Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/11/23
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Welcome to match day, Mane Landers! Orlando City visist D.C. United tonight at 7:30 p.m. Anytime the Lions take on Wayne Rooney and D.C. United, I personally cringe a bit as I remember the many times they have spoiled our fun. I have a good feeling though that today could be different. Today could be the day a trashing goes the other way, and it will taste even sweeter when it is done in front of their home crowd. There are plenty of other things happening in the soccer world, so let’s get right to it in the links!
Pedro Gallese Earns CCL Honors
When Orlando City finished its first Concacaf Champions League match scoreless, the defensive efforts were highlighted by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The man between the posts was able to hold former champions Tigres to a 0-0 draw and was named Player Of The Match. He finished the night with nine saves leading all goal keepers this week in the competition and finds himself on the first leg Round of 16 Best XI.
Around MLS on Match Day 3
Orlando City will be sure to rotate the squad as Tigres comes to town for Wednesday’s CCL return leg at home. Today, the Lions travel to Audi Field for a league match against D.C. United. This isn’t the only match on the list though. There are 14 matches in total around the league. Some matches worth noting include another CCL hopeful, the Philadelphia Union, looking to keep a 23-game home unbeaten run alive with a rotated squad against the Chicago Fire. The Union played a lot of young players in the midweek, so they may not need as much rotation. Nashville SC and CF Montreal could feature reigning league MVP Hany Mukhtar in his first start of the year as he recovers from injury. St. Louis City will attempt to equal the 2009 Seattle Sounders in becoming the second expansion club in MLS history to win its first three MLS games. St. Louis will face the Portland Timbers. Let us know in the comments below what other games you are excited to catch from this week’s marquee matches.
Rochester New York Loses MLS NEXT Pro Team
MLS NEXT Pro has announced that Rochester NY Football Club, which is backed by Jamie Vardy, has pulled out of the new season after its backers bailed out at the final moment. It is currently unclear whether the club will fold entirely, or just sit out a year while it continues to look for fresh investment before returning to the league in 2024. The club issued a statement on the MLS Next Pro website.
“This decision involved a great deal of input from many stakeholders including MLS NEXT Pro and was not one we arrived at lightly. Our full intention for 2023 was to reward RNYFC supporters with another exciting season of professional soccer in Rochester. Our fans turned out in great numbers in 2022, cheered loudly, and were as impassioned as the players themselves. Most recently, we were in advanced discussions with an ownership group to acquire a majority interest in RNYFC. However, the purchasing group decided not to proceed earlier this week as we were moving to close. This left us with no time and no choice but to decline fielding a team in 2023.”
EA Sports Releases NWSL FIFA Ratings
EA Sports has confirmed that all teams in the National Women’s Soccer League will be added to a FIFA video game for the first time. All 12 clubs will join the FIFA 23 roster this month. EA Sports has listed the top-rated players in the league and many are USWNT stars and a couple former Orlando Pride players. At the age of 37, Orlando Pride attacking midfielder and Brazilian legend Marta checks in as the club’s highest ranked player with an overall rating of 84. Here are some of the other Pride player ratings.
New #FIFARatings just dropped
pic.twitter.com/08POOFkhdl
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) March 10, 2023
All 12 NWSL clubs, four stadiums, and all the requisite kits, trophies, and celebrations will be added as part of an expansion that will be made available across all platforms March 15.
Free Kicks
- With CCL second legs soon to commence, Charles Boehm wrote about the prospects of each MLS team when it comes to advancing through the tournament.
- Nashville SC defender Nick DePuy will miss the rest of the 2023 season after undergoing surgery on an Achilles injury.
- Atlanta United has signed forward Luke Brennan to a Homegrown Player deal for the 2024 MLS season. He will play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023.
- Ian Wright has confirmed he will not be part of BBC’s Match of the Day panel this weekend to show support for his colleague Gary Lineker, who stepped away from hosting the program.
- Paris Saint-Germain will submit a bid for the country’s largest stadium, the Stade de France, as the club looks to move from its Parc des Princes home.
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he was surprised by Roberto Firmino’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
- Prosecutors in Spain confirmed filing corruption charges against Barcelona and the club’s former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu for payments made to the former vice president of the refereeing committee.
- Scarlett Camberos has filed a transfer request with América and is seeking a Liga MX Femeníl exit due to concerns over her safety.
That’s all I have for you today. Let us know in the comments below how you will be spending your first MLS away day match experience. I typically make tacos and margaritas with the boys. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/24/25
Lions fall to the Philadelphia Union, OCSC reportedly in talks to sign Agustin Soria, Sams starts in USWNT’s win over Australia, and more.
