Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/6/21

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! The weekend started out well with a win from Orlando City, but the rest wasn’t quite so good, despite neither the Orlando Pride nor the USMNT losing. I’m saying that I’ve had better weekends with one win and two draws. It was a busy weekend filled with plenty of soccer from around the world. Let’s get to the links!
Mason Stajduhar Has Successful Knee Surgery
Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar underwent surgery to repair a left knee meniscus tear and a timeline for his recovery isn’t available at this time. The 23-year-old has played in five MLS games this season, filling in for Pedro Gallese and getting his first clean sheet in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Aug. 21.
With Gallese on international duty with Peru and Stajduhar recovering from injury, Orlando’s keeper pool isn’t the deepest at the moment. Adam Grinwis, who started in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew, will play between the sticks until Gallese’s return, with Greg Ranjitsingh available as a backup if needed. The Lions take on Atlanta United on the road this Friday and Gallese isn’t likely to play since he will have a match for Peru the night before.
Joey DeZart is Making the Most of His Playing Time
Injuries and international call-ups have limited Orlando’s midfield as key players such as Mauricio Pereyra, Sebas Mendez, and Andres Perea have been unavailable in recent weeks. As such, Joey DeZart has started in the past four games and already has more minutes this season than he did in his rookie campaign last year. He’s also making better use of those minutes, as he’s become a steady player alongside Junior Urso in the midfield while other Lions recover. DeZart has certainly played himself into better form during the starts, boasting a 91% passing rate, and helping the Lions keep opponents off the score sheet. Depth is an important aspect for any team that hopes to challenge for titles, and DeZart is doing his part for Orlando City.
The Pride Draw With the Houston Dash
Things did not start well for the Orlando Pride when a poor pass by Ali Riley resulted in a goal by the Houston Dash’s Rachel Daly in the 10th minute. There was also a scary moment in the 60th minute when Ashlyn Harris went down after contact in front of the goal. The stretcher was brought on, but Harris walked off under her own power before heading to the locker room. Erin McLeod came on for Harris, and Taylor Kornieck came on for Phoebe McClernon. Five minutes later, Kornieck tied the game for the Pride to salvage a point at home in a 1-1 result. Although it was not the Pride’s best match, a point is better than nothing. With only six games left in the Pride’s regular season, they will need better results at home though to hold onto a spot in the playoffs.
USMNT Earns Another Draw
Former Lion Cyle Larin scored an equalizer in the 62nd minute to give Canada a point on the road against the United States Men’s National Team in a 1-1 draw. Yes, there are still plenty of matches to go, but winning at home is important in World Cup qualifying and the U.S. was unable to do so against Canada. Brenden Aaronson had a good match, scoring the USMNT’s goal in the 55th minute to give his side the lead.
Christian Pulisic, who didn’t feature in the USMNT’s scoreless draw in El Salvador this past Thursday, played the entire match for the U.S. However, right back Sergino Dest was forced off due to an injury in the second half. Giovanni Reyna didn’t play due to a hamstring injury and goalkeeper Zack Steffen tested positive for COVID-19. Midfielder Weston McKennie broke a team rule and wasn’t available for the match either as the USMNT sits fifth in the standings after two draws. The U.S. will now head to Honduras for a late 10:30 p.m. match this Wednesday.
Free Kicks
- Gallese started in Peru’s 1-0 win against Venezuela. It was an important victory for Peru after a slow start to its qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Mendez wasn’t included in Ecuador’s lineup in its 0-0 draw with Chile.
- Setting a good example for the community, all Orlando City and Pride players have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine was provided by organization partner Orlando Health. The club and Orlando Health continue to host mobile vaccine sites in the Central Florida area.
- Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Giovani Lo Celso were all cleared to play for Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil despite accusations of them falsifying travel information regarding a mandatory quarantine for those visiting Brazil from the United Kingdom. Five minutes into the match, health officers and police came onto the pitch to detain the players. The match was halted and then officially suspended.
- Former United States Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis was hired by FIFA as a lead advisor on the future of women’s soccer.
That will do it for today. The Lions face Atlanta this Friday, so get ready for a fun match-up. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/16/25
Orlando City players make MLS Team of the Matchday, Luis Muriel focused, Orlando Pride plays tonight, and more.

