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Lion Links: 2/16/23

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? Although we’re still waiting for the MLS and NWSL seasons to return, there’s been plenty of soccer to enjoy this week. I’ve been catching up on some reading during matches and am looking forward to grabbing dinner with friends later this week at a new Peruvian spot just a block away. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Beats Stetson in Preseason Scrimmage

In a closed-door friendly against Stetson University, Orlando City won 5-0 at Orlando Health Training Ground. The Lions started the game with a fairly young roster and Wilfredo Rivera scored the only goal of the first half with a nice strike.

Shak Mohammed, who was selected by the Lions with the second overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, doubled Orlando’s lead shortly after halftime. However, the day belonged to Orlando Academy product Chase Vazquez. Coming on in the second half alongside many starters, Vazquez scored a hat trick in his preseason debut. While it can be foolish to look too hard into a preseason match against Stetson, it was a good showing from the youngster that could earn some more opportunities moving forward. Orlando City’s final preseason game will take place on Saturday at Exploria Stadium against the New England Revolution. The match is open to the public.

Giles Barnes and Paul Crichton Join Pride Coaching Staff

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines named Giles Barnes as an assistant coach and Paul Crichton as the goalkeeper coach ahead of the upcoming NWSL season. Barnes is a former Lion and was an interim assistant coach for the Pride much of last season, earning praise from players. He was also present at the Pride’s 2023 NWSL Draft and has been helping throughout the preseason. Crichton has played as an English Premier League goalkeeper and joins the Pride with 16 years of coaching under his belt. The 54-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Washington Spirit, helping former Pride player Aubrey Kingsbury win the 2021 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.

USWNT Takes on Canada Tonight at Exploria Stadium

The United States Women’s National Team will start its 2023 SheBelieves Cup campaign tonight at Exploria Stadium when it takes on Canada at 7 p.m. This will be a rematch of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship final, which the U.S. won 1-0, thanks to an Alex Morgan penalty. The USWNT will be without midfielder Rose Lavelle for this match after she picked up a knock in training. With Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis also absent, former Pride player Taylor Kornieck will be a player to watch in this match.

The SheBelieves Cup kicks off at 4 p.m., when Japan plays against Brazil. Pride players Marta and Adriana could both feature for Brazil in that match, so be sure to tune in if not going to the game. You can catch all six tournament matches on HBO Max.

U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Beats Canada

In the Concacaf U-17 Championship, the U.S. closed out its group play with a 1-0 victory against Canada. After a scoreless first half, Keyrol Figueroa came off the bench in the 62nd minute and scored just three minutes later to give the U.S. the lead. The defense was able to hold on for the clean sheet and the U.S. topped its group after winning all three games. The Yanks will take on the Dominican Republic on Saturday in the tournament’s round of 16. All four semifinalists of the tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year in Peru.

Kaká Could Become Brazilian National Team Director

You will need Google Translate to view all of the details, but here is a great breakdown on why former Orlando City star Kaká could be Brazil’s next national team director. After hanging up his cleats in 2017, Kaká has completed coaching courses and graduated from Harvard to prepare for the next stage of his career. He’s also reportedly been helping Brazil negotiate to bring in Carlo Ancelotti, his former manager, to coach the Brazilian National Team.

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  • Before this weekend’s Daytona 500, Orlando Pride players Ally Watt and Julie Doyle interviewed NASCAR drivers during media day.

  • Many MLS clubs unveiled their new jerseys for the upcoming season. The Seattle Sounders’ Bruce Lee kit is great, but my favorite might be the Portland Timbers’ plaid kit. Orlando’s jersey will be revealed on Saturday before the preseason match.

  • Here’s a breakdown on the talent pairings and production plans for the MLS Season Pass. Former Lion Sacha Kljestan will be an analyst for the whip-around show, and Miguel Gallardo and Sergio Ruiz will work together for Spanish play-by-play.
  • In the Champions League’s round of 16, Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 at home against Chelsea after a goal from Karim Adeyemi in the 63rd minute. Benfica went to Belgium to take on Club Brugge and left with a 2-0 win.
  • The Europa League returns today and the marquee match-up is between Manchester United and FC Barcelona. It’s a shame these two clubs are meeting so early in the tournament, but it should at least be entertaining.
  • Manchester City is now on top in the English Premier League after winning 3-1 over Arsenal. It’s worth noting that City leads due to goal difference and Arsenal has a game in hand.
  • American goalkeeper Zack Steffen came up with nine saves in Middlesbrough’s 3-1 road win over Queens Park Rangers.
  • Talks have reportedly broken down between American coach Jesse Marsch and Southampton due to the length of the contract.

