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Lion Links: 7/12/21

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5 years ago

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Happy Monday, everybody! I’m bringing you your links this morning and it’s been a great weekend with plenty of action in the world of soccer. The Orlando Pride played Racing Louisville FC to a 1-1 draw while Orlando City had the weekend off. There was even more soccer happening around the world, including the conclusions of two major tournaments and the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Let’s dive right in.

Sydney Leroux is Thriving With the Pride

After scoring in stoppage time to salvage a draw for the Pride against Louisville, Leroux now leads the Pride with five goals this season. With Alex Morgan and Marta both away from the team for the Tokyo Olympics, Leroux will need to continue leading the Pride’s offense. Her contributions in attack go beyond putting the ball in the net though as she makes the effort to force turnovers to then torch opponents in transition. But as more teams catch on to the Pride’s game plan, the Pride’s other players will need to step up and support Leroux so that she isn’t playing on an island up top. Forwards Taylor Kornieck and recent addition Jodie Taylor should help carry some of the load from Leroux as well over the next few weeks.

USMNT Starts Gold Cup With Win Over Haiti

Following its victory in the Concacaf Nations League, the United States Men’s National Team opened its Gold Cup campaign with a somewhat lackluster 1-0 victory against Haiti. The scoring opened early in the eighth minute when Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes flicked a deflected cross on for Colorado Rapids left back Sam Vines to coolly head it in for his first international goal. Paul Arriola was subbed off in the 14th minute due to an injury to his right hamstring in yet another setback for the D.C. United midfielder. The USMNT did create some opportunities, mostly through Shaq Moore on the righthand side, but couldn’t find a second goal. Despite the USMNT dominating possession and putting five of its 13 shots on target, Haiti created some chances as well and had 10 shots with three on target.

Orlando’s Daryl Dike made his competitive debut for the USMNT in the second half, coming on as a sub for Jonathan Lewis in the 62nd minute. The forward didn’t do too much with only seven touches, but he did get a shot on target. Sporting Kansas City’s Gianluca Busio made a real impression as a substitute, looking the part of a complete defensive midfielder. It wasn’t the best performance by the USMNT, but it got the job done and the U.S. will host Martinique on Thursday.

Italy Wins Euro 2020 After Penalty Shootout

After a month of games, a Euro 2020 winner was crowned. In a monumental final at Wembley Stadium in London, a resurgent Italy side outlasted England to win 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 deadlock. The match started in glorious fashion for England, with Manchester United fullback Luke Shaw scoring off of a Kieran Trippier cross in just the second minute of action. That was the highlight of the match for England, as the Three Lions played second fiddle to Italy for most of the game. Italy had 66% possession and out-shot England 19-6, putting six of those shots on target while England had two on target. Italy found its equalizer off of a corner kickin the 67th minute when center back Leonardo Bonucci buried the ball into the net after a header hit the post.

In the shootout, England took the early advantage, with Harry Kane and Harry Maguire scoring while Jordan Pickford made a big save on Andrea Belotti. But Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who were both subbed on specifically for the shootout, missed their penalty kicks and put England on the brink with penalty specialist Jorginho up next for Italy. Pickford made an excellent save on the Chelsea midfielder, breathing new life into England only for Bukayo Saka’s following penalty to be saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Italy the win. It was the sixth major trophy won by Italy and just the second Euro final decided by penalties.

Lionel Messi and Argentina Win Copa America

In the long and storied history of Lionel Messi, the greatest soccer player in history in my opinion, the one thing that has eluded him is a senior international trophy. But he and Argentina broke through and won the 2021 Copa America final after a 1-0 victory over Brazil. The lone goal in the match came in the 22nd minute when Rodrigo de Paul played a brilliant long ball in to Angel Di Maria, who then chipped Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson. The rest of the game saw Brazil hunt for an equalizer that never came in a physical match that featured a whopping 41 fouls. It was Argentina’s first major trophy since 1993 and the players celebrated the win with Messi in the best way possible.

Free Kicks

  • In case you missed it, Orlando SuperDraft pick Derek Dodson was loaned to Hartford Athletic. He made his professional debut with the USL Championship club and scored his first goal in a 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls II. He was also named Man of the Match.

  • Orlando Pride Executive Vice President Amanda Duffy discussed the growth of soccer in Louisville. Duffy played a major role in establishing professional soccer in Louisville and was club president for Louisville City FC in the past before making the jump to the NWSL.
  • New Zealand Head Coach Tom Sermanni criticized the Orlando Pride and North Carolina Courage for refusing to release New Zealand players before today’s deadline while allowing other players to join their respective national teams. Pride defender Ali Riley will now join the New Zealand squad for the Olympics, with the Ferns’ first game of the tournament set for July 21 against Australia.
  • With Chris Armas gone, Toronto FC and forward Jozy Altidore are reconciling and he may be available for selection in Toronto’s game against Orlando this Saturday.
  • Former Lions Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, and Kamal Miller all started for Canada in its 4-1 win over Martinique in the Gold Cup.
  • Before the Euro final, England fans displayed some shocking behavior outside of Wembley Stadium by trying to force their way inside.

