Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/11/22

Happy Saturday, Mane Landers. The lulls of summer have fully kicked in. It seems that as the days get longer and the nights get shorter that I just get more and more tired. I thought summer was supposed to be about rest and relaxation? Maybe I should have skipped the USMNT match last night to catch up on sleep. Who am I kidding — I never miss a match! Nevertheless, there is always work to be done and links to be collected. Here is your collection of today’s links from around the soccer world!
Mason Stajduhar Undergoes Successful Jaw Surgery
File this news under “couldn’t have come at a worse time.” With Pedro Gallese’s Peru scheduled to play for a World Cup berth on Monday, El Pulpo is unlikely to be back and ready to go in the net at New England on Wednesday. So, it’s a particularly bitter blow that backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar sustained a jaw injury in training that was severe enough to require surgery. The club reported in a late Friday afternoon news dump that the surgery was a success in a short press release.
Orlando City SC goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar has undergone successful surgery to repair a fracture of his lower mandible, which was sustained in training this week. The procedure was performed by Dr. Daniel Crofton, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Orlando Health.
Stajduhar, who recently signed a new three-year contract with the Club, is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
With Stajduhar on the shelf and Gallese — at best — fighting fatigue and jet lag, it’s likely that Adam Grinwis will return to MLS action on Wednesday. Perhaps Gallese can arrive in time to back him up, otherwise, the best backup option might be Rodrigo Schlegel.
Halliday Makes U-20 USMNT Concacaf Championship Roster
U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Mikey Varas called up 20 players for the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship. The squad features 17 players from MLS clubs, with Orlando City defender Michael Halliday making the roster. The United States will be playing in Group E and will be looking to win a third straight Concacaf title. The Concacaf U-20 Championship’s top three finishers in the four groups will advance to the Round of 16 and join four teams already qualified for the knockout round. Teams will then play a single-elimination tournament, with the four semifinalists qualifying for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the two finalists qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. The United States has not qualified for the Olympics since 2008.
Pride Seek Revenge at Chicago
When the Pride head to Chicago tomorrow, it is the Red Stars who will be the heavy favorite. Chicago enters the match unbeaten in five games dating back to the middle of May. Orlando, on the other hand, is coming off a 5-0 loss against Houston. Chicago beat Orlando earlier this season and has done so in three regular season games in a row going back to last October. There will be new management at the helm for this fixture though, as former Orlando City Lion Seb Hines will be standing in for Amanda Cromwell, who remains on administrative leave. The key match-up will be Chicago’s stingy defense at home. The team has kept seven clean sheets and only allowed seven goals in its last 12 home matches in all NWSL competitions.
USMNT Starts Nations League Strong
The USMNT earned its first win of the Concacaf Nations League Friday night, defeating Grenada 5-0 in Austin, TX. In a match where the United States was expected to score a slew of goals, it was never a question of “if” the USMNT would score, but “when.” Players like Luca de la Torre, Paul Arriola, and Jesús Ferreira shined in the first half as the team dominated possession. Ferreira made a strong case to be Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s starting striker as he put his fourth international goal in the net right before half time. He went on to complete his hat trick by the 56th minute and finished with four goals on the night. The United States will head to Estadio Cuscatlán next to take on El Salvador Tuesday at 10 p.m.
Inaugural Soccer Champions Tour Coming to America
This summer, Las Vegas will see Real Madrid and Barcelona as the marquee match-up of the inaugural Soccer Champions Tour. The series of five exhibitions, set to run from July 22-30, will also include Italian Serie A club Juventus, alongside Liga MX sides Club America and Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
“Following several years without seeing some of these teams in the United States, we are thrilled to provide the opportunity for soccer fans in the U.S. to once again watch their favorite European and Mexican clubs play in person,” AEG senior vice president of soccer & business operations and business development Tom Braun said.
