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Lion Links: 1/14/22

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? My resolutions have been going well and I’m excited for the weekend. Here in Tampa, the weather has been nice enough to walk each day without worrying about freezing to death. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira Earn Extensions, Promotions

Orlando City promoted and extended the contracts of Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira. Muzzi will become the club’s general manager while Ricardo Moreira was named technical director. Both joined the club following Orlando’s 2018 season and helped rebuild the roster to reach the playoffs for the first time in 2020 and again in 2021. This was an important move by the Wilf family that ensures the club continues its growth. Muzzi and Moreira have done a great job finding talented players, particularly in South America, and hopefully that habit continues as the team aims to reload its offense before the 2022 season.

Oscar Pareja Prepares for the Preseason

After a shortened off-season, Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja is focused on getting the Lions ready for the upcoming season. With Nani, Daryl Dike, and Chris Mueller all leaving the club, Orlando’s offense will look different in 2022 and Pareja spoke about the club’s efforts to bring in new players.

“We’ve been working on which players to bring in. The brief time I was off, I had the opportunity to go to Medellín, Colombia, to visit my family, and now that I’ve been back, we’re finalizing plans for the preseason,” said Pareja, who’s entering his third year in charge of the Lions.

“And we’re [doing] everything we can regarding the signing of players, which isn’t easy during the pandemic, trying to reach the players who are going to come and represent the club.”

Pareja also mentioned the ongoing talks the club is having to bring in young Uruguayan forward Facundo Torres. Forward Alexandre Pato is also expected to return on a new deal after a season marred by injury. Orlando’s preseason will begin next week as players report in and have medicals done, but Pareja doesn’t expect new players to reach full training until later in the week.

While Orlando hasn’t released its preseason schedule, other teams throughout MLS have and we can piece together some of the teams the Lions will take on before the home opener against CF Montreal on Feb. 27. The Lions will face FC Dallas on Feb. 5, the Colorado Rapids on Feb. 11, and also FC Cincinnati on Feb. 18. It is unknown if any of the team’s preseason matches will be open to the public at this point.

Orlando Pride Draftees Called Up to U.S. U-23 Camp

Orlando Pride draftees Mikayla Colohan and Mia Fishel were both called up for the United States U-23 Women’s Youth National Team’s camp later this month. The camp will take place in Austin from Jan. 23-28 and will include a closed-door scrimmage against the USWNT, which is also training in Austin. Colohan and Fishel are unsigned but would be huge additions for the Pride.

Fishel was selected by the Pride with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft and has experience training with the senior team. Colohan was drafted with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 draft and is coming off of a strong senior season with BYU that included a trip to the College Cup final. This is the first time the U-23 team will come together since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daryl Dike’s Journey to England

The Athletic ($) provided a great profile following Dike’s meteoric rise through collegiate and professional soccer as he prepares for West Bromwich Albion’s game against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow at 10 a.m. Dike has always been a physical presence but has also shown his high soccer IQ and good feet over his two years in Orlando. The article also includes plenty of quotes from Dike’s coaches and mentors over the years, including Pareja and Nani.

Tomorrow’s game is an important one in the English Football League Championship as West Brom is only a point ahead of QPR in the standings. It sets up a perfect stage for Dike to make his mark should he take the field for the Baggies. The 21-year-old will wear No. 12 for the remainder of West Brom’s season and you can check out this gallery of him in training as he gets ready for his debut.

Albert Rusnak to the Sounders; MLS Roundup

The Seattle Sounders signed free agent Albert Rusnak as the team’s third Designated Player. Rusnak joins the Sounders after five seasons with Real Salt Lake and he signed a contract that will keep him in Seattle for the next two years. D.C. United was also reportedly in the mix to sign the attacking midfielder, so I’m glad he ended up staying in the Western Conference.

Minnesota United drafted Abu Danladi with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 SuperDraft, but he was chosen by Nashville SC in the 2019 Expansion Draft. Now, Danladi returns to Minnesota on a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.

Elsewhere, Austin FC added 25-year-old midfielder Jhojan Valencia from Colombia’s Deportivo Cali. Sporting Kansas City re-signed veteran defender Graham Zusi and 35-year-old midfielder Roger Espinoza for the 2022 season. Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski signed a contract extension with the San Jose Earthquakes through the 2024 season.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City’s logo was named the fifth best in MLS according to a study done by Quality Logo Products. Minnesota United claimed the top spot while Nashville SC finished last.
  • Here are some more highlights of Orlando draft picks Nathan Dossantos and Nick Taylor.


That’s all I have for you today, folks. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road

On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.

Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home

The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.

NWSL Weekend Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.

FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap

The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
  • Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.

  • That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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