Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/24/22

Merry Christmas Eve, Mane Landers! For those of you who have traveled, I hope you are staying warm. It is currently hovering around a wind chill of -20 degrees at my parents’ house in Tennessee. It really has me missing watching the annual Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach. If you are in the area, go check it out and enjoy the beach! If you are not, it is probably time to start sorting out your Premier League Boxing Day watch party schedule for your day on the couch. Now, let’s check out some links from around the soccer world!
Sebas Mendez Joins Sao Paulo FC
Former Orlando City defensive midfielder Sebas Mendez is reportedly set to join Sao Paulo FC following his run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Mendez found himself traded midseason in the July window to LAFC after losing his starting spot to newcomer Cesar Araujo. It was reported that the trade included $300,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), with the potential for another $225,000 in GAM in 2023 and $225,000 more in GAM in 2024 if contract conditions were met. Should Mendez leave the league and LAFC, the club wouldn’t see any of that additional money as those clauses would obviously not be triggered.
Per @venecasagrande, São Paulo has signed Ecuador midfielder Sebastian Mendez to a three-year deal. Mendez had limited minutes with LAFC in 2022 after joining in July, but helped them win MLS Cup. Mendez was one of the best players for Ecuador in the World Cup. @TheStrikerNews
— Benjamin Virgen (@LAFCbenjamin) December 23, 2022
Premier League Boxing Day Preview
It is almost time for one of the most wonderful days of the year in the Premier League: Boxing Day. After a six-week break for the 2022 World Cup, the Premier League is back with Boxing Day 2022. But what is Boxing Day and why is it so special? Over the course of soccer history in the United Kingdom, Dec. 26 has a long tradition of being intertwined with the Premier League and festive fixtures on the marquee day, which has been a national holiday since 1871.
This year on Boxing Day in 2022, we will have seven games played across four time slots from 7:30 a.m. until past 5 p.m. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur will get all the action started as the featured match. Following the early match, multiple other games will begin. Crystal Palace will take on Fulham. Everton will face Wolves for a bottom-of-the-table battle. Leicester City will host Newcastle at King Power Stadium. Finally, Brighton will visit Southampton. The day is not over yet though as Aston Villa will then play Liverpool, and Arsenal will look to hold on to the top spot in the league with their match against West Ham to finish out the day.
USMNT Players Return to Europe
For the 2022 United States Men’s National Team, the dream of lifting the World Cup is over. However, the return to the players’ clubs starts the updating of their resumes for the 2026 edition. Many current USMNT players have substantial responsibilities awaiting them at club level. A few will have something to prove or will soon be embarking on new adventures elsewhere in January.
With a goal and two assists for Chelsea in 517 combined minutes across Premier League and UEFA Champions League action, Christian Pulisic will look to raise his club up the table and build upon a successful personal World Cup campaign. USMNT captain Tyler Adams and playmaker Brenden Aaronson will continue to help Leeds United stay clear of the relegation zone at the bottom of the league. The younger Aaronson brother, Paxten Aaronson, is off to Germany from Philadelphia Union this winter, joining Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth $4 million with add-ons including a large sell-on percentage. He will look to make an impact immediately and prove his worth. While these are just a few, be sure to check out the full article to see what is in store for your favorite USMNT player.
U.S. House Passes Equal Pay Bill
Late Wednesday evening, the United States House passed a bill that allows equal pay for women competing at international events. All American women will receive the same financial compensation as men during tournaments such as the World Cup and the Olympics (although U.S. Soccer has already established an equal pay system). The Equal Pay for Team USA Act was previously approved unanimously by the Senate. Now that it has passed both the Senate and House, the bill will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk for final approval. Organizations such as the Olympics and Paralympic committees are required to oversee the financial aspects of the agreement, which will cross over 50 sports that the country competes in internationally. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone also released a statement regarding the news.
“By sending this legislation to the president, both houses have sent a clear message that this is the standard for all national teams in all sports and it underscores the importance of working with our athletes to achieve equal pay including equalizing international prize money,” Parlow Cone said.
Free Kicks
- Former Orlando City midfielder Yoshimar Yotún has reportedly extended his stay with Peruvian club Sporting Cristal.
Sporting Cristal have announced that Yoshimar Yotún has renewed for 2 more years!!
The Peruvian midfielder wanted a move abroad, but this to me, means he could not find one. 😏 pic.twitter.com/1G0Gvy1j6e
— Diego Montalvan (@DMontalvan) December 22, 2022
- Maxi Moralez officially left New York City FC after six seasons to rejoin boyhood side Racing Club in his native Argentina.
- St. Louis City SC signed South African midfielder Njabulo Blom from Kaizer Chiefs FC ahead of the club’s 2023 expansion season.
- Columbus Crew signed free agent defender Jimmy Medranda through the 2023 MLS season with an option for 2024.
- Nashville SC has acquired $200,000 in 2023 GAM from Charlotte FC in exchange for a 2023 international spot.
- A year after playing his final game for Inter Miami, French midfielder Blaise Matuidi announced his retirement from professional soccer.
