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Lion Links: 10/18/21

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3 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! It was a tale of two Orlando teams this weekend, but we’ll get to that shortly. First, I want to welcome “fall” to Florida. I know there will still be more hot days ahead of us, but Sunday was absolutely gorgeous and I hope you took the time to get outside and enjoy it. Personally, I took the opportunity to work in the garage without sweating profusely. It was very nice. Now, let’s get to today’s links.

Orlando City Hunts for the Playoffs

The Lions won their second match in a row by winning 1-0 against FC Cincinnati 1-0 on the road. There were some outstanding performances from the Lions, including from Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. El Pulpo joined the club Friday night in Cincinnati by catching a direct flight from Peru after playing in World Cup qualifiers. It was a quick turnaround for the Peruvian, but he came up with crucial saves and recorded his first clean sheet for Orlando since Aug. 27.

The Lions also made an effort to take more shots from outside the box. The team hasn’t had many goals from distance in recent weeks and wanted to change things up as it makes a playoff push. Junior Urso’s goal in the 13th minute was exactly what the Lions were looking for and enough to be the game winner. Tesho Akindele appeared to have scored in the second half from about the same spot when his shot bounced off the crossbar and there wasn’t an obvious video review to see if it completely crossed the goal line. Giving the opposition something else to think about on offense is good and Orlando has five matches remaining to further diversify its attack before the postseason.

Orlando Pride Officially Eliminated

If the Orlando Pride won Saturday night, there was still no guarantee they would make the playoffs. But the Pride didn’t win, falling 3-1 to Racing Louisville FC as they were officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Pride started the season with a seven-game unbeaten run while playing some of their best soccer in years. Marc Skinner’s departure in the middle of the season brought Becky Burleigh to Orlando as the interim head coach. While the Pride did well at times with Burleigh at the helm, losing just once in her first seven matches, they have lost their last four games. If Burleigh led the Pride into the playoffs, there may have been a good argument for giving her the position in a full-time capacity. While that’s still not out of the question, the club will likely open up the search and make other changes as well during the off-season.

Elsewhere in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Washington Spirit clinched a playoff berth after winning 2-0 against OL Reign. That leaves three playoff spots for the Chicago Red Stars, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Houston Dash, and North Carolina Courage to fight over. Considering none of those four teams face each other in the remaining games, it should set up for a tense finish to the NWSL regular season.

Eastern Conference Playoff Race Stays Tight

Results across MLS went the Lions’ way for the most part this past weekend as they remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. CF Montréal drew 2-2 with the Philadelphia Union to keep the Lions just a point behind the Union. Nashville SC and D.C. United battled to a scoreless draw, meaning Orlando can reach the second spot in the conference if certain results happen take place this Wednesday.

Several teams are clawing their way up the table for a playoff spot, including the Columbus Crew. The defending champs haven’t had a great year, but certainly took care of business against Inter Miami CF, dispatching them by a score of 4-0. The New York Red Bulls closed the gap with rival New York City FC after a 1-0 victory. The loss doesn’t bode well for NYCFC as its attacking woes continue.

Americans Make an Impact Abroad

Antonee Robinson was one of many Americans to find the back of the net this weekend, scoring a nice goal from distance in Fulham’s 4-1 win over Queens Park Rangers. Sergino Dest played as a winger in FC Barcelona’s 3-1 victory against Valencia and had an assist. Zack Steffen earned a clean sheet in his first start of the season as Manchester City won 2-0 against Burnley. Forwards Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, and Jordan Pefok all started but didn’t contribute towards a goal. Ulysses Llanez, Christian Ramirez, Duane Holmes, and Terrence Boyd were some of the Americans who scored for their clubs.

Free Kicks

  • Bleacher Report created a Twitter thread diving into how Pablo Escobar would bring star soccer players to his prison for five-a-side games. Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja was one of many Colombian players invited to play with Escobar back then.

  • Fans at a match between Hamburger SV and Fortuna Düsseldorf threw objects at players and abused them with racist comments. I will never stop calling out this reprehensible behavior until it stops. Be better.
  • There was plenty of exciting soccer across Europe this weekend. Bayern Munich looks more dangerous than ever after scoring four goals in seven minutes in a 5-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen. Manchester United is looking for answers after a 4-2 loss to Leicester City while Liverpool was reminded how valuable Mo Salah is after his brilliant goal in the club’s 5-0 thrashing of Watford.

  • Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 win against Newcastle United had to be stopped in the first half due to a supporter needing medical assistance. The supporter was taken to a hospital and is stable.

