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Lion Links: 6/25/22

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3 years ago

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Well, last night did not go as planned. But, I hope you all at least enjoyed watching Antonio Carlos rejoin the Lions in the second half against FC Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to attend the game at TQL Stadium with my wife for a short and much-needed vacation.

If you have yet to make it up that way, I highly recommend doing so and stopping into Rhinegeist Brewery or Northern Row Brewery & Distillery before the match. The great beers and walkability to the stadium make it a perfect away day for City fans to catch an Eastern Conference match. Before we leave town, we are going to try out some indoor skydiving for the first time. I’m looking forward to that and exploring more of the city.

Now, enough about me and more about what you really came here for — today’s links!

Orlando City Falls to FC Cincinnati

Last night, the Lions lost on the road to FC Cincinnati due to a Brenner goal in the 65th minute. While the team did look to connect passes well at times and hold the lion’s share of possession, City only took half as many shots as the home team.

The bright spot of the night for Orlando was the return of Antonio Carlos, who came on at halftime to replace Thomas Williams. The teenager gained the unexpected start at left back due to a late scratch of Joao Moutinho, who was injured during warmups. Kyle Smith, who was once again called upon as a center back for the suspended Robin Jansson, was able to slide out wide at halftime into his more natural role thanks to Carlos entering the match. Unfortunately, even with what would be considered a more stable back line, the Lions could not find the back of the net nor hold on for a draw.

Our Michael Citro has your match recap of City’s 1-0 loss. And, be sure to check back for the player grades and Man of the Match, as well as our five takeaways.

Orlando City and Pride Issue Joint Statement on Roe v. Wade

The Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride have made a joint statement regarding Friday’s reversal of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. The clubs and players undoubtedly will use their platforms and voices to join together to take action in the local community. Other teams and organizations, such as the NWSL, have also made similar statements.

USWNT Set for Colombia Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team begins its final preparations for the Concacaf Championship as the Yanks host Colombia tonight at 7:30 p.m. The first of the pair of friendlies will be played in Denver, with the second to follow on Tuesday in Rio Tinto Stadium. This pair of matches should benefit both teams, as the USWNT is looking to solidify a lineup in an attempt to qualify for the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Likewise, Colombia is preparing to host the Copa America Femenina and will use these matches to see what a top-ranked team will play like against their squad.

As the USWNT will be the favorite to win both matches, it would be wise of Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski to use some rotation and the full depth of the squad. Colombia plays a physical style of soccer, and it would be a crushing blow to the team to lose a crucial player due to a reckless challenge in a friendly prior to the tournament. The USWNT attackers should look to be clinical in front of goal and end the game early by taking all momentum out of Colombia’s hands.

Women’s Summer of Soccer

All around the globe, you can find a region with a women’s tournament this summer. Beginning in July, the world’s best players in the women’s game will collide with major stakes on the line. For some, a spot in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is up for grabs. In Europe, a €16 million prize pool is there for the taking in the European Championship.

The UEFA Women’s Euros will be played from July 6-31, featuring 16 teams across England. The reigning World Cup champion USWNT will be the outright favorite for the Concacaf Championship taking place July 4-18. This tournament will serve as both the qualifiers for the World Cup and the Olympics. Competing July 2-29, the Africa Women Cup of Nations is that continent’s premier women’s soccer competition, with four semifinalists advancing automatically to the 2023 World Cup. The losing quarterfinalists get a final chance with a win-or-go-home playoff. Colombia will host the Women’s Copa America from July 8-30, in which three South American nations can qualify for the World Cup, with another two going into playoffs. Finally, July 13-30 will bring us a first-time winner of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup as New Zealand will not be competing since they are guaranteed qualification for the World Cup as a co-host nation.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City defender Michael Halliday and the U.S. U-20 National Team are successfully through to the knockout rounds after topping their group at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championships. 
  • As eyes turn towards the MLS Next Cup, Orlando City U-15 player Zackory Campagnolo is listed as a footballer you need to know. Campagnolo’s presence in goal offers security at the back and USYNT experience.
  • Orlando City captain Mauricio Pereyra pleads his case for your MLS All Star votes.

That’s all I have for today, Mane Landers. Be sure to catch the Young Lions taking on FC Cincinnati 2 today at 1 p.m. as they look to bounce back from a tough loss in Columbus.

If you find yourself traveling this weekend, please drive carefully, as summer tourism is now in full swing. Leave an extra car length in front of you, take your foot off the gas when the stop light turns yellow, and keep an eye out for children at play in the neighborhood. But above all, be a good human. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/24/25

Orlando City’s upward aspirations, Tim Weah reportedly set for transfer, Club World Cup roundup, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

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June 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We’ve got a busy week ahead of us with the Club World Cup approaching the end of the group stage, OCB at home on Wednesday, and Orlando City back in action with a pair of games. That means we have plenty to talk about, so let’s get straight into today’s links.

