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Lion Links: 8/2/21

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5 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! I’ll take four points from the Orlando City and Orlando Pride games this weekend, not to mention the USMNT winning the Gold Cup. I hope you’re doing all right as we get started in August. After all, it is my birthday month. I’m not saying gifts are necessary, but I won’t refuse any either. Before we get to the links, let’s wish a happy birthday to Pride defender Konya Plummer and Orlando City Homegrown Player Raul Aguilera!

Orlando City Transfer Rumors

You’ll need a translation for some of the details, but Orlando City is reportedly on the verge of adding Argentine attacking midfielder Facundo Farías. The 18-year-old plays for Club Atlético Colón in Argentina and has started all four games of the season so far. A creative force on offense, he would certainly add more firepower for the Lions and his young age makes him a lucrative transfer target. The Argentine Primera Division ends in December so the sticking point of negotiations may be when Farías could join Orlando if acquired.

This latest report comes on the heels of Orlando being linked to River Plate’s Julian Alvarez late last week. The transfer window for MLS closes on Thursday.

Meanwhile, closer to home, there were reports that Hibernian FC was willing to pay for Chris Mueller to join before Orlando’s season ended. However, Head Coach Oscar Pareja expects Mueller to play the remainder of the season for the Lions.

“We learned from … our directors that Chris is going to move forward with his project next year, but until then he is an Orlando city player and we will take him that way,” Pareja said. “I don’t hear that he is looking for an early exit, I have not heard that.”

Orlando Pride Enter a New Era

It’s a new day for the Orlando Pride. A new season, even. I know that’s not the reality, but with the sudden departure of former coach Marc Skinner, the Pride had to make a midseason adjustment they weren’t planning on. The players are enjoying the attitude interim coach Becky Burleigh has brought to the club and went on the road for a 1-1 draw against the North Carolina Courage this weekend. It’s only been one match, but the Pride are undefeated under Burleigh and should get a boost once Olympic players return.

USMNT Wins Gold Cup

Despite injuries and most of the star players staying in Europe, the United States Men’s National Team was able to win 1-0 against Mexico to lift the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup trophy. The crowd in Las Vegas was mostly filled with Mexico supporters and neither side could break through until extra time when Miles Robinson got his head on the end of a great free kick from Kellyn Acosta. Orlando’s Daryl Dike didn’t feature in the match as Gyasi Zardes and Matthew Hoppe spearheaded the attack for most of the match.

Matt Turner made clutch saves throughout the game and deservedly earned the Golden Glove for his performance in the tournament. Say what you want about USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, but he is building the deepest squad the U.S. has ever seen in its history. The USMNT was able to win the Nations League and Gold Cup in the same summer with nearly entirely different squads. Attention now turns to the World Cup qualifiers, with the first match coming against El Salvador on Sept. 2.

USWNT Loses to Canada in Olympic Semifinal

The USWNT won’t be competing for a gold medal after losing 1-0 against Canada in the Olympic semifinals. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was forced off in the 30th minute due to an injury and Adrianna Franch came on in her place. The game’s only goal came in the second half after Tierna Davidson missed her attempted clearance and kicked Deanne Rose’s leg in the box in the process. The referee reviewed the replay and awarded a penalty to Canada, with Jessie Fleming smashing the ball past Franch and into goal. The USWNT was unable to find an equalizer and lost to Canada for the first time since 2001. Now, the U.S. will focus on the bronze medal match Thursday morning at 4 a.m. against Australia.

Free Kicks

  • In case you missed it, goalkeeper Brandon Austin returned to Tottenham while folk hero Adam Grinwis is back with the Lions. Mason Stajduhar started in goal for the Lions this weekend and gave a shout out to Orlando’s past goalkeepers who have influenced him, including Grinwis.

  • Haircuts can go wrong, and if you let a hairdresser trim your beard without direct specifications, the results can be really bad. I’m not necessarily saying this from experience (though I am), but they certainly can. The Lions have nothing to worry about though as they are in the trusted hands of Ricardo Chavez, who detailed how Revamp Barbershop became the go-to spot for Orlando players.
  • Josh Sargent scored twice for Werder Bremen while Brenden Aaronson made two assists for Red Bull Salzburg to headline the action from Americans playing abroad.
  • Philadelphia Union forward Sergio Santos was fined and suspended one game for kicking the ball into the stands against Orlando City on July 22.
  • I’m not saying that Brendan Hunt was the reason the USMNT won the Gold Cup, but I’m not ruling it out either. I’ll happily suggest that the Yanks had a little positivity in their midst thanks to #beardpower.

That will do it for this morning. Although the Gold Cup is over, there’s still plenty of soccer to look forward to. The Lions will host Inter Miami on Wednesday and then travel to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The Pride have a road match against the Chicago Red Stars this Sunday as well, so it is a busy week. Then the Leagues Cup gets started next week on Aug. 12. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

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3 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 28, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

Free Kicks

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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