Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/9/23

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to the time changing this weekend. Losing that hour of sleep Saturday night will be rough, but it will be nice to have more sunshine to enjoy in the evenings. Before we dive into today’s links, I just want to wish a happy birthday to my mom, who has been an Orlando City soccer fan for as long as I have. I can’t wait to head to a match with her and the rest of my family later this year. Now, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world!
Orlando Pride Celebrate International Women’s Day
As part of International Women’s Day Wednesday, all of the women in the Orlando Pride’s front office came out to the team’s training to celebrate and support the players. Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter spoke on how the players and staff are working towards creating both a winning team and a winning culture in Orlando. Founder Kay Rawlins was also in attendance and talked about the continued investment into the Pride and how much the team has grown since its creation.
Celebrating #InternationalWomensDay, together 💜 pic.twitter.com/TppwtlaM2i
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) March 8, 2023
Spoiler alert: Carter is this week’s guest on The Mane Land PawedCast, which will drop later this morning.
Women’s Gold Cup Coming in 2024
Concacaf announced the dates and format of the inaugural W Gold Cup set to take place in 2024. The new tournament will take place in the U.S. next year, with the 12-team group stage starting on Feb. 20. The U.S. has already qualified after winning the 2022 Concacaf W Championship and will be joined by the winner of an Olympic playoff between Jamaica and Canada. As part of a partnership between Concacaf and CONMEBOL, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay will also take part in the tournament. The remaining six spots will be claimed by Concacaf nations, with qualification set for this fall. The tournament will feature three groups of four teams, with eight advancing to a single-elimination knockout stage.
CBS Golazo Network Launches Next Month
CBS announced that it is launching a 24-hour digital network dedicated to soccer on April 11. The CBS Golazo Network will feature live matches, analysis, and a two-hour morning show hosted by Susannah Collins. Former Orlando City and Pride reporter Jenny Chiu will also be providing updates of the day’s top stories. The network will launch for free on CBSSports.com and other digital platforms, as well as on Paramount+. Personally, I’m looking forward to how this should put more of a spotlight on soccer in the U.S., particularly the National Women’s Soccer League, since those matches are streamed on Paramount+.
Bayern Munich and AC Milan Advance in Champions League
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both started for Paris Saint-Germain, but the French club came up short in a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich. After a scoreless first half, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored for Bayern in the 61st minute and Serge Gnabry put the game out of reach with another goal in the 89th. While plenty of attention will be on PSG’s exit, Bayern deserves credit for excelling despite a tough draw. The German club has faced Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, and PSG twice, but has only conceded two goals this tournament.
In the other match, AC Milan kept Tottenham Hotspur’s attack quiet in a scoreless draw in London. Neither team managed to put a shot on target in the first half, and a second yellow card to Cristian Romero in the 78th minute put a dent in Tottenham’s hopes. Harry Kane had a chance to score in stoppage time, but Mike Maignan came up with the save and AC Milan advanced on aggregate.
Free Kicks
- In the Concacaf Champions League, Olimpia bossed Atlas in a 4-1 win in Honduras and Leon won 1-0 over Tauro FC in Panama City.
- Inter Miami midfielder Robert Taylor won Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed strike against the Philadelphia Union.
Goal of the Year contender?!? 💥
Robert Taylor's banger wins the AT&T 5G Goal of the Matchday. 🥇 https://t.co/9wmusurnKh pic.twitter.com/YjUFsMbegY
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 8, 2023
- Former Orlando Pride assistant coach Khano Smith was named head coach and general manager of Rhode Island FC.
- Select matches from the first three rounds of the U.S. Open Cup will be streamed on the Bleacher Report app and YouTube channel. Orlando City won’t join the tournament until the round of 32, but it should still be a nice way to watch the tournament for free.
- FC Cincinnati signed defender Nick Hagglund to a contract extension through the 2024 season. The 30-year-old is Cincy’s all-time leader in minutes, appearances, and starts.
- After less than three months in charge, Scott Parker was sacked by Club Brugge following the Belgian club’s 5-1 loss to Benfica. Brugge won just two of its 12 matches with Parker at the helm.
