Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/20/23

Good morning, Mane Landers. It was a rough weekend for Orlando City, but at least the Lions will get a full week of rest before facing Philadelphia on Saturday. Despite the loss, it’s an exciting week as an Orlando soccer fan. Not only are the Lions playing this weekend, but the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B get their seasons started this Sunday. I’m also looking forward to the Pride revealing their jersey on Wednesday. Now, let’s dive into today’s links!
Lions Called Up for International Duty
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Wilder Cartagena were both called up by Peru for a pair of friendlies in Europe. Peru will take on Germany in Mainz this Saturday before heading to Madrid for a friendly against Morocco. These are the South American nation’s first matches of the year and should be good tests after missing out on the 2022 World Cup.
Gallese and Cartagena aren’t the only Lions that are away on international duty this week. Forward Facundo Torres will be with Uruguay in Asia for friendlies against Japan and South Korea. Defenders Michael Halliday and Thomas Williams are with the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team, while Alex Freeman and Favian Loyola are with the U-19 team. Loyola is one of four Americans who have taken part in all six U-19 camps this cycle.
Timothy Weah Injured Ahead of USMNT Matches
Winger Tim Weah will not be with the United States Men’s National Team for the Concacaf Nations League this week after suffering a head injury in Lille’s win over Toulouse. The 23-year-old will be replaced by Djordje Mihailovic, who has not played for the USMNT since a 6-0 win over El Salvador in 2020. Since joining AZ Alkmaar in January, Mihailovic has recorded a goal and an assist in nine appearances. The USMNT will play Granada on Friday and then host El Salvador at Exploria Stadium on Monday, March 27.
U.S. Soccer Discusses Head Coaching Search
Following U.S. Soccer’s annual general meeting, CEO JT Batson spoke on how the search for a USMNT head coach will not be restricted by finances. Finding the right coach before the U.S. hosts the 2026 World Cup is critical and the federation does not want its options limited by scope or cost.
“Obviously, you want to be smart with regards to how you spend money, but there’s costs and there’s also opportunities for revenue. So as we think about our men’s national team program, we want to make sure we have the best person leading our men’s national team going forward and it’ll be a global market … we’re not starting with any restrictions in that regard.”
Batson also stated that the plan to have a new sporting director in place before the Women’s World Cup this summer is still on track. The position is being restructured since Earnie Stewart’s departure, with the job responsibilities focused more on the federation’s 27 national teams.
FA Cup Semifinals Are Set
Grimsby Town’s Cinderella run in the FA Cup came to an end after a 5-0 loss on the road to Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarterfinals. The fourth-division side conceded early on but kept the game close until Brighton scored four goals in the second half. Manchester United also advanced to the semifinals, beating Fulham 3-1 at Old Trafford. Fulham took the lead due to a goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Willian was shown a red card for a handball that denied a goal. Mitrovic and manager Marco Silva were then sent off for protesting the decision and Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty to equalize. Marcel Sabitzer gave the Red Devils the lead soon after and Fernandes put the game away in stoppage time.
In the semifinals at Wembley Stadium, Brighton will face Manchester United and Manchester City will play Sheffield United. Those matches will be next month and the final could be a Manchester derby match on June 3.
Free Kicks
- The first round of the U.S. Open Cup begins this week, with 28 teams in action across the country. There are two matches between Floridian teams, including FC Nona’s game against Club de Lyon in Kissimmee on Wednesday.
- FC Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 thanks to a winner in stoppage time from Franck Kessie. It was Kessie’s first goal for Barcelona and his club is now 12 points above Madrid at the top of the La Liga standings.
- Arsenal also showed its title credentials, beating Crystal Palace 4-1 at home. English winger Bukayo Saka was impressive, scoring two goals and assisting on another in the match.
- Meanwhile, the Bundesliga title is up for grabs. Bayern Munich fell 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen, meaning Borussia Dortmund finishes the weekend atop the table. Union Berlin is also back in the conversation after a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
- After Tottenham Hotspur blew a 3-1 lead to Southampton, Antonio Conte went on a rant to criticize the players and club.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest player to score a goal in Serie A. The 41-year-old scored from the spot in AC Milan’s 3-1 loss to Udinese.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope this work week goes smoothly for you as we gear up for an exciting weekend. Have a great Monday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/18/25
Orlando City set to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Lions reach Generation Adidas Cup semifinals, Angel City hires Alexander Straus, and more.

