Lions took care of business in my neck of the woods, and it’s given some nice optimism to finish this week strongly. Let’s dive into the big win and more in today’s links!

Orlando City Trounces Tampa Bay Rowdies

Take a bow, Gustavo Caraballo! The 16-year-old was the star of the show in Orlando City’s dominant 5-0 U.S. Open Cup win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, scoring twice to jumpstart Orlando’s attack and making history along the way. There’s plenty of scoring to enjoy, so be sure to check out our full recap!

Hopefully this game was a nice shot in the arm for Orlando’s offense and something to build on in league play. It’s always nice to take down the Rowdies and the Lions are now the last Floridian team standing in the tournament. They’ll host Nashville SC in the round of 16 later this month in what should be a good game in the City Beautiful.

Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back in North Carolina

After a 1-0 loss on the road to the Portland Thorns, the Orlando Pride will look to return to their winning ways when they face the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough environment for the Pride to play in, although the Courage have lost two of their three home games so far this season. Pride defender Emily Sams spoke on the team’s mentality heading into this match and how the team can raise its level after a disappointing loss in Portland.

U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Wraps Up

MLS teams mostly cruised in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32, but it was still an exciting round of soccer filled with drama. In a vintage “cupset,” the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat New York City FC 1-0 thanks to a goal in stoppage time from Orlando native Beto Ydrach. Indy Eleven nearly took down the Philadelphia Union, but the MLS side converted all five kicks in the penalty shootout to advance after a 1-1 draw.

The New England Revolution escaped Pawtucket with a 2-1 road win against Rhode Island FC, with 17-year-old Cristiano Oliveira scoring a late winner. Minnesota United squeezed past Louisville City 1-0, the Chicago Fire put Detroit City to the sword in a 4-0 win, and FC Dallas won 3-1 against USL League One side AV Alta FC.

UEFA Champions League Final Set

Paris Saint-Germain did everything it needed to and more at home against Arsenal, winning 2-1 to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. Great saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi propelled PSG to victory, with Bukayo Saka providing Arsenal’s only goal of the two-leg series. PSG will take on Inter Milan in the final on May 31 and it should be an interesting matchup at Allianz Arena to close out the tournament. Will PSG lift its first Champions League trophy only a year after Kylian Mbappe left the club, or will Inter come out on top after finishing as runner-up in 2023? I can’t wait to find out.

Free Kicks

  • Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team star Mallory Swanson and her husband Dansby Swanson, as the couple announced that they’re expecting their first child!
  • Racing Louisville announced that goalkeeper Katie Lund and midfielder Maddie Pokorny will both miss the remainder of the season due to hip injuries. Jordyn Bloomer, who had five saves in Friday’s win over the Houston Dash, will serve as the team’s goalkeeper in Lund’s stead.
  • The Columbus Crew signed Daniel Gazdag to a contract extension through 2027, with a club option for 2028 as well.
  • Arsene Wenger proposed a change to the offside rule so that attacking players are onside so long as any part of their body is lined up with the last defender. We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it could lead to more goals in the future.
  • Here’s what to watch for in the second legs of the Europa League semifinals. Manchester United will host Athletic Club with a three-goal lead in aggregate, while Tottenham will aim to defend its two-goal advantage in Norway against a Bodo/Glimt side that has key players returning from suspension.
  • Tottenham will be without James Maddison, who is out for the rest of the season after a knee injury sustained in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

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

Lion Links 5/7/25

Orlando City takes on the Rowdies, sponsors like MLS, the NWSL is growing, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 7, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day as the Lions begin their 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign. I’ve repeatedly said on The Mane Land PawedCast that I want Oscar Pareja to focus on this competition more than another one (*cough* Leagues Cup *cough*). That all starts tonight, and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get to the links.

I-4 Derby Tonight

Orlando City enters the 2025 U.S. Open Cup tonight against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Lions make the perilous 112-mile trip along I-4 — which feels approximately like flying to Seattle — to take on an old geographical rival. We’re likely to see a rotated lineup for this match, but Pareja said he has confidence in the younger players to get the job done. If you’re not making the trip to Tampa here is how you can watch the match. We will have our normal match coverage for you tonight.

Nobody Likes Nil-Nil

You know something is going on when Orlando City attracts the attention of the national media. Unfortunately, that thing is the overabundance of 0-0 draws in four out of the last five matches. The theory is that the Lions aren’t getting enough service out of the midfield for the players up top. It may be as simple as players getting healthy for Orlando City to reignite the offense. For the sake of a certain The Mane Land editor’s sanity, I hope that is the case.

MLS News and Notes

Soccer’s popularity is growing in the United States. Are decades of being America’s next big sport finally paying off? It seems to actually be the case, at least when it comes to the sponsors. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, brands are investing in MLS and soccer in America. EA Sports is in on the action, partnering with MLS and Apple TV to show four live matches within the EA FC mobile gaming app this season

NWSL Keeps Growing

Big things are also happening in the NWSL. The growth has prompted the league to move its headquarters from one New York office to a bigger New York office. Part of that growth comes from owners like the Washington Spirit’s Michelle Kang. The billionaire is investing in the NWSL, U.S. Soccer, and other leagues and countries throughout the world. On a slightly different scale, Mikaela Shiffrin — the most decorated alpine skier of all time — has invested in the Denver NWSL expansion side.

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That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match as well as the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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