- Marcia Tafarel was named as the first coach of the U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team.
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: 2/18/25
Orlando City signs Joran Gerbet, two Lions reportedly heading out the door, Orlando Pride celebrate 10th year of play, and more.

Happy Tuesday and happy Orlando City matchweek everyone! The season opener is almost upon us, and I couldn’t be more excited to get back into Inter&Co Stadium with all of you wonderful people. I’ll keep this brief because we have a whole glut of news to get to this morning. Let’s dive into these links.
Orlando City Signs Joran Gerbet
Orlando City announced Monday that the team has signed Joran Gerbet through the 2025 MLS season, with options for the next three seasons. The central midfielder was the team’s first-round selection in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, and he’s done some good stuff during OCSC’s preseason preparations. The arrival of Eduard Atuesta means that Gerbet will be able to work his way into the team slowly without any undue pressure, although he’s shown enough during the preseason to expect him to start getting minutes from the bench much sooner rather than later. That will especially be the case if our next news item proves to be a reliable one.
Two Lions Reportedly on the Move
A pair of Lions could be on their way out the door very soon, as Tom Bogert is reporting that the Houston Dynamo are on the verge of signing Nico Lodeiro and Michael Halliday. He adds that the terms for Halliday’s signings are set, while the Lodeiro deal is likely to go through but is not quite done yet. There is no word yet on what Orlando will receive in return, but as Bogert doesn’t mention any players coming over in exchange, it’s likely that it’ll involve General Allocation Money, cash, a draft pick, an international slot, or some combination of those. We will bring you more on this story as it develops, so keep your eyes peeled.
Orlando Pride Celebrate 10th Year of Play
The 2025 season will be the 10th of the Orlando Pride’s existence, and the club will celebrate that fact for the duration of the upcoming campaign. Things will kick off on March 2 with the 10 Years of Pride Kickoff Party and continue from there with Pints With Pride, and the NWSL Challenge Cup. Pride Season Ticket Members will get a complimentary 2025 replica jersey as part of their STM package, and there will be numerous events hosted by the club throughout the season to celebrate the Pride’s 10th year.
Americans in Midweek Action
Plenty of Americans will take part in games during the working week, and UEFA Champions League play once again features heavily. Things start later today when Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan try to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against Feyenoord. They’ll be followed by Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic as they try to likewise come back from a 2-1 first leg deficit against Bayern Munich. Wednesday sees Gio Reyna, Cole Campbell, and Borussia Dortmund host Sporting CP, which holds a commanding 3-0 lead after the first leg, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus have a more precarious 2-1 lead against PSV Eindhoven and its quartet of injured Americans.
MLS Transfer Roundup
Monday saw some big transfers completed in Major League Soccer, so let’s get all caught up. FC Cincinnati set an MLS trade record by sending $12 million in cash, and $150,000 in incentives to the Portland Timbers in exchange for Evander, who joins FCC as a Designated Player. In order to replace the outgoing Brazilian, Portland signed David Da Costa from Ligue 1 side Lens. The fee is said to be in the region of $6 million and he’ll join the Timbers as a DP on a four-year deal. The Vancouver Whitecaps completed the signing of striker Daniel Rios on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara for the duration of the 2025 season, with the deal also including a purchase option. Finally, the Columbus Crew signed goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to a contract extension through the 2027 season with an additional option year for 2028.
Free Kicks
- It’s matchweek and the boys are happy to be back.
- In case you forgot, Seb Hines is still that dude.
- The Concacaf Champions Cup match between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami has been postponed to Feb. 19 due to anticipated adverse weather.
- Real Valladolid has fired manager Diego Cocca after eight games in charge.