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you well as we gear up for another Saturday filled with soccer to enjoy. I don’t have many plans this Easter weekend beyond working, catching soccer when I can, and playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time if I find some spare hours. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City Learns U.S. Open Cup Opponents
Orlando City’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign will begin on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in what will be the latest edition of the I-4 Derby. It will be Orlando’s first game of this year’s tournament, while the Rowdies joined in the previous round and got past FC Naples in penalties. The Rowdies have lost four of their five games so far this season in the USL Championship and fired Robbie Neilson as head coach earlier this month. The Lions also notably would have hosting priority if they reach the round of 16, where they will play either Nashville SC or the Chattanooga Red Wolves.
Here’s the full schedule for the round of 32, which includes some interesting matchups across the country. The Tacoma Defiance are the only MLS NEXT Pro side left and will face the Portland Timbers, while the New York Red Bulls will have a long road trip to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
Lions Advance to Generation Adidas Cup Semifinals
Orlando City’s U-18 team beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Generation Adidas Cup to secure a spot in the semifinals. The Young Lions have won four of their five games of the tournament and will take on Santos Laguna in the semifinal on Saturday. The winner of that match will face whichever team becomes victorious in the other semifinal between Atlanta United and the Colorado Rapids.
The U-16 team’s run in the Premier bracket is also going strong after a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, and Orlando will take on the New England Revolution in the semifinals on Saturday.
Angel City FC Hires Alexander Straus
Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus was named Angel City FC’s next head coach and will officially join the club on June 1. The Norwegian coach has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and has Bayern positioned well to make it three straight this season. He’ll join an Angel City team that’s unbeaten in its first four games of the season under interim head coach Sam Laity, who will stay on as an assistant coach once Straus joins.
Europa League Quarterfinals End In Dramatic Fashion
Old Trafford hosted one of the wildest games in Europa League history, with Manchester United and Lyon battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. United scored twice in the first half, then conceded twice in the second, sending the game to extra time. Lyon took the lead despite being a man down and then the teams traded penalty kicks as the madness continued. Casemiro orchestrated Manchester’s victory in the end, assisting on two late goals within a minute of each other to beat Lyon 5-4 and advance. This United fan pretty much sums up just how much of a rollercoaster this match was.
There was also drama in Italy, as Lazio came back in the second leg to force extra time against Bodo/Glimt. The match went to penalties and Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikitka Haikin denied former New York City FC player Taty Castellanos from the spot to book his team’s place in the semifinals. Although Tottenham was without Son Heung-Min, it got the job done in a 1-0 road win against Eintracht Frankfurt, while Athletic Club beat Rangers 2-0 in Spain to advance as well. In the semifinals, Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt and Manchester United will take on Athletic Club.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf suspended Jesse Marsch for an additional game for arguing with the referee in Canada’s Nations League match against the U.S. As a result, he’ll miss Canada’s first two matches of this summer’s Gold Cup.
- Check out the host city posters for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. I like the synergy of Mexico’s entries, but Boston’s poster featuring a giant lobster as a goalkeeper is my favorite by far.
- Cece Kizer and NJ/NY Gotham FC agreed to terminate her contract for the forward to pursue other opportunities.
- Defender Virgil Van Dijk signed a two-year deal with Liverpool, extending his stay until 2027. The 33-year-old has been at Liverpool since joining from Southampton in 2018.
- Neymar had to exit just 34 minutes into his return for Santos in Brazil due to a thigh injury.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/17/25
Oscar Pareja signs new contract with Orlando City, Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, Orlando’s youth teams win, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I can’t believe we’re already into the back half of April and Easter is right around the corner. There’s plenty of soccer to enjoy between now and then and we also have the draw for the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 this morning at 9:15. MLS teams are finally joining the fray, so we’ll see where the chips fall for Orlando City. Let’s get to the links!