- Racing Louisville FC strengthened its midfield with the signing of Brazilian international Ary Borges.
- We’re not sure how reliable this source is, but San Diego Loyal reportedly has emerged as a front runner for joining MLS in 2024. We will continue to monitor reports on this update.
Landon Donovan's San Diego Loyal will go to the MLS in 2024, coming from the USL. Been told MLS commissioner has approved it. It's time! ⌛️🇺🇸✅️ pic.twitter.com/hka29cMfsZ
— Luca Bendoni (@LucaBendoni) December 23, 2022
- The Melbourne Victory soccer club has been prevented from selling tickets to home games and fans cannot attend away matches under Football Australia’s preliminary sanctions.
- FIFA is investigating how “Salt Bae” ended up crashing Argentina’s World Cup celebration.
Well, that’s all I have for you folks today. Whether you’ll be spending the next few days watching movies, playing board games with friends, or just spending time with loved ones — I wish you and yours a very happy holidays. Maybe Santa will even bring us an official announcement on that third DP signing. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/4/25
Orlando City gets ready for the Philadelphia Union, OCSC partners with Footy Access, USWNT prepares for Brazil, and more.

Happy Friday! It may feel a bit like the calm before the storm today, as Orlando City, Orlando City B, and the United States Women’s National Team are all in action on Saturday. It all makes for a fun next few days and I’m looking forward to it and also watching some kart racing on Sunday. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Gets Ready For the Philadelphia Union
The Lions are back in action Saturday with an away game against the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. Orlando has won its past two games and leads the league with 15 goals this season. The Union remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, but have lost two of their past three games. Duncan McGuire detailed how healthy competition and a willingness to defend has the offense firing on all cylinders heading into this match.
This will also be a rematch of the season opener on Feb. 22 when the Union won 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium. Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell spoke on how Orlando is a different team compared to that match due to changes on offense and center back Robin Jansson’s recovery from a knock.
Orlando City Partners With Footy Access
With the Generation Adidas Cup set to take place later this month, Orlando City has partnered with Footy Access, which is a media company focused on youth soccer. This collaboration means fans will be able to enjoy highlights and interviews from Orlando’s academy as it progresses through the tournament. I’m pretty excited about being able to see how well Orlando’s academy is doing.
MLS NEXT also announced that new rankings focused on development rather than results will be used for its U-13 and U-14 age groups. These rankings will use an analytical formula that measures game play and the caliber of offensive and defensive actions. There will also be encouragement for teams to have their own identities on how they want to play.
USWNT Prepares to Face Brazil in Friendlies
The United States Women’s National Team will take on Brazil on Saturday in the first of two friendlies this international break, with the second match set for Tuesday. These friendlies will be rematches of last year’s Olympic gold medal match, which the U.S. won 1-0. Marta has retired from international soccer, but Pride midfielder Angelina was called up for these friendlies, along with former Pride forward Adriana. Lorena, who has only conceded one goal in three games for the Kansas City Current this season, will likely get the start in goal for Brazil behind a talented back line anchored by Tarciane. The USWNT will need to find ways to limit attacking threats like Kerolin and Gabi Portilho as well. These should be matches, with familiar faces on both sides for Orlando fans.
U.S. Set to Host 2031 Women’s World Cup
It looks like the 2031 Women’s World Cup will be held in the U.S., as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the only bid came from the U.S. and potentially other Concacaf nations. The U.S., which withdrew from hosting the 2027 World Cup, would be the first country to host the tournament three times and last hosted it in 2007. The United Kingdom was also revealed as the lone valid bid to host the 2035 World Cup and it would be the first time the tournament is hosted there.
Free Kicks
- Shout out to Orlando City’s U-19 team for its title win and securing a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs.
- NJ/NY Gotham FC and Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós have reached an agreement for a contract extension that will keep him at the club through 2029.
- The schedule for the third round of the U.S. Open Cup is out, with more USL Championship teams joining the fray. Only two MLS NEXT Pro teams remain, while El Farolito is the lone team from an open division still standing.
- Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo was named MLS Player of the Month for his performance in March and February. The 27-year-old scored six goals in five games, with five of those goals coming in the Union’s first two games of the season.
- As for the NWSL’s monthly awards, Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga won Player of the Month after scoring in all three of her games so far this season. Houston Dash midfielder Maggie Graham claimed Rookie of the Month for scoring in her first two appearances.
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia has announced his retirement from professional soccer after a 17-year career that included 10 years with Sporting Kansas City.
- Toronto FC added midfielder Maxime Dominguez on loan from Vasco da Gama in Brazil’s top flight.
- Arsenal’s injury woes this season continue, with defender Gabriel Magalhaes set to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
- We’ll end our links with the Lions celebrating Rodrigo Schlegel’s birthday in style.
That’s all for this fine Friday, I hope you all have a fantastic day and a relaxing weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/3/25
Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!
Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials
Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.
Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty
Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.
Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.
USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season
American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
- San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
- New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
- El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
- Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!
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!
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