That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/17/25
Lions draw in Tampa vs. Inter Miami in final preseason match, Pride sign Cori Dyke to a new contract and add Oihane Hernandez, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers, and happy President’s Day! I hope you all are doing well down in Florida over the holiday weekend. I’ve been covering high school playoff basketball and hockey over the past week. Orlando City’s home opener is coming up Saturday, and like many of you, I look forward to seeing what the Lions can do during the 2025 MLS season. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Draw Inter Miami 2-2 in Final Preseason Match
In its final preseason match, Orlando City could not hold onto the lead and got out of Tampa with a 2-2 draw against rival Inter Miami Friday at Raymond James Stadium. The Lions were up 2-1 with goals from Martin Ojeda and Ramiro Enrique, but Fafa Picault scored the equalizer in stoppage time. Orlando finishes its 2025 preseason without a win for the first time in club history. The 2025 MLS season will kick off this weekend as Orlando City will face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando Pride Add Defender Oihane Hernandez
On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced a new addition as the club signed defender Oihane Hernandez from Real Madrid Femenil for an undisclosed transfer fee. The contract is a two-year deal through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027. The 24-year-old right back played two seasons with Real Madrid Femenil, notching two assists in 31 appearances. Hernandez also brings international experience playing with the Spanish Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hernandez’s joins a growing right back position group, which includes Brianna Martinez and…
Orlando Pride Sign Cori Dyke to Contract Extension
The Orlando Pride extended the contract of defender Cori Dyke after a stellar rookie year last season. Dyke’s new contract is through the 2027 season. The 24-year-old defender made 26 appearances, started 21 matches, logged 1,095 minutes, and stepped up to play right back to help Orlando win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last season. It’s the third contract she has signed with the club in less than a year. Dyke’s role with the club for 2025 remains to be seen, but she has proven to be a versatile player.
MLS Transfer Roundup
We are four days away from kicking off of the 2025 MLS season, and there are still some notable transfer moves happening across the league. The Colorado Rapids have reportedly acquired midfielder Josh Atencio from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for $1.3 million in General Allocation Money plus add-ons. Atencio will be an MLS U22 Initiative player on the Rapids roster. Meanwhile, Brazilian side Botafogo is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Santi Rodriguez from New York City FC.
Toronto FC has signed forward Ola Brynhildsen on loan for the 2025 season from Danish side FC Midtjylland, which includes a purchase option. LAFC has transferred forward Cristian Olivera to Gremio in Brazil for a reported $4.5 million, which includes a sell-on fee. Lastly, Palmeiras is reportedly finalizing a deal with the Houston Dynamo to sign center back Micael for a club record fee.
Free Kicks
- The District Press released its 2025 MLS jersey rankings, and Orlando City was ranked 19th on their lists.
- Former Lion Daryl Dike returned to the pitch for West Brom over the weekend, coming off the bench in the second half against Millwall after being sidelined for over a year dealing with multiple injuries. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
- Former Orlando Pride defender Carrie Lawrence has found a new role after retiring from professional soccer at the end of last season. She was named the director of global women’s soccer recruitment for Young Money APAA Sports.
- Check out this article from Goal.com on how Orlando has established itself as a soccer city over the years.
- Bay FC goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland announced her retirement from professional soccer after a 10-year career in which she won four NWSL championship titles.
- Manchester United forward Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury while training and will likely be out for the remainder of the season.
- New York City FC midfielder James Sands, who is on loan at St. Pauli, underwent surgery on Sunday to repair a serious right ankle injury he suffered during their match on Friday against Freiburg that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. No timetable is set for his return.
- The U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Cuba 2-0 to wrap up Group F play and has qualified for the U-17 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in November in Qatar.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/14/25
Nico Lodeiro linked with Club Libertad, Emily Sams signs contract extension, Orlando City B signs Bernardo Rhein and Justin Ellis, and more.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope your day is spent with plenty of chocolate and time with loved ones as we get ready for the final weekend before Orlando City’s season kicks off on Feb. 22. The Lions are taking on Inter Miami today at 7:30 p.m. in Tampa in a friendly that will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Hopefully the Lions can close out their preseason schedule with a win. Let’s jump into today’s links!
Nico Lodeiro Linked With Paraguayan Club
Rumors were swirling Thursday morning that Orlando City midfielder Nico Lodeiro would join Paraguay’s Club Libertad, but the club’s president, Ruben Di Tore, provided some clarification on the radio. He confirmed the club’s interest in Lodeiro, but that the move would not be taking place this window and may happen in the summer.