That’s all for me this morning. Have a wonderful day and a fantastic week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links 9/22/26

Cosette Morche up for weekly honors, lessons from matchday 27, key players in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and more.

Published

18 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

By

Image of Cosette Morche during her NWSL debut vs. Washington.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It was a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad weekend for Orlando’s three soccer teams, as they all lost and did so by an aggregate score of 12-5. Fortunately, we’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s not dwell any further on the horror show that was the weekend slate, and instead dive into today’s links.

Cosette Morche up for Weekly Honors

Despite the Orlando Pride falling at home against the Portland Thorns, a bright spot has emerged from the game in the form of Cosette Morche being nominated for the NWSL Save of the Week. She made a fantastic triple save in the 17th minute to frustrate both Sophia Wilson and Pietra Tordin and keep the score at 1-0. Unfortunately, the Pride went on to lose 4-1, but Morche continued a trend of strong performances in net since taking over for the loaned-out Anna Moorhouse. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Lessons from Matchday 27

Matchday 27 is in the books for Major League Soccer, and there are plenty of things to be learned from the weekend’s action. A number of young players called up by the United States Men’s National Team turned in impressive performances, as Cavan Sullivan had a goal and an assist, Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre helped Sullivan and the Union overturn a 4-3 deficit against Sporting Kansas City, and Julian Hall scored the winner in the Hudson River Derby. Elsewhere, Nashville clinched a playoff spot and did so in style by knocking off a good Chicago Fire team 3-0. Finally, St Louis City beat Toronto FC 3-1 and now has a mind-boggling 16-game unbeaten streak in the league that grows to 18 games unbeaten in all competitions.

Women’s Champions League Key Players

The UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off today, so this is an excellent time to familiarize yourself with some of the most important players in the competition. Some of them may be familiar to you already, like Real Madrid’s Colombian attacker Linda Caicedo or Chelsea midfielder Lauren James. Midfielder Patri Guijarro will be an important piece for Barcelona following the summer departures of Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo, while Annamaria Serturini, Remina Chiba, and Redondo are in a similar situation for Juventus. Finally, there are players on less heralded teams, like Uka Modesta for Austria Wien and Lowiese Seynhaeve for OH Leuven.

Granit Xhaka Dropped by Switzerland

We finish our main story section today with an odd one, as Granit Xhaka has been left out of the latest Switzerland squad after he admitted to using a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Amid an investigation into a Swiss doctor who was allegedly producing false certificates for unvaccinated individuals, Xhaka has admitted to using falsified paperwork. Not only has he been left out of the Swiss squad, but he could also face legal repercussions, and the player confirmed that he is currently in the process of speaking to the authorities. Xhaka is Switzerland’s all-time leader in appearances, and has been a key member of the team for a number of years.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City somehow rose two spots to no.10 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
  • The Orlando Pride held fast at no. 12 in the same outlet’s NWSL power rankings.
  • For better or worse, Orlando City will be back in the red kits for Saturday’s match against the Philadelphia Union.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/21/26

All of Orlando’s soccer teams lose, Lions unveil Vinicius Nogueira, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 21, 2026

By

Image of Martin Ojeda playing the ball against Inter Miami.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy at work over the weekend. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride defender Cori Dyke, who turned 26 on Sunday, and a happy birthday to Orlando City defender Bernardo Rhein, who turns 19 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Concede Two Late Goals in Loss at New England

Orlando City fell 4-2 to the New England Revolution on the road on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, conceding twice in stoppage time to drop a point. After trailing 2-0, the Lions came back with second-half goals from Ivan Angulo and Martin Ojeda, with the latter from the penalty spot just before the 90 minutes were up. However, in stoppage time, the Lions imploded, with Peyton Miller and Carles Gil closing out the night with two goals each for the Revolution. The loss snapped Orlando’s five-game unbeaten streak in league play, and the Lions left Foxborough with no points instead of at least one. Orlando City will be back on the road for its next match on Saturday against the Philadelphia Union.

Lions Unveil Vinicius Nogueira

Orlando City unveiled left back Vinicius Nogueira on Friday with a photo shoot at Inter.co Stadium.

The Lions signed Nogueira on Aug. 27 on loan from Bulgarian First League side PFC Ludogorets through the end of the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, with an option to make the move permanent. The 24-year-old Brazilian was on the bench during Orlando City’s match against the New England Revolution on Saturday but did not play.

Pride Fall at home to Portland Thorns

The Orlando Pride lost 4-1 to the Portland Thorns on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium, and while the team is still mathematically alive for the postseason, the home defeat made things even more of a longshot than they were. The Pride started slowly and were down 2-0 before Ally Lemos pulled one back in the first half. Orlando missed several scoring chances, and in the second half, Portland scored two goals to put the match away. Orlando will travel to the West Coast to take on Bay FC on Sunday.

