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Lion Links: 1/22/21

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4 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? Personally, this week felt like an eternity and I’m glad the weekend is right around the corner. I don’t really have any plans for it beyond work, but hopefully the next few days go smoothly. Now, let’s hop into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Selects Four Players in MLS SuperDraft

Before the draft got started, Orlando forked over a total of $100,00 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Portland Timbers to move up to the eighth pick in the draft. With that pick, the Lions selected forward Derek Dodson, who scored 30 goals and had 11 assists across three seasons at Georgetown. With Dom Dwyer no longer with the team and Daryl Dike getting attention in Europe, Dodson helps give the offense some depth and won’t be thrown to the wolves from the start. Given Orlando’s track record with forwards whose first and last names both start with the letter D, I like the pick.

Later in the first round, Orlando strengthened its defensive depth by selecting Georgetown’s Rio Hope-Gund and Penn State’s Brandon Hackenberg with the 19th and 22nd picks, respectively. The pair of center backs helps replace the departures of both Alex De John and Kamal Miller and shore up part of the back line.

The Lions ended their draft day by selecting Wake Forest goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg in the second round. Although there is still uncertainty regarding Brian Rowe’s future with Orlando, Pannenberg would likely be with Orlando City B if the team plays in 2021 or he could be loaned out.

Alex Morgan Back in Training as USWNT Prepares for Friendly

United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski confirmed that Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan is back in training after recovering from COVID-19. Morgan won’t be playing in the USWNT’s friendly against Colombia today at Exploria Stadium, but it’s nice knowing she’s back on the field. As for today’s match, the Pride’s Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris could both play as Andonovski spoke about “significant” rotation to the roster and neither played in the previous match between the two nations earlier this week.

Krieger has fought hard to earn her spot on the USWNT roster and use her position to speak out against social injustice. Andonovski is focused on improving the USWNT’s defense and Krieger is making the most of her training at the January camp.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air honestly,” Krieger said. “I’ve learned a lot, even at my age and with my experience. I try to get better every single day and improve to help this team be successful. I really cherish the time that I’ve been able to be in camp and learn new things.”

How the Rest of the SuperDraft Shook Out

Austin FC selected Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira with first overall pick, a move that even surprised Pereira. Clemson midfielder Philip Mayaka was largely expected to be chosen first but went to the Colorado Rapids with the third pick after FC Cincinnati selected Wake Forest forward Calvin Harris with the second. In back-to-back picks after a trade with Atlanta United, D.C. United chose Clemson forward Kimarni Smith and Wake Forest defender Michael DeShields to round out the top five picks of the draft.

Make sure to check out the rest of the draft results and MLSsoccer.com’s Travis Clark took a stab at grading each club’s draft, although he gave Orlando a C+ for taking Dodson “too high” while the Philadelphia Union received an A+ for trading all their picks away. What do you all think about Orlando’s 2021 draft class? I’m personally a fan of selecting the players you want and not worrying about reaching or when players “should” be drafted.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Pens Letter to Fans

Prior to this year’s draft, Garber released a “letter to fans” regarding the past season and the year ahead. Garber congratulated the Columbus Crew and thanked fans for their support during a difficult season due to the pandemic. Looking forward, he talked about the effect the pandemic will have on the upcoming season as well as the negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Association.

A good portion of the letter is spent talking about the proposal the league gave the MLSPA and future meetings to reach an agreement. Garber noted the difficulties players faced with last year’s condensed schedule and being away from their families, but also spoke about the financial losses MLS ownership had and made sure to point out the league has been awaiting a response to a proposal made two weeks ago. The MLSPA had its own response to the letter and the not-so-subtle jab about the lack of response so far.

Conflicting Reports Arise About the Olympics

You’ll need to get past the paywall for all of the details, but the Tokyo Olympics may be canceled due to COVID-19 according to The Times. This news conflicts with a statement made by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who had the following to say on Kyodo News in Japan about the reports of cancellation.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach said. “This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful.”

While it would be disappointing for the Olympics not to take place for the second-straight year, at least the Orlando Pride wouldn’t be as shorthanded during the summer. If the Olympics are indeed cancelled, it will be interesting to see if that will affect the summer scheduling for sports leagues across the country.

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That’s going to do it for me, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend.

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Lion Links: 4/18/25

Orlando City set to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Lions reach Generation Adidas Cup semifinals, Angel City hires Alexander Straus, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you well as we gear up for another Saturday filled with soccer to enjoy. I don’t have many plans this Easter weekend beyond working, catching soccer when I can, and playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time if I find some spare hours. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Learns U.S. Open Cup Opponents

Orlando City’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign will begin on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in what will be the latest edition of the I-4 Derby. It will be Orlando’s first game of this year’s tournament, while the Rowdies joined in the previous round and got past FC Naples in penalties. The Rowdies have lost four of their five games so far this season in the USL Championship and fired Robbie Neilson as head coach earlier this month. The Lions also notably would have hosting priority if they reach the round of 16, where they will play either Nashville SC or the Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Here’s the full schedule for the round of 32, which includes some interesting matchups across the country. The Tacoma Defiance are the only MLS NEXT Pro side left and will face the Portland Timbers, while the New York Red Bulls will have a long road trip to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Lions Advance to Generation Adidas Cup Semifinals

Orlando City’s U-18 team beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Generation Adidas Cup to secure a spot in the semifinals. The Young Lions have won four of their five games of the tournament and will take on Santos Laguna in the semifinal on Saturday. The winner of that match will face whichever team becomes victorious in the other semifinal between Atlanta United and the Colorado Rapids.

The U-16 team’s run in the Premier bracket is also going strong after a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, and Orlando will take on the New England Revolution in the semifinals on Saturday.