Happy Friday! I’ve had a pretty good week so far and am looking forward to three straight days of Orlando soccer. The Orlando Pride will get us started tonight and then we have Orlando City B on Saturday before Orlando City plays on Sunday. It should be a fun next few days, and hopefully one filled with celebrations too. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday
There’s plenty of purple in the latest MLS Team of the Matchday following Orlando City’s 3-1 win over Charlotte FC. Martin Ojeda and David Brekalo were both selected, while Oscar Pareja was chosen as the top coach from the midweek slate. Ojeda’s strike in the first half is also up for Goal of the Matchday as his strong run of form continues. The only outfield player on this Team of the Matchday that didn’t score is Brekalo, who had two assists, so it’s nice to see him receive deserved recognition for an excellent performance that included a great setup on Orlando’s third goal. Pareja has the Lions on an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions and is managing things well so far during this busy May.
Luis Muriel Staying Focused in Sophomore Season
With five goals so far this season, Orlando City forward Luis Muriel has already mirrored his scoring total from all of last season. Staying mentally prepared has been key for the 34-year-old in his second year with Orlando, and he spoke about what’s changed for him after not quite reaching expectations in his first year.
“Coming to a league like this isn’t easy. A lot of times from the outside, you aren’t able to measure up or really see what the league is. Sometimes you can underestimate things, thinking it’s easy,” Muriel said. “That leads you to take things on in a different way, the work, the matches.
“When you go into ‘MLS Mode’ you realize how good the league is, how competitive it is, how demanding the league is to be able to do things well. That’s when things start to flow, to go well. I think that’s the difference between this year and last.”
He’s finding his footing in the league now and was a force to be reckoned with against Charlotte on Wednesday. Muriel is aware that the Lions will need him to be at his best when they travel to take on Inter Miami on Sunday for an important rivalry clash.
Diving Into Justin Ellis’s Ascent
Victor Olorunfemi of Top Drawer Soccer gave a great profile on Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis and his growth with the club. Ellis, who just celebrated his 18th birthday on Wednesday with his MLS debut, is having a great year after a solid season with OCB last year. The high school senior was the top scorer at this year’s Generation Adidas Cup with six goals to help Orlando’s U-18 team win the tournament. He can create chances just as well as he can convert them and is quick to give credit to the coaches and staff that have helped him develop. The U.S. youth pool is deep, but Ellis could be a name to keep an eye out for ahead of the U-20 World Cup in September.
Orlando Pride Match Headlines NWSL Weekend
The Orlando Pride’s match tonight against the Kansas City Current is the premier matchup this week in the NWSL. While I wouldn’t call it a rivalry just yet, these two teams had great games last year. The Current are still out for revenge after Orlando beat them while shorthanded last summer and won again in the NWSL playoffs in Orlando before winning the NWSL Championship in Kansas City. First place in the league is on the line and it should be a thrilling match featuring the league’s top two defenses and attacking threats like Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Marta, and Debinha.
NWSL Contenders and Underperformers
We’re about a third of the way into the NWSL season and ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf dove into how each team is meeting its expectations so far. Despite their stumbles in recent weeks, the Pride are near the top of the table and have plenty of time to get things firing on all cylinders. Two of the California teams are enjoying surprising success so far, with the San Diego Wave up in fourth while Angel City FC is in fifth and could become a real contender once Alexander Straus takes over as head coach. NJ/NY Gotham FC and the North Carolina Courage are sleeping giants of sorts, so it will be interesting to see when they start climbing up the table.
Free Kicks
- You’ll need a paid subscription for the full details, but Orlando City right back Alex Freeman continues to impress this season. Freeman is finding success in a way different from his father Antonio Freeman, who led the NFL in receiving yards for the Green Bay Packers in 1998.
- This year’s MLS pre-match jerseys to celebrate Pride month are out and they’re a vibrant and funky design.
- Esther Gonzalez leads the NWSL with seven goals this season and has agreed to a contract extension with Gotham FC that will last through 2027.
- FIFA representatives, including FA Chair Debbie Hewitt and UEFA President Alexander Ceferin, walked out of FIFA’s annual congress in protest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino arriving three hours late. Infantino has spent this week in the Middle East visiting leaders in Saudi Arabia and Qatar with Donald Trump.