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Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It’s been another busy week for me covering high school playoff basketball and hockey. It was a tough weekend for Orlando City losing its home opener on Saturday, but let’s hope our Lions bounce back against Toronto FC on Saturday. Let’s also wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who turned 35 on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today so let’s get to the links.
Lions Fall to Philadelphia Union in Season Opener
Orlando City fell 4-2 to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in its opening match to kick off the 2025 MLS season. The Lions took an early lead in the first half, with Marco Pasalic scoring his first goal in his MLS debut. However, the Union scored four consecutive goals to take a 4-1 lead. Pasalic added another goal late in the second half to make it 4-2, but the Union took home all three points. The loss ended Orlando’s four-match unbeaten streak against the Union. It’s also the first time the Lions have lost a match on opening day since joining Major League Soccer. Orlando’s next match will be on Saturday at home against Toronto FC.
Orlando City Signs Colin Guske and Gustavo Caraballo to Short-Term Deals
Orlando City announced before Saturday’s match against the Union that the club has signed midfielders Colin Guske and Gustavo Caraballo to short-term contracts. Both players were on the bench for Saturday’s match. Guske played with Orlando City B last season, scoring one goal, adding two assists, and starting in 24 out of 25 matches. Caraballo played two matches with OCB last season in MLS NEXT Pro. The 16-year-old midfielder won the 2023 U-15 Generation Adidas Cup Golden Boot, scoring four goals.
OCSC Reportedly in Talks to Sign Agustin Soria
Defensor Sporting midfielder Agustin Soria has been linked with a potential move to join Orlando City.
Defensor Sporting is reportedly awaiting a new offer from Orlando City after the initial offer was rejected. Reportedly, the two sides are in talks but have yet to agree on a transfer fee. Soria has played for Defensor Sporting since 2023 and has scored three goals and added six assists in 51 matches across all competitions. If a deal is reached between the two clubs, Soria could take up a third MLS U22 Initiative slot.
Lions Acquire General Allocation Money and Draft Pick in Trade
Orlando City announced Friday that the club has acquired $200,000 in General Allocation Money and a natural 2026 MLS SuperDraft first-round selection from the LA Galaxy. In exchange, the Lions sent the Galaxy a 2025 international roster slot.
USWNT Defeats Australia in SheBelieves Cup
Orlando Pride center back Emily Sams started and played the full 90 minutes, helping the U.S. Women’s National Team defeat Australia 2-1 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium to clinch a spot in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup final for the sixth consecutive time. It only took the USWNT 42 seconds for Lynn Biyendolo (nee Williams) to score the opening goal and record her 22nd international goal. Michelle Cooper came off the bench in the second half and scored to give the USWNT a 2-0 lead. Australia pulled one back late in the second half, but the USWNT held on for the win. On Wednesday, the USWNT will face Japan in the SheBelieves final at Snapdragon Stadium. Japan has the better goal differential of the two unbeaten teams after lopsided wins over Australia and Colombia.
MLS Opening Weekend Recap
The opening weekend of Major League Soccer is in the books. The Bruce Arena era in San Jose got off to a great start as the Earthquakes defeated Real Salt Lake 4-0. Diego Rossi scored twice for the Columbus Crew in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Fire. Emmanuel Latte Lath scored two goals as Atlanta United edged CF Montreal 3-2. FC Dallas earned a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo as their head coach, Eric Quill, got his first win in MLS. LAFC, FC Cincinnati, and Austin FC all won their matches with a scoreline of 1-0 over Minnesota United, the New York Red Bulls, and Sporting Kansas City, respectively. Inter Miami escaped with a 2-2 draw against New York City FC, while D.C. United-Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders-Charlotte FC matches ended in 2-2 draws. St. Lous City and the Colorado Rapids ended scoreless, as did Nashville SC vs. the New England Revolution. On Sunday, the Vancouver Whitecaps cruised past the Portland Timbers 4-1, while San Diego FC defeated the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy 2-0 on the road to seal the expansion side’s first ever win.
Free Kicks
- Forbes.com released its Most Valuable MLS Teams for 2025. Orlando City is ranked 26th on their list.
- On Saturday, New York City FC announced that it has sold midfielder Santiago Rodriguez to Botafogo. New York City FC will keep a sell-on percentage if Rodriguez is sold to another club in the future.
- Liverpool defeated Manchester City 2-0 on Sunday to extend its lead in the Premier League table to 11 points.
