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Lion Links: 12/22/22

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3 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a busy week for Orlando City and a busy week for me as well as I try to knock out all of the shopping I have left. I’m definitely looking forward to this weekend’s festivities, so that I can kick back, enjoy some sugar, and relax. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Ruan Traded to D.C. United

Before the 2023 MLS SuperDraft took place, Orlando City traded right back Ruan to D.C. United in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. It was a surprising move, considering Ruan has held down the starting job at right back for the Lions since joining the team in 2019. Although his crossing has been lackluster, his speed was one of Orlando’s best weapons when attacking and this will likely change how the Lions hunt for goals in the future. He recorded four goals and 15 assists across four seasons with the Lions and now joins a D.C. United side coached by Wayne Rooney. Personally, I think this was a good move, as Orlando has Homegrown Players Mikey Halliday and Alex Freeman waiting in the wings behind Kyle Smith. However, I will miss the energy and personality Ruan brought to the team, especially considering Junior Urso won’t be in Orlando next year either.

Orlando City Drafts Two Forwards, Two Defenders

As a result of the aforementioned trade, the Lions had three picks in the first round of this year’s draft. With the second overall pick, Orlando chose forward Shakur Mohammed, one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. While Ruan is a hefty price to pay, and Mohamed will require an international spot, the Duke forward is a Generation Adidas player and has enough talent and versatility to make an impact sooner rather than later for the first team. He’s also already given his greetings to Orlando fans and I can’t wait to see what he can do in purple.

Orlando continued to bolster its attack a few picks later, choosing Creighton forward Duncan McGuire with the sixth overall pick. This was a bit of a surprise considering the lack of depth at fullback, but McGuire scored 23 goals during an impressive campaign this past season that included a trip to the College Cup.

The Lions then addressed their back line with the 17th overall pick, selecting defender Abdi Salim out of Syracuse. He’s 6-foot-1, right-footed, and reportedly capable of playing at fullback or center back. He’s apparently also ready to enjoy some warmer weather in Orlando.

A busy draft day for the Lions ended in the second round when they chose German center back Luis Grassow. He has spent the past four seasons with Kentucky and may end up providing some relief to the defense depending on his development.

Reports Link Orlando City with Martin Ojeda

Multiple reports surfaced indicating that Argentine winger Martin Ojeda is set to become Orlando City’s third Designated Player. In Argentina’s top flight, the 24-year-old has scored 23 goals in 56 games since 2020 for Godoy Cruz. If this move comes to fruition, it will be interesting to see how another young South American winger would fit into Orlando’s offense alongside Facundo Torres, Gaston Gonzalez, and Ivan Angulo. Ojeda’s inclusion would certainly elevate Orlando’s offense and give Head Coach Oscar Pareja plenty of options to work with throughout the season.

Marta Re-Signs With the Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride re-signed Brazilian legend Marta to a two-year contract, keeping her in purple through 2024. The 36-year-old has been with the club since 2017 and missed the majority of the Pride’s 2022 campaign due to a knee injury in the NWSL Challenge Cup. She provides plenty of experience, leadership, and technical ability to help guide a young Pride team that is in the midst of a rebuild. It will be interesting to see how Marta performs over the next two years, as she still has the vision and skill on the ball to bring an opposing defense to its knees.

Orlando City Announces Community Events in February

Orlando City will host events in the lead-up to the Lions’ 2023 season opener, including the unveiling of the team’s new primary jersey on Feb. 18 at Exploria Stadium. More details on that reveal will be provided in the future and I’m sure we’ll get a few teases and clues before the event takes place. OCSC will also welcome students to Exploria Stadium on Feb. 4 for the Orlando Regional Spelling Bee, hosting the event for the second-straight year. Registration is also open for the eighth-annual edition of the Purple Pride 5K on Feb. 11, with a new course planned for the runners.

Trades Made for a Wild MLS Draft Day

Phones were ringing off the hook during the MLS SuperDraft as clubs made trades and fielded calls. St. Louis City traded away the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to Charlotte FC in exchange for the No. 20 pick and $400,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Charlotte then selected Clemson defender Hamady Diop with the top pick to strengthen its back line. After the Colorado Rapids chose defender Moise Bombito with the third pick, the New England Revolution traded up to take midfielder Joshua Bolma with the fourth pick. The Vancouver Whitecaps then moved up in the draft order to select midfielder J.C. Ngando. St. Louis made its first draft pick in franchise history by trading for the ninth overall pick and selecting Owen O’Malley.