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

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/29/25

Lions earn weekly plaudits, Barbra Banda up for Goal of the Week, Orlando City announces affiliation agreement, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning everyone! It was a pretty good weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as two out of the three picked up victories to collect six out of the nine points available. In the process, Orlando City stretched its undefeated streak to seven games and the Orlando Pride got back to winning ways. There’s no time to rest on our laurels though, as Orlando City B returns to action on Friday. We’ve got plenty of things to talk through this morning, so let’s jump into the links.

Two Lions Garner Weekly Recognition

Marco Pasalic and Alex Freeman both played important roles in Orlando City’s 3-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday, and they’ve each been rewarded with a place on the bench in the most recent MLS Team of the Matchday. Freeman scored his third goal of the season while Pasalic scored a goal and provided the assist for Freeman’s strike, and the Croatian was also David Rohe’s pick for the Man of the Match. The good vibes don’t stop there though, because Pasalic’s fantastic strike from distance was also named the Energy Moment of the Matchday, which I admittedly wasn’t aware was an actual thing until this week. Not to be outdone, Freeman got some props as one of the standout young players from the matchday, which is far from the first time he’s gotten some love in that particular category. Keep up the good work guys!

Barbra Banda Up for Goal of the Week

Continuing the trend of Orlando players earning praise for their performances over the weekend, Barbra Banda has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. She scored the Orlando’s Pride’s 76th-minute equalizer that drew the team level with Angel City FC after going into halftime down 2-0. Carson Pickett did a great job saving the ball before it went out of bounds, and then whipped a dangerous cross into the box. Banda did the rest, getting halfway around her defender and contorting her head low to meet the ball and send it into the upper corner off the post. It was the sort of outstanding finishing that we’ve come to know and love from Banda, and here’s hoping we’ll see plenty more of it.

Orlando City Announces Affiliation Agreement

Orlando City announced on Monday that it has begun an affiliation agreement with Black Knight Football Club that will focus on “player development, scouting operations, executive collaboration, and commercial opportunities across both organizations.” This is technically a multi-club partnership, as BKFC has a number of different clubs in its network, including Bournemouth, FC Lorient, and Hibernian. BKFC is a partnership that was formed in 2022 when Bill Foley and Cannae Holdings purchased Bournemouth. Representatives from both Orlando City and Black Knight were enthusiastic when talking about the opportunities that the partnership will provide players and staff members from both sides, so it’ll be very interesting to keep an eye out for if/how it affects the on-field product.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in games during the working week, and cup competitions are a big point of focus. Things start on Wednesday with Barcelona taking on Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League, as youngster Diego Kochen will likely be on the bench for the Spaniards. Also on Wednesday, Brian White and the Vancouver Whitecaps will try to knock off Inter Miami in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie. Thursday has Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis hosting Fiorentina in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semifinals. Things then wrap up on Friday with Gianluca Busio and Fiorentina traveling to play Torino in Serie A.

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That’s all I have for today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/28/25

Lions defeat Atlanta United, Pride bounce back against Angel City FC, OCB falls to New York Red Bulls II, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I will cover high school volleyball and soccer later this week. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B forward Thalles, who turns 20 today. Our beloved Lions finally won a match this month, the Pride bounced back with a win, and OCB lost over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Defeat Atlanta United at Home

Orlando City snapped its three-game winless streak and extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, beating rival Atlanta United 3-0 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. Luis Muriel, Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic scored for the Lions. With Pasalic’s goal and assist in Saturday’s match against Atlanta, he added his name to the club record books by becoming the fourth player in club history to have seven goal contributions in his first 10 matches.

Orlando set a club record early in the match for the most consecutive shutout minutes. By the end of the match, Orlando had not conceded a goal in 436 minutes. The Lions’ last goal conceded was to Christian Ramirez in the 14th minute against the LA Galaxy last month. Orlando City will be on the road Saturday to take on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

Pride Rally to Defeat Angel City FC at Home

The Orlando Pride completed the comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit late in the second half and defeating Angel City FC 3-2 Friday at Inter&Co Stadium. In the final 20 minutes, Marta and Barbra Banda scored to tie the match after Orlando trailed 2-0. Orlando also got an own goal in stoppage time from Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola and escaped with a win at home. The Pride bounced back after a defeat to the Washington Spirit the previous week. With the Kansas City Current losing to the North Carolina Courage over the weekend, the Pride are tied with the Current atop the NWSL table. After the match, Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines shared his thoughts on his team’s resiliency to overturn a 2-0 deficit and fight back for the win at home.

