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Lion Links: 7/13/22

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Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’m sure you’re fired up for tonight’s match-up against the Colorado Rapids, and hopefully, the Lions can get another win before they face Atlanta United later this weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

The Lions Take on the Colorado Rapids

Orlando City SC will hit the road tonight for a midweek match-up as they face the Colorado Rapids at 9 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The last time these two sides faced each other was on March 7, 2020, when the Rapids defeated the Lions 2-1. Orlando City comes into the match after a 1-0 win against rival Inter Miami CF, while the Rapids overcame a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw on the road against Real Salt Lake. Lions goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has seven clean sheets this season and is one away from breaking his own single-season club record for shutouts. Gallese also holds the franchise career record for clean sheets, with 18 across all competitions. Another potential milestone to watch for is that Mauricio Pereyra will be the first player in club history to post multiple double-digit assist seasons in MLS if he gets another one. Sebas Méndez could also make his 60th appearance for the club tonight, and Ercan Kara is three goals away from hitting double digits for the season.

USWNT Prepares for Costa Rica

The United States Women’s National Team will face Costa Rica tomorrow night in the 2022 Concacaf W Championship semifinals. The USWNT defeated Mexico 1-0 on Monday to win Group A. Costa Rica lost 2-0 to Canada in its final match in Group B but finished as runner-up in its group to qualify for the semifinals. Costa Rica thrives on converting crosses, staying composed, and having excellent placement on finishes. Goalkeeper Daniela Solera can cover the width of the net and isn’t afraid to sacrifice her body when charging a crowd. Fullback Daniela Cruz has a high level of technical ability on the wings and can pick out any of her teammates on the field. Portland Thorns midfielder Raquel “Rocky” Rodríguez plays behind the striker and likes to push deep into the final third and serve as a target in the box for crosses. This will be the 17th meeting between these two sides, with the USWNT winning all the previous 16 match-ups against Costa Rica. The match kicks off tomorrow at 7 p.m., and you can watch it on CBS Sports Network or stream it on Paramount+.

2022 MLS All-Star Roster Announced

While no Orlando City SC players were selected for this year's 2022 MLS All-Star team, you’ll still see a couple of familiar faces when it takes on the Liga MX All-Stars on Aug. 10 at Allianz Field. Former Orlando City defender Kamal Miller was one of Don Garber’s commissioner’s picks and former Orlando head coach Adrian Heath will coach the team. FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira, Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman, New York City FC’s Valentin Castellanos, and the New England Revolution's Carles Gil are some of the players that were voted in for this year’s 26-man roster. You’ll also have big stars such as the LA Galaxy’s Chicharito, LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, and Dallas’s Paul Arriola in action. The goalkeepers who were selected are the Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake, NYCFC’s Sean Johnson, and Minnesota United’s Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United.

D.C. United Announces Wayne Rooney as Head Coach

After reports earlier this week indicated that Wayne Rooney agreed to be the new head coach for D.C. United, the club made the official announcement on Tuesday. Rooney had played for D.C. United back in 2018 and 2019, serving as the club’s captain. He had a very successful spell in the nation's capital after a stellar career with Manchester United and Everton, recording 23 goals and 15 assists in 48 matches for the Black and Red. The 36-year-old was previously the manager at Derby County for two years in the EFL Championship before being relegated. Interim head coach Chad Ashton will remain in charge of the club until Wayne Rooney has received his work visa.

UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Action

There were two match-ups in Group B in the UEFA Women’s Euro as the tournament continues. After dropping its opener 4-0 to Germany, Denmark bounced back with a strong performance in the second half as Pernille Harder scored the lone goal to defeat Finland 1-0 and keep its hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive. The other match saw eight-time champion Germany shut down Spain 2-0, with first-half goals from Klara Buhl and Alexandra Popp. With those results, Germany has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, while Finland is eliminated. The second spot in the group is up for grabs with a battle at Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday between Denmark and Spain. Today’s action features Group C, with Sweden facing Switzerland at noon while Portugal takes on the Netherlands at 2 p.m.

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

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.

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  • 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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