- Tom Bogert shared on social media that former USMNT and MLS goalkeeper Tony Meola is recovering after suffering a heart attack on Thursday. We here at The Mane Land wish Tony a speedy recovery.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/21/25
Marco Pasalic’s soccer journey, MLS storylines to watch, USWNT shuts out Colombia, and much more.
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Welcome to the final day before the MLS season kicks off! I don’t know about you, but the off-season and preseason flew by for me. I’m ready to throw on some purple and cheer this weekend, even if I won’t have the pleasure of being there in person. Before we dive into today’s links though, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride forward Amanda Allen!
Marco Pasalic Prepares for First MLS Season
Many eyes will be on Orlando City winger Marco Pasalic this season after the club signed him as its latest Designated Player. The 24-year-old spoke on how a strong work ethic was instilled in him at a young age from his parents while growing up in Germany. He also talked about his injury while with Borussia Dortmund and the difficulties he faced both physically and mentally to overcome it. He’s now in the City Beautiful after playing for Rijeka in Croatia and the dual-national shared some insight about his decision to become a Lion.
“I think getting the chance to see a new league, to make the next step in my career, for me, it’s a better step to come here than to stay in Croatia. That’s my opinion,” he said. “I like it here a lot so far. It’s an honor when a club really wants you, and I wanted to come here, also. My decision didn’t take long, either. Maybe one day before I said yes. Now, I want to bring this league to another level, to bring this club joy and play good games.”
MLS Storylines Ahead of 2025 Season
The 2025 MLS season is finally upon us and there are already plenty of storylines to keep an eye on after an interesting off-season. For Orlando, it’s a simple inquiry into if the club’s new players can truly replace the players who won’t be on the field for the Lions this year. Facundo Torres is gone and Wilder Cartagena is out for the season, and only time will tell if Pasalic and Eduard Atuesta can fill those voids.
There are many questions all over the league I’m looking forward to getting answers to as well. How quickly can Bruce Arena turn things around with the San Jose Earthquakes? Will Atlanta United’s attack live up to the hype? What will the Philadelphia Union look like without Jim Curtin at the helm? Can the Chicago Fire reach the playoffs under Gregg Berhalter? I have the feeling it’s going to be a really great season for the league.
USWNT Wins Against Colombia
In its first game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup, the United States Women’s National Team beat Colombia 2-0 in Houston. The first goal for the USWNT was wonderfully crafted and sparked by a nice ball over the top by Lily Yohannes to Yazmeen Ryan, who found Catarina Macario in front of the net. It’s great to see Macario scoring again for the U.S. after she missed out on the Olympics due to injury. Ally Sentnor scored her first international goal by doubling the USWNT’s lead with a great strike from distance that you can check out below.
Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams didn’t come off the bench, but the defense still did well to shut out Colombia. The USWNT’s next match will come on Sunday against an Australian team that got beaten 4-0 by Japan.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
After a rough week that included many Americans getting eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, attention now turns to a weekend filled with soccer. Former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will host Oxford United on Saturday, with Josh Sargent, Brenden Aaronson, and Ethan Horvath as other Americans to watch in the EFL Championship. In the English Premier League, Antonee Robinson and Fulham will take on Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace. The usual suspects like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are also set to take the field. If looking for a game off the beaten path, Damion Downs could score his 10th goal of the season when Cologne faces Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday in Germany’s second division.
Luis Rubiales Guilty of Sexual Assault
Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As a result, he was ordered to pay more than $10,400 in fines and is prohibited from being within 200 meters of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a year. The prosecution had asked for a prison sentence of a year for sexual assault and a year-and-a-half for coercion, the latter of which he was acquitted of. FIFPRO issued a statement standing in solidarity with Hermoso and other victims of sexual assault, while also stating that the courts must send a stronger message in regards to the level of punishment.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City and the Orlando Pride announced a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I’ve actually never tried Jameson, as I’m a bit more of a tropical cocktail kind of guy when it comes to libations.
- LAFC has a new Designated Player after signing Turkish winger Cengiz Under on loan from Fenerbahce through June 30, with an option to buy. He should add even more firepower to a potent LAFC attack that includes Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, and Jeremy Ebobisse.
- This year’s MLS Competition Guidelines include an interesting addition where only a team’s captain should approach the referee. If crowded by multiple players, the ref is to signal that to the players and only the captain can be within four meters of the referee, with intruding players being shown a yellow card.
- Former Orlando City B forward Ates Diouf is joining Detroit City FC on loan from Lexington SC for the USL Championship season.
- Former Orlando Pride midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard has signed with Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League.
- Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 in the Concacaf Champions Cup, thanks to a goal in stoppage time. Despite the loss, Vancouver’s away goal is valuable as the series heads to Canada for the second leg.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/20/25
Marco Pasalic named an MLS newcomer to watch, Houston Dynamo sign Nico Lodeiro, USWNT takes on Colombia today, and more.
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How’s it going, Mane Landers? We’re only a few days away from the start of Orlando City’s 2025 season and I can’t wait. There’s also plenty of women’s soccer to enjoy thanks to the SheBelieves Cup. It’s a great time to be a soccer fan here in the U.S. Let’s dive right into today’s links!
Marco Pasalic Noted as MLS Newcomer to Watch
Orlando City signed Marco Pasalic as a Designated Player this off-season to help fill the void left by Facundo Torres, and he was noted as one of the top newcomers in the league for 2025. While I don’t think he’s expected to fully replace the goal contributions Torres provided, I’m hoping he can unlock defenses and am looking forward to seeing some overlapping runs between him and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson on the right wing.
The rest of the list has multiple players on Eastern Conference teams who could have Orlando fans reaching for the liquor cabinet this season, including Charlotte FC’s Wilfried Zaha, FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey, and Atlanta United’s shiny new striker, Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Nico Lodeiro Signs With the Houston Dynamo
Midfielder Nico Lodeiro, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Orlando City earlier this week, has officially signed with the Houston Dynamo on a deal through 2025 with an option for 2026. This signing was reported leading up to his departure from Orlando, and he should be able to get some solid playing time with the Dynamo. Lodeiro had 11 assists with the Lions last season and is great from set piece situations, so he should be able to help a Houston team that made the playoffs last season but only scored 47 goals.
USWNT Takes On Colombia Today
The 2025 SheBelieves Cup kicks off today and the United States Women’s National Team will face off against Colombia at 8 p.m. in Houston. It will be the USWNT’s first match of the year and Head Coach Emma Hayes’ first time coaching the U.S. during the SheBelieves Cup. The team will be without star players like Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, and Sophia Wilson (née Smith) but still has plenty of talented players to get the job done. Colombia should present a solid challenge for the U.S., as it reached the quarterfinals of both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. After this match, the USWNT is set to take on Australia in Arizona on Sunday before closing out the tournament in San Diego on Wednesday against Japan.
MLS Clubs Begin Champions Cup Campaigns
The Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and there are many MLS sides aiming to start the tournament off on the right foot. The Seattle Sounders’ new signings from FC Dallas linked up for a goal just three minutes into their match with Guatemalan club Antigua GFC, with Jesus Ferreira teeing up Paul Arriola’s goal at the top of the box. Antigua equalized later in the first half, but the Sounders struck twice in the second half for a 3-1 victory. In Costa Rica, Real Salt Lake and Herediano battled to a scoreless draw. Lionel Messi scored the lone goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in a bitter cold game that exemplifies why MLS should not switch to a winter schedule.
UEFA Champions League Roundup
Only 16 teams remain in the UEFA Champions League after the latest round of matches. Most of Wednesday’s drama was in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 win over Juventus. American forward Tim Weah scored for Juventus, but PSV advanced thanks to a goal from defender Ryan Flamingo in extra time. In Spain, Kylian Mbappe had a hat trick in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Manchester City, eliminating the English club from the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain booked its spot in the round of 16 in convincing fashion as well, with seven different players finding the back of the net in a 7-0 home win over Brest. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, a scoreless draw at home against Sporting CP was enough for Borussia Dortmund to advance to the next round too.
The draw for the round of 16 is on Friday and should deliver on some fun matchups. Either Barcelona or Liverpool will face PSG, with the other getting Benfica. We may also get Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen.
Free Kicks
- The LA Galaxy added Brazilian striker Matheus Nascimento on loan from Botafogo through 2025. The 20-year-old will take up a U22 Initiative spot and the loan has an option to buy.
- Denver’s NWSL team is considering its options for a name and unveiled a poll for the community to weigh in. I obviously did not vote, but Colorado Summit FC is probably my favorite of the bunch. Denver FC is the clear loser.
- According to the U.S. Travel Association, the U.S.’s air travel system is not ready for the 2026 World Cup or 2028 Summer Olympics.
- Robin van Persie is reportedly close to becoming Feyenoord’s next head coach, with Rene Hake expected to join him as an assistant. Feyenoord recently took down AC Milan in the Champions League but is fourth in the Eredivisie.
- Here’s everything to keep an eye on in today’s Europa League games. The second leg between AS Roma and Porto after a 1-1 draw in Portugal is the premier matchup in my eyes.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!
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