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Lion Links: 7/27/21

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5 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was a very rough weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams but that simply provides an opportunity to bounce back and get better. There’s lots to talk about today, but before we get into it, let’s wish Orlando Pride midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard a happy 26th birthday.

Ashlyn Harris Nominated for Save of the Week Again

The sun shines, the grass is green, and Ashlyn Harris has been nominated for the NWSL Save of the Week yet again. The Orlando Pride fell to OL Reign 2-0 over the weekend, but Harris did her part to try to get the team a result. She made what feels like her 100th penalty save this season with the Pride (it was her fifth, actually), while trailing OL Reign by two goals in the 62nd minute. She did very well to put off Jess Fishlock before the kick, and dove in the correct direction to keep the shot out. While the Pride weren’t able to go on and get a result from the match, Harris at least kept them in the game and gave them a fighting chance with another impressive save.

Interview With Tesho Akindele

Tesho Akindele was recently a guest on the Perfect Soccer Podcast, where he spoke about a number of different things, including moving to Colorado after being born in Canada. He also shed light on what it was like to make it into Major League Soccer after attending a Division II college. It was also fitting that he took the time to talk about what it means to him to represent Canada internationally, given that he was called in to Canada’s Gold Cup team as an injury replacement for Ayo Akinola. Take the time to go check it out.

USWNT, Australia Set Soccer Back 100 Years

If you got up early this morning ,or stayed up late last night, to watch the United States Women’s National Team’s final group stage match against Australia, well, I’m sorry. The two sides appeared to have an agreement to not try terribly hard to win, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw.

The U.S. didn’t pressure the ball all game, showed no desire to get numbers forward, and lacked both creativity and sharpness. Alex Morgan found the net in the first half with a header, but the flag came up. After a lengthy review, the call stood in what seemed the stingiest of offside decisions. While clearly Morgan’s feet were both well onside, that inch of elbow, which can’t legally score a goal, sure did give Alex an unfair advantage!

If you like defenders passing the ball back and forth from 10 yards apart (especially Australia in the final half hour), this was the game for you! What a snoozefest. The U.S. and Australia are both through to the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pride defender Ali Riley’s New Zealand side got knocked out after Sweden defeated the Football Ferns on the final match day in the group.

Takeaways from USMNT’s Gold Cup Victory

It was far from an easy win for the United States Men’s National Team in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. Jamaica proved to be a stern test, but the young squad eventually got the job done courtesy of a late goal from Matthew Hoppe. Once again, this was the kind of match that can prove beneficial to a young team further down the line. Not every game is going to be an easy one, and you can learn a lot from performances in the type of situation that the Americans found themselves in on Sunday. Speaking of Hoppe, his goal was well-taken and he showed some exciting flashes during his time on the field. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on, and one would expect him to start against Qatar in the semifinals.

MLS Transfer Roundup

Transfer season never stops and there are a number of rumors linking players to MLS teams. First up is a report that Argentinian striker Sebastian Driussi is headed to Austin FC after leaving Zenit St. Petersburg. If true, the 25-year-old would potentially provide help in attack for a team that has struggled offensively in its maiden MLS campaign.

The Philadelphia Union are apparently very busy, as they are reportedly signing forward Matheus Davo and midfielder Jesus Bueno. If true, Davo will join on loan until the end of the year while Bueno will be a permanent transfer.

Finally, Inter Miami is apparently on the verge of signing defender Ventura Alvarado. The team has reportedly already agreed to terms with Alvarado, who has seemingly been training with the team for a while now.

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That does it for me today. Y’all stay safe out there.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/4/26

Orlando City reactions, an Orlando Pride scavenger hunt, U.S. National Team news, and more.

Published

23 hours ago

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March 4, 2026

By

Image of Angelina preparing to take a shot against Gotham FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Did you know the NWSL season is almost upon us? I’d all but forgotten since we haven’t really heard much from the Orlando Pride, but that changes today — sort of. If recent soccer events have you feeling down, just remember that we’re supposed to get season four of Ted Lasso sometime this summer. That’s pretty cool, right? Until then, let’s get to the links, but not before we wish Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reflects

I know you want to move on from Sunday’s match between our beloved Lions and Inter Miami. I also want to put it behind us, but it’s my job to share information on the club. We did learn some things from the post-match presser. The coaches and players are as disappointed with the result as we are, but Oscar Pareja rightly took some positives from the loss while acknowledging the challenges facing the team — injuries mostly — are still no excuse. I think Marco Pasalic summed it up nicely when he said, “Now we have to train more, do everything we can to win the next game, and stay positive. I’m not positive at all right now, but I will be.” I also hope to get to positive before the next match, but we’ll see.

