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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.

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  • 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: 10/15/26

Orlando City concedes late in draw with Toronto FC, Justin Ellis earns praise, U.S. Soccer announces Crest Cup for women’s soccer, and more.

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5 hours ago

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October 15, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann and Justin Ellis celebrating a goal against Real Salt Lake.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How are you feeling after last night’s Orlando City game? I don’t think my thoughts have ever been as mixed, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles at times when supporting the Cardiac Cats. It could’ve gone worse though, and being able to watch Antoine Griezmann work his magic is always a treat. Today marks nine years since Kaká’s final game with Orlando City, and I’ve loved being able to see world class players like him, Griezmann, Nani, and more over the years in Orlando. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Lead Late in Dramatic Draw

Orlando City went on the road to Canada and played to a 3-3 draw against Toronto FC in a rollercoaster of a match. The Lions clawed their way back to equalize twice and managed to take the lead late in the match, but couldn’t close things out despite another solid performance by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau behind a leaky defense. Make sure to check out our match recap of what was an exciting, yet frustrating, match that at least featured a couple of great Orlando goals.

Justin Ellis Earns Praise During Breakout Season

The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert ranked his top 22 MLS players under the age of 22 and Orlando City forward Justin Ellis ranked eighth on his list. The 19-year-old has 10 assists and a goal to his name this season, thriving in the attack with an intriguing combination of creativity, strength, and positioning. He’s also already scored for the United States Men’s National Team, doing so in Orlando last month against Peru. Bogert predictably has Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan at the top of his list and Julian Hall in second. We’ll see if Ellis lands a bit higher than eighth when the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list is unveiled later this year.

U.S. Soccer Announces Crest Cup

A new club tournament is coming to women’s soccer. U.S. Soccer announced the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup for women’s soccer teams across the country to compete against each other in a single-elimination format. Official details such as when this will take place and which teams will be allowed to participate haven’t been unveiled at this point, but it does seem like it will at least include teams from both the NWSL and USL Super League. The winner of the Crest Cup will receive $1.1 million and qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Toothpaste jokes aside regarding the name, I’m excited for a tournament that puts a spotlight on more women’s soccer teams.

Takeaways From USWNT Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team may not have beaten Spain in either of its two friendlies against the European powerhouse, but it at least finished strong by rallying to a 2-2 draw in the second meeting. Not many of the problems the USWNT faced were unexpected either. Naomi Girma’s absence was felt on defense, neither Claudia Dickey nor Phallon Tullis-Joyce emerged as the clear starter in goal, and the midfield looked suboptimal against the best team in the world. Head Coach Emma Hayes has multiple decisions to make before the Women’s World Cup next summer, with the USWNT’s next match coming on Nov. 27 against El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The UEFA Champions League returned this week and there were plenty of good games across Europe. In one of the bigger matchups of this round, Paris Saint-Germain went to England and beat Manchester City 4-2 to move to the top of the table. Elsewhere, Real Madrid mounted a late comeback to beat AS Roma 4-3 in Italy, Bradley Barcola scored a hat trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over LAK Linz, and Bodo/Glimt won 1-0 in Norway against Borussia Dortmund. The teams will play again on Tuesday and Wednesday, with PSG going up against Barcelona and Bayern Munich hosting Arsenal as two of the heavyweight showdowns.

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  • Congratulations to Orlando Pride newlyweds Rafaelle and Hailie Mace on tying the knot!

That’s all I have for you this time around. Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/26

Orlando City plays Toronto FC, Orlando Pride prepare for Houston, the USWNT draws Spain, and more.

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1 day ago

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October 14, 2026

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Image of Iago passing the ball against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. As the regular season winds down, the tension ramps up. The Lions are currently above the playoff line, but it’s a precarious perch. With two matches this week, earning crucial points will be even more difficult. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Visits Toronto FC Tonight

Orlando City travels to the Great White North tonight for a match against Eastern Conference opponent Toronto FC. Points are at a premium as both teams chase a playoff appearance. Rest assured that Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman is making sure the team is prepared and taking it one match at a time. It is a double match week so we’ll see how Perelman rotates the starting lineup.

