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Lion Links: 11/9/21

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3 years ago

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Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was an excellent weekend for Orlando City as the club booked its ticket to the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Lions will now have some time to recover and prepare before their first-round match against Nashville SC, with the United States Men’s National Team stepping into the spotlight for the latest round of World Cup qualifying kicking off on Friday against Mexico. There’s lots to talk about today, so let’s get into it.

MLS Playoff Schedule Set

The schedule for the MLS Cup playoffs has been set. Orlando City will take on Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. The Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls play on Nov. 20, followed by Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver later in the day. Nov. 24 features NYCFC vs. Atlanta and Portland vs. Minnesota, with Real Salt Lake taking on Seattle following Orlando’s game on the 23rd. The conference semifinals kick off on Thanksgiving Day, with the Colorado Rapids taking on the winner of Portland vs. Minnesota, and they finish on Nov. 30 with New England playing the winner of Atlanta vs. NYCFC. If Orlando beats Nashville, it will play the winner of New York vs. Philadelphia, and would host if the Red Bulls pull off the upset. It’s worth noting that New England and Colorado got a bit of a rough deal for winning their respective conferences. The Rapids especially have reason to feel hard done by, and it’ll be interesting to see what sort of crowd they can draw on Thanksgiving Day at 4:30 in the afternoon. If you want to reserve single match tickets for a potential conference semifinal match with the Red Bulls should they become available, the club has opened up a waitlist.

Lions Honored after Sunday’s Heroics

Several Orlando City players were recognized for the parts they played in the Lions’ Decision Day victory that propelled the team into the playoffs. First up, Pedro Gallese and Daryl Dike were included on the bench of the most recent edition of the MLS Team of the Week. Gallese made an absolutely massive first-half save to keep things level at 0-0, and was steady overall in recording a clean sheet. Dike, meanwhile, scored his 10th goal of the season to give Orlando a 2-0 advantage and put the game on ice. The striker made an intelligent run, had a good first touch to give himself a better angle, and applied a cool finish under the keeper.

In some of the most unsurprising news from the weekend, Sebas Mendez was nominated for the MLS Goal of the Week for his thunderous blast from outside the box which gave Orlando a 1-0 lead the Lions would never relinquish. Congrats to all three players on some well deserved recognition!

WSL Coming to CBS

The FA Women’s Super League is coming to CBS Sports next summer. Between CBS Sports and Paramount+, 57 matches will be shown during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons. Most games will stream on Paramount+, but a select number will be shown on CBS Sports. The WSL season runs concurrent with that of the Premier League, from September to May, and the coverage will provide something easily accessible for fans of women’s soccer when the NWSL is not in season, although there will be a bit of overlap during the beginning and end of the WSL campaign. CBS Sports is now the dominant force in women’s soccer as it also has rights to the NWSL, UEFA and Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifiers and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Fire Announce Roster Decisions

The Chicago Fire are the first MLS team to announce end-of-season roster decisions, and there were some notable moves made. Some degree of roster turnover was to be expected after the Fire fired (haha) head coach Raphael Wicky midseason, but there are still some surprises on the list. The biggest name to not be returning is Designated Player Robert Beric, with Alvaro Medran and Luka Stojanović close behind him. Beric was signed ahead of the 2020 season with mixed results. After a good debut season in MLS, with 12 goals and an assist in 23 games, his 2021 nosedived as he tallied eight goals and three assists in 33 games. Stojanović actually had the same number of goals and one less assist in 27 games, which gives you an idea of the production, or lack thereof from Beric. While the Serbian was great in the attack for a midfielder he was apparently a bit difficult in the locker room and didn’t show much interest in defending. For a full breakdown of the moves, check out this piece from our friends over at Hot Time in Old Town.