Scarf the City is Back

We’re not far out from the start of the NWSL regular season and we finally got some news from the Orlando Pride. No new signings, or training updates, or anything like that. Instead, the club announced that the Scarf the City scavenger hunt is back. The event will kick off at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. There will be 3,000 scarves hidden throughout the city, including the return of some golden scarves. Those are worth four season tickets for the 2026 season. Good luck for those who are participating.

USMNT News

The 2026 World Cup is only months away, meaning it’s a good time to take a look at the state of the USMNT. There will be a lot of pressure to perform as hosts, and how far this team goes in the competition will be highly scrutinized. We know that the final roster will be announced at the end of May.

There are players like Yunus Musah who are still hoping to make the squad even though he hasn’t received a call up since Concacaf Nations League back in March 2025. Meanwhile, Noahkai Banks is still trying to decide if he will represent the U.S. or make the switch to represent Germany.

USWNT Notes

USWNT supporters were rightfully worried when Trinity Rodman was injured in second-half stoppage time on Sunday against Argentina. Rodman was holding her lower back after Milagro Martin fouled her. Fortunately, USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes said that Rodman is fine and fully training for the next SheBelieves match against Canada. That match is tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Columbus, OH.

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  • West Ham United’s Adama Traore has been banned from lifting weights at the training ground by manager Nuno Espirito Santo. If anyone doesn’t need to put on more muscle it’s Traore.
  • Former Orlando City center back Antonio Carlos was fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee after not leaving the field quickly enough after his red card.
  • Toronto FC is shoring up the center back position with Chile international Benjamin Kuscevic. Must be nice.
  • The Antione Griezmann drama continues. Take stuff like this with a big grain of salt, given that both clubs, the player, and his manager are all negotiating the particulars. In other words, don’t panic.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against New York City FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 3/3/26

Recognition for Martin Ojeda, Orlando City B falls in opener, previewing Canada in the SheBelieves Cup, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

March 3, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a rough end to the weekend for reasons I’m sure you’re well aware of, but this week is a busy one that holds plenty of possibility. The United States Women’s National Team will continue its SheBelieves Cup campaign, while Orlando City and Orlando City B will both be back in action on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. We’ve got plenty of things to talk about this morning, so let’s get right into the links.

Martin Ojeda Earns Recognition

Martin Ojeda grabbed his first goal of the 2026 season during Sunday’s match, and his first-half strike earned him a nomination for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. Ojeda received a layoff from Griffin Dorsey inside the box and hit a fantastic trivela with his left foot into the far corner that doubled Orlando City’s lead. While that lead ultimately wouldn’t last, it was still good to see him open his 2026 account, especially considering that he did so with such an inventive strike. Here’s hoping that it’s the first of many this season.

Young Lions Drop Opener

Orlando City B was not able to get its 2026 season off to a winning start, as it dropped its opening match to Hunstville City FC 3-1. Former Lion Shak Mohammed got the scoring started just inside of half an hour, and Jordan Knight deepened OCB’s misery just four minutes later. Harvey Sarajian got one back for the Young Lions in first-half stoppage time after receiving a pass from Gustavo Caraballo, cutting back onto his right foot and tucking the ball into the far corner. Javier Otero saved a penalty 10 minutes after the second half began to keep OCB in the game, but Mohammed bagged his brace in the 62nd minute off an Otero giveaway while outside the box, and despite the home side pushing for more goals as the game went on, that’s how things ended. The Young Lions will be back in action on Sunday evening when they host Chicago Fire II.