Orlando Pride News and Notes

Yolanda Thomas is getting the Orlando Pride ready for Sunday’s road match against the Houston Dash. Of course, there are several players on international duty before then. Oihane got the start for Spain against the USWNT (see below) on Tuesday night. Barbra Banda scored a brace for Zambia in a 4-1 win over Uganda in an Olympic qualifier. Ally Lemos contributed two assists in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team’s 5-0 dismantling of the Dominican Republic.

USWNT Comes from Behind to Draw Spain

The USWNT played its second friendly against top-ranked Spain Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Philadelphia. Much like the previous match, Spain was able to build a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half. Unlike last time, the U.S. was able to score two goals to draw Spain. Ashley Sanchez scored in the 49th minute in her first USWNT start in nearly two years, and Mallory Swanson added the second goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, the USWNT wasn’t able to get a third, but a 2-2 draw is still a better result than last time and coming back from two goals down made it feel more like a win in the end.

USMNT Players in Club Action

Former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman came on in the 63rd minute of Villarreal’s 3-1 victory over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid in his club’s 2-0 win over Manchester United. He almost scored a goal, but it was disallowed after video review. Sergino Dest’s PSV lost 1-0 to RB Leipzig. Dest is Top 10 when it comes to Champions League appearances by U.S. players. There are a few more USMNT players making appearances in the matches today.

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That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for live match updates and we will also have a recap of the match tonight and more coverage tomorrow. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/13/26

Orlando City players named to MLS Team of the Matchday, USWNT takes on Spain tonight, Americans in action this week, and more.

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2 days ago

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October 13, 2026

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Image of Ivan Angulo playing against D.C. United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a pep in my step so far this week after Orlando City’s win this weekend. Hopefully, the soccer we have ahead of us tonight and Wednesday night doesn’t end up dimming that enthusiasm. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Maxime Crepeau and Ivan Angulo were both named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, with Antoine Griezmann landing on the bench. Crepeau was immense in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew, recording a club-record 12 saves. Angulo also excelled with a goal and an assist, with his late winner landing a spot on Sports Illustrated‘s top five goals of the week as well. Griezmann also chipped in a goal and an assist. There are a couple of familiar faces on the bench with Griezmann, with former Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. earning the honor after making nine saves for the San Jose Earthquakes and former Lion Shak Mohammed recording a goal and an assist in Nashville’s win.

USWNT Aims to Bounce Back Against Spain Tonight

After a 2-0 loss to Spain on Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team will play the top team in the world again tonight. It will be interesting to see what lineup changes Head Coach Emma Hayes makes following the loss, particularly with regard to the defense to help stop Spain’s potent attack. Spain got off to a hot start in Saturday’s match, but the team’s physicality likely won’t catch the U.S. by surprise this time around. Orlando Pride defender Oihane, who is with Spain for these friendlies, said she expects the U.S. to be more aggressive in this rematch.

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch:"I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive."(I would expect the same.)

— Jeff Kassouf (@jeffkassouf.bsky.social) 2026-10-12T15:37:35.556Z

Americans in Action Abroad This Week

The UEFA Champions League and Europa League return this week and there are many Americans to keep an eye out for across Europe. Former Lion Alex Freeman, who earned plenty of praise for his performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, could start in his first UEFA Champions League game today when Villarreal hosts Napoli. We may also see more of 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert when Borussia Dortmund plays Bodo/Glimt as he continues to impress at such a young age. Sergino Dest and Johnny Cardoso are other Americans who could play in the Champions League, while Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Weah may suit up for Europa League play.

U.S. Soccer Announces Referee Development Program

U.S. Soccer unveiled a new program aimed at improving referee development and making the pathway for aspiring officials more consistent. Named R90+, the program will give referees access to mentors and coaches for them to improve across multiple aspects of officiating, such as game management, physical preparation, and tactical awareness. The first edition of this program will take place in the South, with 10 of the 60 officials coming from Florida. Hopefully this investment in officiating improves things for everyone involved.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

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