The Pride will travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the Portland Thorns in their next match Saturday at Providence Park.

Orlando City B Falls at Home to New York Red Bulls II

Orlando City B started slowly and dug too deep a hole to climb out of on Sunday night in a 4-2 loss to New York Red Bulls II at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 early in the first half. Jhon Solis pulled one back for OCB before Red Bulls II added another goal to make it 3-1 just before halftime. In the second half, Justin Ellis scored to pull the Young Lions within one again before Ibrahim Kasule converted a penalty kick goal in stoppage time to seal the win against OCB. New York Red Bulls II moves to second in the Eastern Conference with 13 points, while Orlando City B has lost back-to-back matches and is in fifth with 11 points. OCB will be on the road Friday to take on Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium.

NWSL Announces Plans to Launch a Second Division Women’s League

The National Women’s Soccer League has submitted an application to the U.S. Soccer Federation to launch a second-division soccer league in 2026, the league announced on Friday. The plan for this new league is to focus on furthering player development and building a pipeline between the NWSL and the second division league, similar to Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT Pro. Eight clubs are reportedly set for the league’s inaugural season, including the Orlando Pride. Joining Orlando in committing to the league are Bay FC, the Kansas City Current, the North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Racing Louisville, the Seattle Reign, and the Washington Spirit. The Division 2 clubs would play in the same stadiums as their parent clubs. The season format would be a round robin, featuring 14 matches, home and away, and will include playoffs with two semifinals and a championship match.

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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: 4/25/25

Orlando City gets ready for Atlanta United, Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira promoted, NWSL MVP candidates, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Today starts three straight days of Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. It was a fairly fast week for me, and I was able to read three books somehow. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a very happy 21st birthday to Orlando City winger Nicolas Rodriguez!

Orlando City Gets Ready for Rivalry Match

The Lions are back in action Saturday night against rival Atlanta United in what should be one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Both teams are looking for answers on offense heading into this match, as Orlando is coming off of three straight scoreless draws and Atlanta hasn’t won since March. Taking on a rival at home could be just what’s needed for the Lions to jumpstart their attack and return to the form they had earlier this season. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how it’s an important game to win for Orlando, as well as how the offense needs to exercise some calmness to finish its chances.

Orlando City Promotes Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira

Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira were both promoted by Orlando City, with Moreira taking over as the club’s general manager and sporting director and Muzzi becoming senior advisor to ownership, global soccer ventures. It’s a natural step up for Moreira, who joined the club in 2018 and has helped build a competitive roster that’s made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Muzzi’s new role is a bit of a mouthful, but he’ll be taking on an advisory role focused on the growth of the club while working closely with ownership.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Orlando City Soccer Club’s EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager for seven seasons, and I am excited to continue my journey with the club in this new role,” said Luiz Muzzi. “I look forward to working alongside the Wilf family and the leadership team to help shape the future of the club and its continued success, both on and off the field, and I know Orlando City’s Soccer Operations will be in great hands under Ricardo’s leadership.”

Orlando Pride Players in the NWSL MVP Hunt

Now that we’re over a month into the NWSL season, ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf highlighted the league’s early MVP candidates, and there are a couple of familiar faces in his rankings. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is predictably in the mix in sixth on the list, as she has three goals and an assist to her name so far. But a surprise inclusion is midfielder Haley McCutcheon, who has impressed on both sides of the ball to earn ninth place in the rankings. While I think the MVP race will ultimately be between scorers like Banda, Temwa Chawinga, Ashley Hatch, and Debinha, it’s pretty great to see McCutcheon receive deserved praise for her performance this year.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The transfer deadline may be over for MLS clubs, but deals that crossed the finish line are still coming in. The Columbus Crew added yet another forward by sending up to $1.2 million to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Aliyu Ibrahim. The 23-year-old will maintain his U22 Initiative Player status in Columbus and recorded 12 goals and nine assists across 90 appearances for Houston. LAFC signed 26-year-old midfielder Ryan Raposo, who spent the past five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a free agent this year. St. Louis City also made things official with Simon Becher by making his loan move a permanent one so that he stays with the club.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. Mother’s Day is less than a month away, just as a warning. If the mothers in your life like romance books and you’re looking for a gift, I can’t recommend The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center enough. Have a great Friday!

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