That will do it for today. Check back for the latest Orlando soccer news as the Lions play twice this week. Orlando hosts Montreal on Wednesday, and then welcomes the New England Revolution on Sunday.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/6/25

Rafaelle and Grace Chanda cleared to play, Orlando City B signs two players, Women’s Club World Cup delayed to 2028, and more.

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48 minutes ago

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March 6, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Congratulations, you’ve made it more than halfway through the week! Thursday tends to feel like an annoying speed bump before we reach the fun of the weekend, but hopefully today goes smoothly for you as we prepare for a busy next few days. Let’s get the day started off on the right foot with some links from around the soccer world!

Rafaelle and Grace Chanda Removed From Season-Ending Injury List

Orlando Pride players Rafaelle and Grace Chanda will both be available for selection for the NWSL Challenge Cup match against the Washington Spirit Friday after being removed from the Season-Ending Injury list. Chanda joined the club last summer but wasn’t able to take the field due to an injury sustained while on international duty with Zambia at the Olympics. Rafaelle also picked up a season-ending injury at last year’s Olympics with Brazil, missing out on the team’s historic playoff run. Both players have the talent to start for the Pride this season, but there shouldn’t be a rush to get them going from the start considering how good the Pride’s roster is this year.

Noah Levis and Noham Abdellaoui Join OCB

Orlando City B signed another pair of players, adding midfielder Noah Levis and defender Noham Abdellaoui to the roster. Both players were signed to MLS NEXT Pro contracts through 2025 with an option for 2026. Levis has developed his game across Europe and appeared in 25 games for Mikkelin Palloilijat in Finland’s second division last year. The 18-year-old has also played for Finland’s national team at the youth levels. Abdellaoui is an Algerian center back who has also played in Europe, featuring for the youth teams of clubs like Saint-Etienne, U.S. Lecce, and Genoa CFC. Like Levis, the 20-year-old played for his national team’s youth squads. I’m excited to see how some of these new faces OCB brought in mesh with the returning players this season. OCB’s season gets started on Sunday when it hosts Columbus Crew 2.

Women’s Club World Cup Delayed to 2028

FIFA announced that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup that was set to kick off in 2026 has instead been delayed to 2028 and will be every four years after that. It will feature 16 teams, with five European teams and two each from Concacaf, CONMEBOL, CAF, and AFC able to earn guaranteed entry. The other spots will be claimed through play-in games. We’ll still get an international club competition next year though, with FIFA also announcing the 2026 Women’s Champions Cup. That will be a six-team tournament and the winners of the UEFA Champions League, Concacaf Champions League, and Copa Libertadores will claim a spot in the semifinals. The Women’s Champions Cup will be annual, except for years when the Women’s Club World Cup takes place.

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Roundup

The round of 16 is underway in the UEFA Champions League and every match on Wednesday was a shutout. Liverpool’s only shot on target was the winner in a 1-0 road victory against Paris Saint-Germain, with substitute Harvey Elliott scoring in the 87th minute. Goalkeeper Allisson Becker played out of his mind, making nine saves to help his team take a lead back to Anfield for the second leg. In a matchup between German giants, Harry Kane had a brace in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. However, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer may not play in the second leg after injuring himself while celebrating a goal.

Barcelona was reduced to 10 men in the first half against Benfica, but great saves by Wojciech Szczęsny and a goal from Raphinha were enough for a 1-0 win in Lisbon. Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 2-0, with goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther saving a penalty kick to secure his team’s eighth clean sheet this tournament.

Free Kicks

  • The Purple Pride 5k is officially back and will take place on May 17. The race will begin at 8 a.m. on Glenn Lane and finish inside Inter&Co Stadium. Each runner will get a shirt, a medal, and a ticket to an Orlando City and Orlando Pride game.
  • FC Dallas added Brazilian midfielder Kaick as an MLS U22 Initiative Player, signing him to a contract through 2028, with an option for 2029. The 19-year-old joins from Gremio in Brazil’s top flight and Dallas reportedly paid the fourth-highest transfer fee in club history to sign him.
  • Congratulations to United States Women’s National Team and Portland Thorns star Sophia Wilson, who announced that she is pregnant with her first child.
  • TNT Sports will broadcast 24 of the 63 FIFA Club World Cup games this summer. FIFA also announced that the prize money will be $1 billion for this year’s revamped tournament that features 32 clubs from around the world.
  • Check out the finalists for the People’s Puskas Award, an award created by tech company Veo to crown the best goal scored by an amateur or grassroots player. There are some great acrobatic strikes in the mix, but the free kick knuckleball by Ardi Canolli had me hitting replay over and over.
  • Speaking of great goals, Tigres midfielder Jacqueline Ovalle may have already scored the best one of 2025 with a move she calls “the shrimp.”