Orlando City’s Lofty Goals

Kyle Smith took some time after training on Monday to speak to the media and shed some light on where OCSC is at right now. The utility player was candid in saying he believes this year’s team is the best one he’s seen since he’s been with the club, and that’s saying something considering he’s the longest-tenured player on the team. Smith said the team is focused on climbing higher in the standings and that the two recent breaks will help the team do just that. He emphasized the importance of handling extra time off between games the right way by making sure the players are taking care of their bodies, getting in the gym, and recovering afterwards. That sort of professionalism paid off in the 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, so hopefully the same is true of Wednesday’s game against St. Louis City.

Tim Weah Reportedly on the Move

Nottingham Forest has reportedly agreed a deal with Juventus to sign Tim Weah and fellow Juve player Samuel Mbangula for roughly €22 million. That being said, personal terms have not yet been agreed upon with Weah, and that will likely take some time, since he’s playing for them at the Club World Cup, and the Italian side is probably keen to minimize outside distractions. Weah broke out with Lille during a four-season spell with the French side, earning a move to Juventus in 2023 as a result.

Club World Cup Roundup

The Club World Cup continues to roll on, as the tournament entered its final round of group stage games on Monday. Atletico Madrid became the first big name to exit the competition, as it beat Botafogo 1-0 to finish level with the Brazilians on six points but will be going home due to having worse goal difference. Atletico needed to win by at least three in order to overtake Botafogo in the standings and might have managed it if not for some poor finishing. In Group B’s other game, Paris Saint-Germain took down the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to finish top of the group. Seattle was given a brutal draw and accounted itself as well as can be expected, but ultimately, the Sounders exit the competition without picking up a point.

Club World Cup Takeaways

Speaking of the Club World Cup, what are some of the impressions so far of the expanded tournament? There have been plenty of good things, as teams have been taking it seriously with strong lineups, and barring the outlier that is Auckland City, no one team has been consistently getting shelled. On the other hand, making the jump from six teams to 32 simply feels like too much too soon, and that’s probably contributed to fluctuating levels of interest from local fans. High ticket prices and games starting in the heat of the day haven’t helped much either, as weather conditions have been a recurring concern among both fans and players. The competition is still a net positive overall, but there are certainly some things to learn from and improve upon next time around.

Free Kicks

  • Check out some of the scenes from the Lions’ training session on Monday.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/23/25

Pride fall to Racing Louisville, Seb Hines and Giles Barnes share insight on path to success in Orlando, USMNT defeats Haiti, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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June 23, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy working and catching up with friends over the past week. Before we get started, let’s wish a belated happy birthday to Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter, who turned 41 on Saturday. The Pride was the lone team in action over the weekend, while the Lions and OCB were off. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Fall at Racing Louisville

The Orlando Pride fell to Racing Louisville 2-0 Friday at Lynn Family Stadium. Arin Wright scored the opening goal in the first half, and former Pride midfielder Taylor Flint converted a penalty kick for Racing Louisville. The Pride struggled offensively and failed to capitalize on their scoring chances. Orlando’s struggles in Louisville continue, as the club is winless in five matches at Lynn Family Stadium. The Pride will be on a long break, and their next match will be Aug. 3, taking on the Utah Royals at Inter&Co Stadium.

Seb Hines, Giles Barnes Share Insight on Path to Success in Orlando

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and Assistant Coach Giles Barnes were featured in an interview in The Guardian. Both Hines and Barnes shared insight into their longtime friendship, which began with playing in English youth international camps, their different paths to playing in Major League Soccer, and how they became involved in coaching. Hines discussed his time as interim manager of the Pride in 2022 and how he brought in Barnes to help change the club’s culture. Hines and Barnes helped change the perception of the club and led the Pride to winning both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last season.

USMNT Defeats Haiti to Win Group D in Gold Cup

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Haiti 2-1 Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, in their final match in the group stage of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. The USMNT finished atop its group with three wins and nine points. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman made his third consecutive start and played 90 minutes.

Malik Tillman scored the opening goal 10 minutes into the match to give the USMNT the early lead. Haiti tied the match not long after Tillman’s goal. In the second half, Patrick Agyemang pulled the USMNT back in front. The USMNT advances to the quarterfinals as the group winner and will play its next match Sunday against the Group A runner-up which was the late game Sunday night and had yet to conclude as of this writing.