PRO Admits Officiating Error

The Professional Referee Organization has issued a statement regarding an officiating…gaffe on the most important day of the MLS season so far. In the 90th minute, Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad looked to have handled the ball in the penalty area, with the Sporting Kansas City players going mental appealing for a penalty kick to be awarded. None was forthcoming, and five minutes later Damir Kreilach won the game for RSL and sent the Utah-based side to the playoffs. PRO issued a statement acknowledging that a handball should have been called and a penalty kick awarded, placing the blame on the VAR who checked the play but did not recommend a video review to the referee. While the result only dropped SKC from second to third, an admission of error will be no consolation to the LA Galaxy, who got the result they needed against Minnesota United but did not make the playoffs due to RSL’s win.

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  • There was no such error when it came to the offside call on Rudy Camacho’s goal during Orlando’s match with Montreal.

  • Check out some top tier content from the Orlando City social media team.

  • It initially seemed like there was a little…leak regarding dates and times for two games of the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin was not particularly amused about the supposed start time for his team, or the way that he found out about it, and the dates were quickly removed from the MLS app. It’s interesting that when the official schedule dropped, the times had shifted.

That does it for me today. Y’all stay safe out there.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

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3 days ago

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April 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links: 4/24/25

Orlando Pride prepare for Angel City FC, MLS deadline day deals, OCB slips in power rankings, and more.

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4 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a few days since a rough weekend for Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Time heals all wounds, but let’s also hope it heals offenses considering both teams were shut out. Let’s go ahead and manifest some good officiating this weekend as well while we’re at it. That might be a tall order, but I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Prepare for Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride will look to bounce back when they welcome Angel City FC to the City Beautiful for a home game Friday night. Orlando lost its first game of the year and first home game since 2023 last week against the Washington Spirit, falling 1-0. Angel City is also coming off of its first loss of the season, falling 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC at home. Pride defender Kerry Abello spoke on how the Pride will need to create better chances compared to last week as they prepare to right the ship with a home victory.

Orlando City B Drops a Spot in Power Rankings

Although OCB fell from third to fourth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, the Young Lions are solidly in the top five teams in the league. OCB was on a bye last weekend, so not moving too much in the rankings can be expected. While the Young Lions fell 3-2 in their last league game against Inter Miami II, spirits are likely high with the team due to the Orlando City U-18 team’s success in the Generation Adidas Cup. Let’s hope the Young Lions can ride that momentum into Sunday night’s match with New York Red Bulls II.

MLS Deadline Day Transfer News

The MLS transfer deadline day has come and gone and there were some notable moves to catch up on. Real Salt Lake’s deal with Boavista for forward Robert Bozenik reportedly collapsed, but the club still added striker William Agada from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $500,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money and another $350,000 in GAM if he re-signs. Inter Miami traded winger Robert Taylor to Austin FC in exchange for up to $750,000 in GAM, with only $50,000 of that being conditional. Atlanta United traded winger Xande Silva to St. Louis City SC for up to $250,000 in GAM as well.

The Houston Dynamo also have a new forward, signing Toyosi Olusanya from Scottish club St. Mirren. The New England Revolution traded Noel Buck to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $650,000 in cold, hard cash, reuniting the 20-year-old with Bruce Arena. Frankie Amaya is back in MLS, joining LAFC on loan from Toluca. As of this writing, Minnesota United are reportedly in hot pursuit of Miami’s Julian Gressel.

Sources: Minnesota United in advanced talks to acquire Julian Gressel from Inter Miami.Nothing done yet. Still details to figure out. Optimism something gets done, but not there yet.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T00:25:26.971Z

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The race for a place in the English Premier League is heating up in the EFL Championship and Americans are right in the thick of it. Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United have already secured promotion, along with Burnley. Forward Haji Wright has scored 12 goals for Coventry City this season, and his club currently holds the final playoff spot. Midfielder Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are three points behind, while former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will need to win their remaining two matches for a shot at sneaking in.

In Italy, Christian Pulisic started in AC Milan’s 3-0 victory over rival Inter to book a spot in the Italian Cup final on May 14. Fellow American Yunus Musah was an unused substitute. Catarina Macario scored twice and Mia Fishel added a goal as well in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Crystal Palace, helping their team get ever closer to winning its sixth straight Women’s Super League title.

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That’s it for today’s links! Make sure to stay hydrated out there as we get closer and closer to summer. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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April 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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