Previewing USWNT vs. Canada

The United States Women’s National Team has its second match of the SheBelieves Cup Wednesday when it takes on Canada in Columbus, OH. The Canadians are coached by former defender Casey Stoney, and she named a roster of 24 players that is missing a few names, including former Orlando Pride center back Shelina Zadorsky. Stoney lines her team up in a 4-3-3, with Kailen Sheriden backstopping things as the woman who the USWNT will need to beat in between the sticks. The Canadians try to be direct and aggressive when they have the ball, while also adopting a high press in defense and attempting to win the ball back quickly. Key players to watch include Vanessa Giles, the reigning and back-to-back player of the year for her country, and Evelyne Viens, who has been on a great run of form with Roma this season.

MLS All-Star Game Details

Major League Soccer has announced the details for this summer’s All-Star Game, which will take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The game itself is slated for Wednesday, July 29, while the All-Star Skills Challenge will take place the day before at Truist Field. The opponent for the MLS All-Stars will once again be the LIGA MX All-Stars, with this marking the fifth overall meeting between the two teams and the third meeting in a row. The MLS team will be made up of 11 players picked by fan voting, 13 players picked by the head coach of the side, and two picked by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Finalissima Location in Doubt

The Finalissima match between Spain and Argentina is set to be played in Doha, Qatar on March 27, but UEFA is keeping a close eye on what is currently happening in the Middle East, and a venue change might not be out of the question. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has gone on the record that he thinks changing the location is a good idea, and games set to take place in the area have already been postponed. The Qatar football federation has postponed all matches and tournaments until further notice, and Al Nassr has also had its Asian Champions League games postponed indefinitely. UEFA put out a statement on Monday which read, “UEFA is monitoring and carefully assessing all developments of the situation in cooperation with CONMEBOL and the [local organizing committee]”, but have not made any specific statements about moving the location of the game.

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  • Orlando City slipped a spot to no.25 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
  • Orlando City’s academy teams had a largely successful time in their games over the weekend.
  • OCB midfielder Dylan Judelson scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time as the Canadian U-20 Men’s National Team defeated Aruba 2-0 Monday night in Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifying.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/2/26

Lions fall to Inter Miami, OCB signs Jaylen Yearwood and Issah Haruna, USWNT beats Argentina in SheBelieves Cup, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

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

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I can’t believe it’s March already, but I’m looking forward to a busy month covering high school soccer, lacrosse, water polo, and baseball. Our beloved Lions were in action last night, and the Young Lions kick off their season in MLS NEXT Pro tonight. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to Inter Miami

Orlando City fell to Inter Miami 4-2 Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions got off to a great start with Marco Pasalic scoring the opener in the first half. Martin Ojeda added another goal to give the Lions a 2-0 lead just before halftime. However, early in the second half, Miami pulled one back with a goal from Mateo Silvetti. Lionel Messi scored the equalizer, and Miami added another late in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. Messi added an insurance goal to seal Miami’s first win at Inter&Co Stadium. Poor marking and turnovers in the defensive zone hurt Orlando in the second half, as the Lions blew a 2-0 lead at home and start the season 0-2-0 for the first time in club history in MLS. Orlando City will travel for its first road match of the season, taking on New York City FC Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

Orlando City B Signs Jaylen Yearwood and Issah Haruna

Orlando City B announced the club has signed defender Jaylen Yearwood to an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2026 season also added midfielder Issah Haruna to the squad over the weekend. Yearwood was the 14th overall pick by Orlando City in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft in December and led the North Florida Ospreys to a 2024 ASUN Championship title. Haruna was the 20th overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. He made 16 appearances, scored three goals and added two assists, leading the North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans to a share of the conference regular-season title during the 2024 season.

OCB’s Match Against Inter Miami II moved to Inter&Co Stadium

The Orlando City B home match against Inter Miami II, scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at Osceola County Stadium, will be moved to Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff time for the match is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Young Lions will kick off their 2026 MLS NEXT Pro campaign tonight against Huntsville City FC at Osceola County Stadium.

USWNT Beats Argentina in SheBelieves Cup Opener

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Argentina 2-0 at GEODIS Park in Nashville to kick off the 2026 SheBelieves Cup Sunday. Lindsey Heaps scored the opening goal in the first half to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Jaedyn Shaw added another, scoring her 10th international goal to seal the win. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned her seventh shutout for the Americans. However, late in the match, Trinity Rodman went to the ground in pain after being shoved in the back by Argentina defender Milagros Martin and did not return to the pitch. The USWNT will face Canada, which defeated Colombia 4-1 Sunday, Wednesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.

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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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