Club World Cup Weekend Recap

Another weekend of matches from the FIFA Club World Cup is in the books. On Friday, Benfica crushed Auckland City FC 6-0, while Flamengo beat Chelsea 3-1. LAFC was eliminated from advancing to the knockout round after a 1-0 defeat to ES Tunis. Bayern Munich edged Boca Juniors 2-1. On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3. Inter Milan needed a late stoppage-time winning goal from Valentin Carboni to edge Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1. Fluminense beat Ulsan HD 4-2, and River Plate and Monterrey ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, Juventus cruised to a 4-1 win over Wydad Casablanca. Xabi Alonso secured his first win as manager of Real Madrid with a 3-1 victory against Pachuca. Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Hilal played to a scoreless draw, with Manchester City playing Al-Ain in the late match Sunday. Today’s matches feature Atletico Madrid facing Botafogo, the Seattle Sounders hosting Paris Saint-Germain, FC Porto vs. Al Ahly, and Inter Miami taking on Palmeiras.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos and forward Simone Jackson have been called-up to the U-23 U.S. Women’s National Team. The U-23 camp will be led by Orlando Pride Assistant Coach Yolanda Thomas.

USL Championship side San Antonio FC has signed former Orlando City defender Abdi Salim to a 25-day contract.

San Diego Wave winger Maria Sanchez has reportedly reach an agreement to return to her former club, Tigres of Liga MX Femenil, on a four-year contract.

Paul Pogba is reportedly set to return to playing soccer and has signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.

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

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Lion Links: 6/20/25

Orlando Pride take on Racing Louisville FC tonight, Orlando Pride players called up by Zambia, USMNT beats Saudi Arabia, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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June 20, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! June continues to fly by as we enjoy the buffet of soccer here in the U.S. this month. I’ll be spending most of the weekend working, but I am hoping to get some reading done after being gifted some books for my birthday. But enough about me, let’s jump right into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Face Racing Louisville Tonight

The Orlando Pride are on the road tonight for a match against Racing Louisville FC at 8 p.m. in the final game before a league break until August. Going into the break with four straight wins would be nice for the Pride, but they’ve struggled at Lynn Family Stadium over the years. Louisville enters this match following a 4-2 loss to the league-leading Kansas City Current and has scored eight goals over the past three games. Orlando’s defense has been phenomenal this year, conceding just eight goals this season and only one during this win streak. Midfielder Cori Dyke spoke on how the team is finding its groove and shutting out opponents.

Zambia Calls Up Orlando Pride Trio

Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were all called up for Zambia’s CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations roster ahead of this summer’s tournament. Banda has eight goals this season with the Pride and had four goals at last year’s Olympics, including a hat trick against Australia. The Copper Queens claimed third place in the 2022 edition of this tournament, and they’ll need to be at their best to win this summer against tough opponents like South Africa and Nigeria. Zambia’s tournament campaign will kick off on July 5 against the host nation, Morocco.

USMNT Beats Saudi Arabia to Qualify for Quarterfinals

The United States Men’s National Team won 1-0 against Saudi Arabia to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup. After a scoreless first half, the Yanks broke through in the 63rd minute thanks to a free kick. Sebastian Berhalter served the ball on a silver platter to Chris Richards, who buried it for the crucial goal. The defense did well to secure its second shutout of the tournament, with Orlando City’s Alex Freeman starting at right back yet again. The USMNT will play Haiti on Sunday and should be able to win the group for a smoother path in the knockout stage.

FIFA Club World Cup Roundup

An MLS club finally won a game during this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, with Inter Miami beating Porto 2-1 in Atlanta. Lionel Messi scored the winner from a free kick to complete the comeback after conceding an early goal. The Seattle Sounders had a rougher day, falling 3-1 to Atletico Madrid, with Pablo Barrios scoring a brace. Former Lion Facundo Torres started for Palmeiras in the Brazilian club’s 2-0 win over Egypt’s Al Ahly.

Today’s action features more soccer at Inter&Co Stadium, with Benfica and Auckland City squaring off in the City Beautiful. Our Michael Citro will be on hand to report on it. Elsewhere in the U.S., Chelsea will take on Flamengo, LAFC will face ES Tunis, and Bayern Munich will play Boca Juniors.

Free Kicks

  • Canada Head Coach Jesse Marsch, who is already serving a suspension for misconduct during the Nations League, is under investigation by Concacaf for incidents during this Gold Cup. Reports detail that Marsch disregarded regulations and used offensive language toward match officials.
  • Kylian Mbappe was discharged from the hospital after suffering from a case of gastroenteritis. It’s unclear if or when he’ll play for Real Madrid during the Club World Cup.
  • Carlos Cuesta was hired as Parma’s next head coach after five years with Arsenal as an assistant coach. The 29-year-old becomes the second-youngest coach in Serie A history.
  • Manchester City was fined over $1 million by the English Premier League for repeated delays regarding kickoff times.

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

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