That’s all I have for you for today’s links. Make sure to stay hydrated out there and have a wonderful Thursday!

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Lion Links: 3/5/25

Orlando City rising, Ally Watt is staying, the Challenge Cup looms, and more.

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1 day ago

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March 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! We’re almost completely back. Orlando City is playing matches, with the Orlando Pride and OCB slated to start their respective 2025 slates this weekend. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year. So without further ado, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City on the Rise

It should come as no surprise to longtime readers that I find the idea of power rankings to be the junk food of sports journalism. Sometimes it’s fun to indulge, but ultimately it’s just empty calories. That being said, Orlando City rose six spots in MLSsoccer.com’s rankings this week. The site is also enamored with right back Alex Freeman, making him one of the big stories in MLS in Week 2. They might actually be right on that account.

Ally Watt is Staying

The Orlando Pride announced that the club exercised Ally Watt’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Watt played her part in the Pride’s historic 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship run. Watt produced seven goal contributions last year. Now the attacker will look to increase that production as the club attempts to repeat the success of last season.

The Challenge Cup Approaches

It’s been 102 days since the Orlando Pride last lifted a trophy. Friday, the club will have a chance to do so again in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup. The Challenge Cup has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but this time it features a rematch of the NWSL Championship match between the Pride and the Washington Spirit. The format is supposed to be the Shield winner against the Championship winner, but since the Pride won both, the runner-up gets a shot.

NWSL Roster Moves

The NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement has changed how the clubs in the league manage their rosters and acquire new talent. Big names like Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) are able to have agency in where they want to play when being traded. There were several big inner-league signings in the off-season, though not all saw a player move. One of the biggest was when the Orlando Pride gave Marta a contract extension. The landscape has changed for the league, and that’s not a bad thing.

Free Kicks

@houstondash.com forward Yuki Nagasato, 2011 World Cup winner and 2012 Olympic silver medalist, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-03T21:26:32.770Z

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

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Lion Links: 3/4/25

Lions earn weekly recognition, U.S. women announce friendlies against China, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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March 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! What a happy Tuesday it is, too, as Orlando City bounced back in a big way to earn its first victory of the season on Saturday. As if that wasn’t enough, the Lions will be back in action again on Saturday, while the Orlando Pride will return to competitive action in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit on Friday, and OCB kicks off its season Sunday against Columbus. Before we get started, let’s wish Pride midfielder Ally Lemos a happy 21st birthday! We’ve got plenty to talk about this morning, so let’s get cracking.

Lions Earn Weekly Plaudits

A pair of Lions have been rewarded for their performances in Orlando City’s 4-2 triumph over Toronto FC with places in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Cesar Araujo finds himself in the starting lineup after notching a spectacular goal and assist, while Alex Freeman makes the bench after marking his first senior start with his first professional goal. Freeman also earned a shoutout as one of the standout Young Players of the Matchday. Both men turned in impressive performances during the win, with Sean Rollins grading Araujo a 7.5 out of 10 and naming him the Man of the Match, with Freeman close behind on a 7 out of 10. Congrats and keep up the good work!

U.S. Women Announce China Matches

The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of friendlies against China at the end of spring. The USWNT will play the Steel Roses on Saturday, May 31 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN, and then on Tuesday, June 3 at Energizer Park in St. Louis. While China is the team that the U.S. has played second most behind only Canada, it will be the first meeting between the two nations since the end of 2023. The St. Louis game will also have a pre-match celebration for Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced her retirement at the end of last year.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in games during the working week, with European cup action once again featured prominently. Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund will host Lille in the Round of 16 tomorrow, while Richy Ledezma and PSV Eindhoven will welcome Arsenal. Thursday sees Tanner Tessman and Lyon traveling to face Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Europa League, while Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis take on Vitória Guimarães in the UEFA Conference League. Things finish on Friday with the red-hot Josh Sargent and Norwich City hosting Oxford in Championship play, while Mark McKenzie and Toulouse face off against Moncao.

Women’s Club World Cup Could be Delayed

FIFA had intended on starting a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2026, but that plan may be facing delays. While the tournament reportedly has plenty of support within FIFA and its various federations, there are said to be ongoing discussions about pushing the start date back a couple years to allow more time for preparations to be made. Initial plans called for the tournament to take place between January and February 2026, but that date is fast approaching and no concrete plans have been made. A possible solution could be holding a four-team mini-tournament in 2026, with the full 16-team version then debuting later down the road. Who knows, if the Orlando Pride can have a 2025 campaign similar to last year’s, maybe we’ll see them there.

Free Kicks

  • Forgive my language, but Eduard Atuesta positively ran his ass off on Saturday, covering 8.18 miles — the most of any MLS player on Matchday 2.

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

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