- FC Barcelona officially won this year’s La Liga title after a 2-0 win over Espanyol. Phenom Lamine Yamal scored a sensational goal in the match, which is fitting considering how crucial he was to Barcelona winning the league this year.
- Predictable names like Luis Enrique and Antonio Conte are on the list of top European coaches this year, but this article also shines a light on coaches who navigated tough waters in small boats. Alexander Blessin has St. Pauli on the verge of survival in the Bundesliga and Filippo Inzaghi improved Pisa by 30 points in Serie B to secure promotion.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/15/25
Orlando City beats Charlotte FC, Orlando Pride prepare for the Kansas City Current, Haley McCutcheon up for Impact Award, and more.

So long as Orlando City keeps winning them, I can definitely get used to these midweek matches. The Lions took care of business Wednesday night, which is a nice boost for us to finish the week strongly before a weekend filled to the brim with more Orlando soccer. But before we get to today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B winger Dyson Clapier!
Orlando City Beats Charlotte FC at Home
The Lions extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games across all competitions after winning 3-1 at home against Charlotte FC. Orlando got off to a hot start thanks to its Designated Players and managed to see out the match for a needed victory. The offense seems to have recaptured the form it had earlier this season and it’s nice to see Orlando move up in the standings after six draws this season. The Lions will be back in action on Sunday for a rivalry game against Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale.
Orlando Pride Prepare for the Kansas City Current
The top two teams in the NWSL will square off on Friday when the Orlando Pride host the Kansas City Current. The Pride didn’t win either of their past two games but now return home with a chance to beat the Current and move to the top of the table. While this game will feature some of the best attackers in the league, each team has also only conceded six goals in their eight games so far. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the benefit of being back at home for this match after tough road games in recent weeks.
Haley McCutcheon Nominated for Impact Award
This year’s Lauren Holiday Impact Award nominees were announced and the Orlando Pride chose Haley McCutcheon as the club’s representative for her work in the community. McCutcheon works with the Foundation of Foster Children, where she supports children placed in foster care and provides mentorship. The winner of the Impact Award will be able to choose a charitable organization to receive a $50,000 donation. You can view all of this year’s nominees and how they’re making an impact off the field and in the community.
Savy King Undergoes Successful Heart Surgery
Angel City FC announced that defender Savy King underwent successful heart surgery to address a heart abnormality following tests and is recovering with family. King collapsed in the 74th minute of her club’s match over the weekend and was transported to the hospital. The match continued after the incident and the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association called for change to league policies regarding the continuation of matches after life-saving care is administered.
“While the medical response demonstrated the highest level of competence and care, the decision to continue play demonstrated how player safety is weighed and operationalized in real time. Incidents of this severity must prioritize our collective humanity and should automatically trigger suspension of the match. The Players Association is committed to making this the standard in NWSL.”
Free Kicks
- MLS suspended Minnesota United midfielder Joseph Rosales for three games for violating the league’s non-discrimination policy. This comes after an investigation into an incident involving Rosales and Vancouver Whitecaps forward Emmanuel Sabbi on April 27.
- FIFA is shooting for $1 billion in revenue for the Women’s World Cup. It’s a lofty goal, but I could see it happening as women’s soccer continues to grow across the world.
- Christian Pulisic and AC Milan fell 1-0 to Bologna in the Italian Cup final. It’s Bologna’s first time winning the tournament since 1974 and Head Coach Vincenzo Italiano’s first time winning a final. What a fitting first trophy for someone named Italiano.
- Malik Tillman had two goals and an assist in PSV Eindhoven’s 4-1 win over Heracles to take a one-point lead over Ajax in the Eredivisie title race. Fellow American Sergino Dest had an assist as well, and PSV’s final game of the season is on Sunday.
- As European leagues wind down, here’s a nice guide to what clubs in the bigger leagues are playing for over the next few games. Shout out to Serie A for keeping its title race down to the wire, with Napoli only a point ahead of Inter Milan with two games to go.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/14/25
Orlando City hosts Charlotte FC tonight, Marta called up by Brazil, U.S. Soccer announces new kits, and much more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! Orlando City has midweek games throughout this month, which means we get to enjoy some soccer tonight. But before we get into that match and more in today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 18th birthday to Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis! On my 18th birthday, I won $10 on the first scratch-off ticket I could legally buy. I wish him similar good fortune today.