Other matches will be played at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, and the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles. Let us know in the comments below which match-up you would have liked to have seen at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Free Kicks
- Charlotte FC’s interim manager Christian Lattanzio is ready to step into a new era when the New York Red Bulls visit Bank of America Stadium this afternoon.
- CF Montréal has elevated Sporting Director Olivier Renard to Vice President and Chief Sporting Officer.
- The New York Red Bulls have named Jochen Schneider as their Head of Sport.
- Liam Payne and Usain Bolt will be the captains of Soccer Aid 2022, trying to lead their star-studded teams to glory.
- ESPN asked current and former MLS-based U.S. internationals who aren’t in camp with the USMNT a simple question: Who is the greatest USMNT player of all time?
- Celtic completed the permanent signing of USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers from Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year contract.
- FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez is “close” to working his way into the USMNT camp as the 2022 World Cup nears.
- The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has closed its case regarding Ecuador and the potential ineligibility of Byron David Castillo Segura and his participation in eight qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Barcelona is prepared to let Frenkie de Jong leave this summer to Manchester United in an effort to help balance the books amid an ongoing financial crisis at the club but only for offers of at least $105 million.
- Paris Saint-Germain is looking to make Zinedine Zidane its new manager and Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement. Reports from Zidane’s camp say the two parties are not close to an agreement yet.
- Everyone has an opinion on what Lionel Messi’s next move should be. Here are five possible options.
- Ever wonder what it is like to be a top young soccer player trying to make it as a professional? The eight-part series FC Bayern World Squad will follow the journeys of players from training through to the selection process and then playing against the junior team of FC Bayern, also known as Bayern Munich.
- The18 lists American sports coaches it would like to see as soccer managers in this hilarious satire.
If you stayed up late last night to watch all of the USMNT match, I hope you have a relaxing Saturday to rest back up. Be sure to tune in later tonight and catch the Young Lions as they take on New England II. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/2/25
Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL is looking to expand its media rights deals to include Sunday nights beginning next year. It’s a growth league and a growth market, and I’m all for Sunday night matches.
- Power rankings have now made their way down to MLS NEXT Pro. Spoiler alert, Orlando City B comes in at fifth. Still, it’s nice to see a little love given to the development league. Maybe I should write a power rankings for the various power rankings.
- I’m always for more soccer, and we now know the USL Women’s Super League eight-team playoff dates and format.
- I know it can be hard to feel bad for people who make quite a bit money playing soccer, but I still side with them over the billionaire owners that pay them. Or don’t pay them in the case of Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
- Barcelona is trying to bring the NFL to Spain. If successful, it might be the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes who make an appearance at Camp Nou. This will allow a bunch of Barcelona supporters the opportunity to ask if Taylor Swift will make an appearance.
- If you’re not watching the German Cup — and to be fair, I haven’t been either — you are missing some massive cupsets, including third-tier Arminia Bielefeld taking down Bundesliga champs Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to advance to the German Cup final.
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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/1/25
Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City jumped eight places to no. 11 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- Meanwhile the Orlando Pride continue to hold sway at no. 1 in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Germany great Thomas Muller has reportedly received offers from MLS teams.
- Tierna Davidson will not play in the USWNT’s upcoming games against Brazil due to a knee injury, with Gisele Thompson replacing her on the roster.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/31/25
Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

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.
- Antoine Griezmann is reportedly staying at Atletico Madrid next season despite being linked to a potential move to join LAFC in MLS.
- RB Leipzig has fired manager Marco Rose, as the club is sixth in the Bundesliga table and has appointed Zsolt Low as interim manager until the end of the season.
- David Blitzer is reportedly close to selling his majority ownership stake in the Utah Royals and Real Salt Lake after owning both clubs since 2022.
- Sports Illustrated released its list of MLS Coaches on the hot seat after poor starts, mentioning Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, the LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney, and the New England Revolution’s Caleb Porter.
- FIFA is reportedly considering having a one-game playoff between LAFC and Club America, with the winner replacing Club Leon in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
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