Angel City FC Hires Alexander Straus

Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus was named Angel City FC’s next head coach and will officially join the club on June 1. The Norwegian coach has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and has Bayern positioned well to make it three straight this season. He’ll join an Angel City team that’s unbeaten in its first four games of the season under interim head coach Sam Laity, who will stay on as an assistant coach once Straus joins.

Europa League Quarterfinals End In Dramatic Fashion

Old Trafford hosted one of the wildest games in Europa League history, with Manchester United and Lyon battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. United scored twice in the first half, then conceded twice in the second, sending the game to extra time. Lyon took the lead despite being a man down and then the teams traded penalty kicks as the madness continued. Casemiro orchestrated Manchester’s victory in the end, assisting on two late goals within a minute of each other to beat Lyon 5-4 and advance. This United fan pretty much sums up just how much of a rollercoaster this match was.

There was also drama in Italy, as Lazio came back in the second leg to force extra time against Bodo/Glimt. The match went to penalties and Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikitka Haikin denied former New York City FC player Taty Castellanos from the spot to book his team’s place in the semifinals. Although Tottenham was without Son Heung-Min, it got the job done in a 1-0 road win against Eintracht Frankfurt, while Athletic Club beat Rangers 2-0 in Spain to advance as well. In the semifinals, Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt and Manchester United will take on Athletic Club.

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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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Lion Links: 4/17/25

Oscar Pareja signs new contract with Orlando City, Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, Orlando’s youth teams win, and more.

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3 days ago

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April 17, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I can’t believe we’re already into the back half of April and Easter is right around the corner. There’s plenty of soccer to enjoy between now and then and we also have the draw for the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 this morning at 9:15. MLS teams are finally joining the fray, so we’ll see where the chips fall for Orlando City. Let’s get to the links!

Oscar Pareja Signs New Contract

Orlando City and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep him in the City Beautiful through 2028. Pareja was hired as Orlando’s fourth head coach in its MLS era back in December of 2019 and he’s led the Lions to the playoffs in all five seasons he’s been at the helm.  Under Pareja, the Lions won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, set club records in points and wins in 2023, and reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time last year. This year was the final one on the contract he signed in December of 2023, so it’s nice to know Pareja will be sticking around in the future.

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride will look to make it five wins in a row when they host the Washington Spirit on Saturday in another rematch of last year’s final. While this is the first match between Orlando and Washington this season, the two clashed in the NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7 and the Spirit lifted the trophy after a penalty shootout. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team has grown since that game and has benefitted from depth and consistency carried over from last year.

Orlando City Youth Teams Win in Bradenton

Orlando City’s U-18 team won in the Generation Adidas Cup’s round of 16, beating St. Louis City 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Young Lions remain unbeaten in that age group and will take on a Real Salt Lake team that also won its group and just beat Toronto FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw.

Orlando’s U-16 squad didn’t qualify for the Championship bracket, but still advanced in the Premier bracket. After a 1-1 draw with Toronto, Orlando prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout and will play Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Semifinals Are Set

The quarterfinals for this year’s UEFA Champions League are over and only four teams remain in the tournament. Arsenal secured its spot in the semifinals after an impressive 2-1 road win against Real Madrid that included two assists from Mikel Merino. The Spanish club couldn’t muster its usual magic in the tournament and forward Kylian Mbappe exited in the second half due to injury. In Italy, Inter Milan held on for a 2-2 draw against Bayern to advance on aggregate, with defender Benjamin Pavard scoring a crucial goal for Inter against his old team. The semifinals will take place at the end of the month and will feature Arsenal taking on Paris Saint-Germain and Inter going up against Barcelona.

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  • Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza, who died after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China.
  • The Chicago Fire are reportedly strongly interested in signing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer. If any Western Conference teams could join the hunt for him, that would be great.

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

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Lion Links 4/16/25

Orlando Pride on top, OCB falls to Inter Miami II, USMNT eyes Gold Cup, and more.

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4 days ago

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April 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I know I’ve said it before, but I love that I can always find soccer to watch. Whether it’s UEFA Champions League or the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, or anything in between, I love it. I’m willing to bet you love it too. Speaking of love, we want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando City Designated Player Luis Muriel. Let’s get to the links.

All the Rankings

With the win over the Seattle Reign, the Orlando Pride stayed perfect on the season. It was enough for the Pride to remain on top of the standings and also at the top of numerous power rankings. All for XI kept the Pride at No. 1 with a shoutout to Anna Moorhouse, SI.com did the same, while noting Summer Yates’ injury, and Goal.com completed the sweep. The Pride also landed at No. 8 in Opta’s global power rankings for women’s clubs. Strangely, the Kansas City Current were two spots above on that particular list.

OCB Falls to Inter Miami II

Orlando City B traveled to IMG Academy to take on Inter Miami II Tuesday night. The Young Lions went down early on the road, but were able to equalize thanks to a goal from Tahir Reid-Brown. Unfortunately, Inter Miami scored two more goals before a penalty in second-half stoppage time gave OCB a slight lifeline. It was not enough as the team fell 3-2 to their in-state foes.

Generation Adidas Cup Matchups

Orlando City Academy’s U-18 squad won Group J in the Generation Adidas Cup. Now the team will face St. Louis City SC 2 in the Round of 16. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the younger generations of players in Orlando City’s system, here is your opportunity.

U.S. Eyes Gold Cup

We’re about two months out from the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup and it feels like a must-win for the USMNT given recent results. Winning an eighth Gold Cup title will not come easily. Naturally, all eyes fall on Christian Pulisic to lead the squad, though not everyone thinks he should be the pick for captain. Tyler Adams is looking for more belief from his teammates heading into the competition.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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