Orlando City Takes On Charlotte FC Tonight
Orlando City’s busy month continues tonight when it hosts Charlotte FC for a midweek matchup at Inter&Co Stadium in one of the more intriguing games of today’s MLS slate. The Lions haven’t lost since March 8, but they have also only won four of their 12 games this season and are a point behind Charlotte in the standings. Orlando’s offense has struggled mightily during this stretch, but may have turned a corner following Martin Ojeda’s hat trick against the New England Revolution on Saturday. The Lions could also benefit from the return of midfielder Eduard Atuesta, who was in training as he works his way back from injury. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s eased back into things though and the club has five more games this month after tonight. Even if Atuesta can’t go tonight, maybe he can get some minutes this weekend.
Marta Returns to Brazilian National Team
Marta was called up by Brazil Head Coach Arthur Elias for friendlies against Japan, which is pretty shocking news, considering she announced her retirement from international soccer last year.
“I was with Marta recently and spoke with her. She said she is available to help the team while she is playing at a high level, as she is now,” Elias told reporters. “Marta has had a great season and has been very important for her club, which is the American League champion.
“Her presence in some call-ups is very important for the younger players, for the renewal that is taking place in the national team.”
Marta’s international career seemed to end in Paris, where she helped Brazil claim the silver medal at the Olympics. The 39-year-old joins Pride teammate Angelina on Brazil’s roster as the team prepares for this summer’s Copa America. It will be interesting to see if Marta will take part in that tournament and it may be worth noting that the 2027 World Cup will take place in Brazil. That’s a couple of years away, but I wouldn’t rule out anything at this point.
U.S. Soccer Unveils New Kits
U.S. Soccer announced two new kits designed in collaboration with Nike and senior players from both the United States Women’s National Team and United States Men’s National Team. The “Brilliant Kit” is white and light blue with star details and celebrates 40 years of the USWNT. The “Heartbeat Kit” is a dark blue with vertical red and blue stripes and is meant to represent the passion of U.S. soccer fans.
I’m also a pretty big fan of the jacket featured as part of this collection. The USWNT will wear both of these jerseys throughout the year, while the USMNT will continue to wear its current white kit and will debut the darker kit on June 7.
USMNT Will Play South Korea and Japan in Friendlies
A pair of friendlies in September were announced for the USMNT, with the Yanks set to take on South Korea Sept. 6 in New Jersey before playing Japan Sept. 9 in Columbus. These will be the USMNT’s first matches following this summer’s Gold Cup and will help the team prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Japan has already qualified for the World Cup, and South Korea is on track to do the same. The USMNT hasn’t played South Korea since winning 2-0 in 2014, while its last match against Japan was a 2-0 defeat in Germany in 2022 before that year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Free Kicks
- Marta and Angelina aren’t the only Pride players called up for international duty, as goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse will join England for UEFA Nations League games.
- Time is running out on joining this year’s Purple Pride 5K on Saturday, so be sure to register if you’ve been meaning to and it slipped your mind.
- Orlando City remained in 12th place in the MLS power rankings following its 3-3 draw with the Revolution.
- The Lions were 11th in Tom Bogert’s “watchability” rankings, which rate teams based on their quality of play, style, and general wow factors. I’m admittedly surprised to see Orlando that high considering the glut of scoreless draws this year
- Former Pride player and USWNT legend Alex Morgan has joined the San Diego Wave as a minority investor. Morgan retired from playing last year in her third season with the Wave and gave birth to her second child earlier this year.
- Santiago Moreno won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his bicycle kick in the Portland Timbers’ 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.
- Haji Wright and Coventry City drew 1-1 with Sunderland, losing on aggregate in the EFL Championship promotion playoffs. Dan Ballard scored for Sunderland deep in extra time, and Sunderland will face Sheffield United with a spot in the English Premier League on the line.
- The historic Goodison Park will no longer be demolished and will instead serve as the home for Everton’s women’s soccer team, making it the first stadium in England dedicated to a women’s team.
- In lieu of a parade if it wins the Europa League, Manchester United announced that there would be a celebratory barbecue at the club’s training ground. Players are also being restricted to just two free tickets for the Europa League final and club staff did not receive free tickets either.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday and a happy game day. Go Orlando!
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