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Lion Links: 3/20/22

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Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all of you are enjoying your weekend. I’m sure it feels much better after a Lions win against the LA Galaxy. There is plenty to cover today so let’s get to the links.

Lions get first win in California

The Lions held on for a 1-0 shutout against the LA Galaxy to achieve a historic first win in the state of California. We also got to see a pair of firsts as Facundo Torres scored his first MLS goal for the club while Ercan Kara got his first MLS assist. The Lions were getting dominated by the LA Galaxy on possession, corners, and shots but the hosts failed to convert on their scoring chances. Antonio Carlos had a solid performance on the defensive end by clearing the ball from danger on multiple occasions and frustrating the LA Galaxy attackers. Pedro Gallese also had a big day, making three saves and keeping his third clean sheet of the season. The Lions will be going back out west again later this week as they face the Portland Timbers. Later today you can check our five takeaways, player grades, and our Man of the Match.

Pride Draw Spirit in NWSL Challenge Cup Opener

The Orlando Pride began their 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 0-0 draw against the defending NWSL champion Washington Spirit at Exploria Stadium. It was an entertaining match despite both teams sharing the points and we saw 25 total shots in this match. Kelley O’Hara had a great chance early in the second half with a long-range shot but Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod was able to tip the shot wide of the net to keep the match scoreless. In stoppage time, Meggie Dougherty-Howard had a free-kick opportunity to launch the ball towards the box. The ball found its way towards Marta and she volleyed the shot but it sailed over the crossbar. The Pride’s next match will be this Saturday as they hit the road to take on the North Carolina Courage.

Saturday’s MLS Results

FC Cincinnati got its second straight win, defeating Inter Miami, 3-1. Brandon Vazquez scored twice and added an assist as the Orange & Blue got their first win at home in five months. Bob Bradley got his first win as head coach of Toronto FC as the Reds came back from a goal down to win 2-1 over D.C. United. Jonathan Osorio scored the game-winner and his 50th career goal. The Philadelphia Union avenged their Eastern Conference final defeat last season as they shut out New York City FC 2-0 on the road, with goals from Daniel Gazdag and Alejandro Bedoya. CF Montreal blew a two-goal advantage on the road despite former Lion Dom Dwyer getting a red card for Atlanta United in the second half. Thiago Almada and Brooks Lennon scored late in the second half to end the match in a 3-3 draw. The Chicago Fire dominated Sporting Kansas City with a 3-1 victory with goals from Kacper Przybylko and Xherdan Shaqiri. Charlotte FC got its first MLS win at home, beating the New England Revolution 3-1. Minnesota United defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 at home thanks to Luis Amarilla first-half strike. Jesus Ferreira scored a first-half hat trick as FC Dallas cruised past the Portland Timbers 4-1. The Colorado Rapids and the Houston Dynamo ended in a 1-1 draw. Real Salt Lake defeated Nashville SC 2-1.

Chelsea Advances to FA Cup Semifinals

Chelsea defeated Championship side Middlesbrough 2-0 to advance to the semifinal round in the English FA Cup. Christian Pulisic played 68 minutes in the match but it was Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech who scored to push the Blues on and end Middlesbrough’s fantastic run in the competition after defeating Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur along the way. Today, we’ll have three matches to watch beginning at 8:30 a.m. when Crystal Palace hosts Everton. In the later match-ups, Southampton will take on Manchester City at 11 a.m. and Nottingham Forest faces Liverpool at 2 p.m.

Free Kicks

  • Chants of “gay, gay, gay” were heard during the Orlando Pride match to support the Black Swans Supporters group in response to their banner being taken down. Last week, the Pride made a video with players all saying the word after the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill was passed in Florida. One wonders why its OK for the club to speak out but not the fans.

  • PRO put out a statement about the controversial handball called against Orlando City that wiped out a Junior Urso goal when the Lions played the Chicago Fire on March 5.

  • El Classico will be on later today between Barcelona and Real Madrid but Karim Benzema will be out of today’s match due to a calf injury.
  • Barcelona head coach Xavi has left the door open for Lionel Messi to possibly return to the club down the road. Messi has only scored two league goals for Paris Saint-Germain since he join the club last summer.
  • Arminia Bielefeld left back George Bello has been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team to replace Sergiño Dest as the Yanks prepare for their final three World Cup qualifying matches.

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

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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

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.

That’s all for this fine Friday, I hope you all have a fantastic day and a relaxing weekend!

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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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

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!

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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.

Free Kicks


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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