CF Montreal Hires Hernan Losada as Head Coach

Following the departure of Wilfried Nancy, CF Montreal has brought in Hernan Losada as the club’s next head coach. Losada was fired as D.C. United’s head coach early into this past season, lasting just 15 months as the helm. Known for his high-pressing style, Losada’s preferred formation of three in the back lines up with what Montreal used during a strong 2022 season. Montreal has undergone plenty of change this off-season, so only time will tell if Losada will be able to replicate that success.

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  • It looks like Lionel Messi isn’t headed to Miami anytime soon, which is pretty good news for Orlando and the other Eastern Conference teams.

  • Enjoy these leaks of Atlanta United, Inter Miami, and LAFC jerseys for the upcoming season.
  • A scoreless draw against Juventus was enough for Lyon to advance to the next round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
  • Manchester United reached the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup after winning 2-0 against Burnley, with Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford finding the back of the net.
  • Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is reportedly in Italy and set to sign with Serie A’s Salernitana.

That’s going to be all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/19/26

Lions set for international duty, lessons from MLS matchday 14, Austin FC makes changes at the top, and more.

Published

23 hours ago

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May 19, 2026

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Image of Marco Pasalic saluting the fans.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! It wasn’t a particularly successful weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, but we don’t have time to dwell on the past. Orlando City is set for a big U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match against Atlanta United tonight, and all three teams will be back in action over the weekend. We’ve got a whole host of things to talk about today, so let’s jump straight into the links.

Lions Called Up for International Duty

A busy summer break from MLS is almost upon us, and that means that the international call-ups are starting to roll in. Gustavo Caraballo will be joining Venezuela’s U-20 outfit as it gets ready for an upcoming youth tournament.

In addition, Marco Pasalic has been named to Croatia’s World Cup squad, so Orlando City will be represented on the biggest stage.

Congrats to both players!

Lessons from Matchday 14

Matchday 14 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so let’s take a look at what we learned from the weekend’s action. For one thing, despite a slightly slow start to the season by his high standards, Hany Mukhtar’s hat trick against LAFC proved that he should still be considered among the league’s elite. Marco Reus flashed his versatility in the LA Galaxy’s 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders, as he played striker and got an assist on LA’s first goal. Finally, while its too early to say things are definitely turned around for Sporting Kansas City, back-to-back wins means that there’s at least something to get excited about, and that’s very welcome in a season that’s been difficult for the most part. The spine of Sporting’s midfield looked improved on Saturday, and having Dejan Jovelic up top is never going to hurt a team’s chances.

Austin FC Makes Personnel Changes

Austin FC followed in the footsteps of the Columbus Crew by announcing the firing of head coach Nico Estevez on Monday. Where Austin went a step further was by also firing sporting director Rodolfo Borrell. The team has begun searches for permanent appointments to both positions immediately, while naming Davy Arnaud as interim manager in what will be his second stint in that role with the club. Austin has endured a difficult start to the season and is currently 13th in the Western Conference with a record of 3-6-5 and 14 points from 14 matches. The 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday seems to have been the final straw, and Austin will now be seeking its third permanent head coach since becoming an MLS club.

Americans in Midweek Action

Most major European seasons have already wrapped up or will be doing so shortly, but there’s still a number of Americans who will be competing during the working week. Things get started later today when Tyler Adams and Bournemouth play host to Manchester City in Premier League action. The stakes ratchet up considerably on Thursday when Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg play Paderborn in the first leg of the Bundesliga’s promotion/relegation tie. Things then finish up on Friday when Yunus Musah and Atalanta travel to take on Fiorentina in Serie A.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/18/26

Lions draw Atlanta United, Pride and OCB lose, Americans abroad, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

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Image of Griffin Dorsey playing against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve had a busy week covering high school playoff water polo and soccer. Our beloved Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Draw Atlanta United

Orlando City drew Atlanta United 1-1 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. Griffin Dorsey scored the opener for the Lions in the first half. Orlando was moments away from securing back-to-back wins. However, the Lions could not hold onto the lead, as Jay Fortune scored a late equalizer for Atlanta, and both teams ended up with a point. It will be a busy week for Orlando City, facing Atlanta United again Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup at home, followed by a road trip to take on FC Cincinnati Saturday at TQL Stadium.

Pride Fall to Denver Summit

The Orlando Pride fell 3-1 in their first road match against Denver Summit FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. It’s the second consecutive match in a week the Pride have lost to a 2026 NWSL expansion team on the road, following a defeat to Boston Legacy FC on Tuesday. Orlando conceded the first goal and trailed 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, Janine Sonis scored a penalty kick goal to give Denver a 2-0 lead. Angelina was sent off with a red card before Barbra Banda pulled one back, but Sonis added her second goal immediately after the Pride scored to put away Denver’s first-ever home win. The Pride will look to bounce back on the road, taking on the San Diego Wave Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium.