In his first season in Orlando last year, Lodeiro played in every game and posted 11 assists and a goal. His performance triggered the 2025 option on his contract, which would conclude after this upcoming season. It would make sense for the club to transfer the 35-year-old before then, but it looks like we won’t see if that move comes to pass until the summer.
Emily Sams Signs Contract Extension
The Orlando Pride and defender Emily Sams have agreed to a contract extension that will last through the 2027 NWSL season. Sams was one of the best players in the league last year, earning the title of NWSL Defender of the Year and helping the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. The 25-year-old was also recently called up by the United States Women’s National Team for the SheBelieves Cup later this month. NWSL stars leaving the league has been a major talking point this off-season, so it’s nice to see Sams extend her contract with Orlando by another year.
OCB Signs Bernardo Rhein and Justin Ellis
Orlando City B signed a pair of academy players, with midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis both joining on MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Both players are 17 years old and featured in Orlando’s friendly against CF Montreal on Feb. 8. Ellis appeared in 18 matches and scored two goals for OCB last season, while Rhein (who you may remember as Bernardo Goncalves) came off the bench six times for some valuable minutes. With Jack Lynn retired and Shak Mohammed possibly giving the first team some depth due to Duncan McGuire’s injury, Ellis should be an interesting player to keep an eye on this season. It’s great to see young players take the next step from the academy, and hopefully they can make the most of their playing time in 2025.
OCSC Showcasing Its Youth This Preseason
Ellis and Rhein aren’t the only academy players who have been taking the field for the Lions this preseason, as the club has used these matches to give opportunities to the club’s youth. Winger Gustavo Caraballo, who is just 16 years old, started in the club’s friendly against Atletico Mineiro last month in a special moment for both him and his family. The academy has grown in recent years and other players like Colin Guske and Alex Freeman could contribute to the first team this year. Orlando City Academy Director Javier Carillo spoke on the impact of the club’s pathway for young players to develop.
“We’re exposing players to individual fundamental skills to help them to compete and then to learn how to win games, and I think the fact that we have this clear pathway between first team, second team and Academy is allowing us to promote players and expose players at an early age to new challenges, where the players continue to reach new heights. And I think that’s what’s really making the big difference for us.”
USL Plans First Division League in 2027
The United Soccer League announced that it will launch a first division league in the U.S. that would operate separately from MLS. It plans to make the most of the sport’s growth in the U.S. due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with this new league of 12 or 14 teams intended to start in 2027. If this ends up happening and the league gets division one sanctioning from U.S. Soccer, it would give the USL a three-tier pyramid of soccer. USL President Paul McDonough, who was Orlando City’s general manager during the club’s transition from the USL to MLS, talked about this next step for the league.
“It’s a key moment for soccer in this country, and as we see where this game is going, we want to be a part of it,” McDonough said in an exclusive interview with The Athletic. “Taking this big initiative allows for the growth of the game throughout the country.”
I think it will be most interesting to see which existing USL teams would initially join this new league, and if promotion and relegation will actually happen. All of this coming on the heels of the antitrust lawsuit filed by the North American Soccer League is also intriguing. We’ll see how the USL’s quest for sanctioning goes.
Free Kicks
- Marta made it clear that she’s staying well hydrated. I’m now wanting a version of Space Jam but with Marta and her bottle of secret stuff.
- More MLS jerseys were unveiled and I really like the colors that the LA Galaxy opted for with their new secondary kit. The Seattle Sounders’ new kit also looks great and was designed in collaboration with native tribes. Real Salt Lake’s new look reminds me of Croatia, but it totally works in my opinion as well.
- In the Europa League knockout phase playoffs, AZ Alkmaar, Fenerbahce, and Ajax enjoyed solid victories. AS Roma was reduced to 10 men but held on for a 1-1 draw against Porto, while Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored in stoppage time to give Twente a 2-1 win over Bodo/Glimt.
- Kai Havertz is out for the rest of Arsenal’s season due to a hamstring injury sustained during the club’s training camp in Dubai.
- Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with his $260 million income last year. The list includes athletes from eight different sports and 27 countries, but no women.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day and rest of your weekend!
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