OCB Falls to Atlanta United 2 on Decision Day

Orlando City B lost 4-2 to Atlanta United 2 on Decision Day Sunday at Osceola County Stadium, falling all the way to 10th and out of the playoff places. Atlanta struck first early before Issah Haruna tied it up for the Young Lions. However, Atlanta got an own goal when Tristan Himes punched a set piece deliver in off Harvey Sarajian to retake the lead, and Ignacio Saurez-Couri added another to make it 3-1. Justin Hylton scored for OCB to cut the deficit to one before halftime. In the second half, Dominik Chong-Qui scored the final goal to secure Atlanta’s win. For the Young Lions, the season ends in disappointment again, missing the MLS NEXT Pro postseason for the second straight season.

Free Kicks

  • Just two days after Gabi Nunes and the Orlando Pride mutually agreed to part ways on Wednesday, Nunes signed with Liga F side Atletico de Madrid Femenino on Friday.
  • New York City FC is reportedly signing defender Matt Miazga after he was waived by FC Cincinnati earlier this month.

🇺🇸 BREAKING: NYCFC set to sign center back Matt Miazga, per sources.- Miazga waived by FC Cincinnati earlier this month- Miazga, 31, is former MLS Defender of the Year. Boosts defensive options for NYCFC down the stretchwww.nytimes.com/athletic/760…

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-09-18T13:17:04.926Z

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: 9/18/26

Justin Ellis named to USMNT roster for the first time, Orlando City players called up, MLS club profiles unveiled, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

September 18, 2026

By

Image of Wilder Cartagena playing the ball as Robin Jansson looks on.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s plenty of soccer to look forward to this weekend, with both the Orlando Pride and Orlando City in action on Saturday before Orlando City B finishes its regular season on Sunday. Hopefully, we’ll have plenty to celebrate over the next few days. But for now, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Justin Ellis Named to First USMNT Roster

United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino called up 28 players for training camp ahead of the team’s first friendlies since the World Cup. Orlando City forward Justin Ellis has had a breakout season at just 19 years old and is one of 13 uncapped players to earn a spot on the roster. Cavan Sullivan, Zavier Gozo, and Julian Hall are a few of the other young talents to keep an eye out for during these matches. Former Lion Alex Freeman, who scored for the U.S. at the World Cup, was called up as well. The U.S. will take on Peru on Sept. 26 at Inter.co Stadium, so hopefully fans will be able to see some familiar faces. Following that match, the Yanks will play against Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis before friendlies against Mexico on Oct. 3 and Canada on Oct. 6.

Lions Called Up For International Duty

Ellis isn’t the only Lion who will be with their national team over the next couple of weeks. Midfielder Wilder Cartagena was called up for Peru’s friendlies, along with former Lions Pedro Gallese and Yoshimar Yotun.

Tyrese Spicer was called up for Trinidad & Tobago’s upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches with spots in the quarterfinals up for grabs. Trinidad & Tobago will play against Haiti and the Dominican Republic before a pair of matches against Curacao.

Defender David Brekalo was also called up for Nations League games and will head to Europe for Slovenia’s matches in League B against Scotland, Switzerland, and North Macedonia.

Orlando City’s Club Profile Revealed

MLS released the club roster profiles for each team as of Sept. 15. These profiles have been a great way to see how each team’s roster is constructed, while also showing the contract and option details for each player. The Lions have all Designated Player and MLS U22 Initiative slots filled, with Eduard Atuesta, David Brekalo, and Braian Ojeda listed as TAM players. The profile also reveals that Orlando has $1.86 million in 2026 General Allocation Money remaining, and it’s hard not to wonder about the improvements that could have been made to the team with that money.

Vlatko Andonovski Joins the Chicago Stars

The Chicago Stars have hired Vlatko Andonovski as the club’s chief soccer officer to right the ship after another rough season. Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Stars have only won five games so far this season and fired Martin Sjögren as head coach last month. Andonovski joins the Stars after terminating his contract with the Kansas City Current on Sept. 7. The former United States Women’s National Team head coach has had plenty of success in women’s soccer and it’ll be interesting to see if he can turn things around in Chicago.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride remained in 11th in CBS Sports’s NWSL power rankings following their 2-2 draw on the road against the Kansas City Current.
  • The San Diego Wave signed 18-year-old attacker Melanie Barcenas to a contract extension through the 2028 season. She’s been enjoying a breakout season in San Diego, scoring six goals so far this season.
  • Despite being called up to the USMNT, Julian Hall stated that he remains open to playing for Poland, which is where his mother is from.
  • From the heavyweight match between Roma and Inter in Serie A to the derby match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, here are the matchups to watch for in Europe this weekend.

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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