OCB Concedes Late in 1-0 Road Loss to New England Revolution II

Orlando City B fell 1-0 to New England Revolution II on the road Sunday at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI. Both teams struggled to score throughout the match, and it looked like the match was heading to a 0-0 draw and a shootout. However, Judah Siqueira scored a winner for New England in the dying moments of the match for the hosts. The result ends the Young Lions’ four-match points streak. OCB will return home to face Inter Miami II Sunday at Osceola County Stadium.

Americans Abroad

Auston Trusty played a full 90 minutes and helped Celtic overturn a 1-0 deficit to complete the comeback and defeat Hearts 3-1 to secure the club’s fifth straight Scottish Premiership title. Antonee Robinson scored his first Premier League goal for Fulham in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chris Richards came off the bench and played 29 minutes for Crystal Palace in a 2-2 draw against Brentford but suffered an ankle injury toward the end of the match. Christian Pulisic made his return to AC Milan after being sidelined with a lower back injury and came off the bench in the second half in a 2-1 win against Genoa. Ricardo Pepi scored for PSV Eindhoven in a 5-1 win against FC Twente. George Bello and Sam Adeniran helped LASK capture its first Austrian Bundesliga title since 1965, defeating Austria Vienna 3-0 and booking a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League playoff round.

Manchester City Defeats Chelsea to Win FA Cup

Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium Saturday to win the English FA Cup. After a scoreless first half, Antoine Semenyo’s lone goal in the second half was enough to pull Manchester City to victory and keep the club’s domestic treble hopes alive. It’s Manchester City’s second FA Cup trophy in four years.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City midfielder Gustavo Caraballo has been called up to the Venezuela U-20 Men’s National Team for the upcoming Maurice Revello Tournament in France.
  • Orlando Pride defender Kylie Nadaner gave birth to her first child over the weekend.

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

Lion Links: 5/15/26

Martin Ojeda earns recognition, Orlando City prepares for Atlanta United, Orlando Pride set to face the Denver Summit, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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May 15, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s plenty of soccer ahead of us to look forward to this weekend, including a pair of games on Saturday. Apart from the soccer, I’ll be spending the next few days tearing my way through some mystery novels for a book club and trying out a new cinnamon roll pancake recipe. Cooking tends to either go swimmingly or horribly for me, so keep any spare fingers crossed for me. For now though, let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Earns Praise After Winning Goal

Orlando City star Martin Ojeda’s diving header secured a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Union was chosen as the MLS Moment of the Matchday. Given how a league-record 58 goals were scored during Wednesday’s slate of games, it’s an impressive honor for Ojeda to receive. That winner was Ojeda’s second goal of the game and he has now scored 10 game-winning goals in his time as a Lion. The 27-year-old also made the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday for his role in the win.

Orlando City Prepares for Atlanta United

The Lions will look to keep the good times rolling on Saturday when they play Atlanta United in a rivalry game at home. While its defense has been a sieve all season, Orlando’s offense is finding its footing and should benefit from Marco Pasalic’s return from injury. Following this match, the two teams will turn right back around and face each other at Inter&Co Stadium again on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup each coach opts for on Saturday given the short time between the matches.

Orlando Pride Face the Denver Summit on Saturday

The Orlando Pride are also in action on Saturday and will play the Denver Summit in the club’s first-ever road game against the expansion side. The Pride are coming off of a frustrating 2-1 loss on the road to the Boston Legacy on Tuesday, while the Summit’s last game was on Saturday, when they thrashed the Houston Dash 4-1. While Barbra Banda leads the league with eight goals so far this season, Denver’s Natasha Flint has scored in three consecutive games and the Pride will need to find a way to stop her from extending that streak on Saturday. Other notable NWSL games to watch this weekend include the Washington Spirit putting their five-game win streak on the line tonight against the San Diego Wave and Sunday’s matchup between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC.

Sam Kerr Officially Exiting Chelsea

Australian striker Sam Kerr announced that she’s leaving Chelsea once her contract is up following this Women’s Super League season. She’s played for Chelsea for the past six years, scoring 115 goals across all competitions and winning the league title five times and the Golden Boot twice. The 32-year-old has been linked with a return to the NWSL to join the Denver Summit earlier this year, so we’ll see if that comes to pass. If so, I’m glad the Pride would already have both of their matches against the Summit out of the way by the time of her arrival.

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

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