Oscar Pareja Signs New Contract
Orlando City and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep him in the City Beautiful through 2028. Pareja was hired as Orlando’s fourth head coach in its MLS era back in December of 2019 and he’s led the Lions to the playoffs in all five seasons he’s been at the helm. Under Pareja, the Lions won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, set club records in points and wins in 2023, and reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time last year. This year was the final one on the contract he signed in December of 2023, so it’s nice to know Pareja will be sticking around in the future.
Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit
The Orlando Pride will look to make it five wins in a row when they host the Washington Spirit on Saturday in another rematch of last year’s final. While this is the first match between Orlando and Washington this season, the two clashed in the NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7 and the Spirit lifted the trophy after a penalty shootout. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team has grown since that game and has benefitted from depth and consistency carried over from last year.
Orlando City Youth Teams Win in Bradenton
Orlando City’s U-18 team won in the Generation Adidas Cup’s round of 16, beating St. Louis City 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Young Lions remain unbeaten in that age group and will take on a Real Salt Lake team that also won its group and just beat Toronto FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw.
Orlando’s U-16 squad didn’t qualify for the Championship bracket, but still advanced in the Premier bracket. After a 1-1 draw with Toronto, Orlando prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout and will play Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
UEFA Champions League Semifinals Are Set
The quarterfinals for this year’s UEFA Champions League are over and only four teams remain in the tournament. Arsenal secured its spot in the semifinals after an impressive 2-1 road win against Real Madrid that included two assists from Mikel Merino. The Spanish club couldn’t muster its usual magic in the tournament and forward Kylian Mbappe exited in the second half due to injury. In Italy, Inter Milan held on for a 2-2 draw against Bayern to advance on aggregate, with defender Benjamin Pavard scoring a crucial goal for Inter against his old team. The semifinals will take place at the end of the month and will feature Arsenal taking on Paris Saint-Germain and Inter going up against Barcelona.
Free Kicks
- Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza, who died after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China.
- The Chicago Fire are reportedly strongly interested in signing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer. If any Western Conference teams could join the hunt for him, that would be great.
- LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his equalizing free kick against the Houston Dynamo in his 400th league appearance.
- As part of the league’s annual Earth Day celebrations, MLS unveiled this year’s One Planet kit. This one is themed after carbon neutrality efforts and includes a tree ring design.
- Manchester City announced that Australian forward Mary Fowler tore her ACL in the team’s FA Cup semifinal loss to Manchester United.
- Here’s everything you need to know ahead of today’s second legs in the Europa League quarterfinals. With storylines ranging from goalkeeper Andre Onana’s possible redemption to Bodo/Glimt’s Cinderella run, it should be a fun day of soccer.
- Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee will miss the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links 4/16/25
Orlando Pride on top, OCB falls to Inter Miami II, USMNT eyes Gold Cup, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I know I’ve said it before, but I love that I can always find soccer to watch. Whether it’s UEFA Champions League or the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, or anything in between, I love it. I’m willing to bet you love it too. Speaking of love, we want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando City Designated Player Luis Muriel. Let’s get to the links.
All the Rankings
With the win over the Seattle Reign, the Orlando Pride stayed perfect on the season. It was enough for the Pride to remain on top of the standings and also at the top of numerous power rankings. All for XI kept the Pride at No. 1 with a shoutout to Anna Moorhouse, SI.com did the same, while noting Summer Yates’ injury, and Goal.com completed the sweep. The Pride also landed at No. 8 in Opta’s global power rankings for women’s clubs. Strangely, the Kansas City Current were two spots above on that particular list.
OCB Falls to Inter Miami II
Orlando City B traveled to IMG Academy to take on Inter Miami II Tuesday night. The Young Lions went down early on the road, but were able to equalize thanks to a goal from Tahir Reid-Brown. Unfortunately, Inter Miami scored two more goals before a penalty in second-half stoppage time gave OCB a slight lifeline. It was not enough as the team fell 3-2 to their in-state foes.
Generation Adidas Cup Matchups
Orlando City Academy’s U-18 squad won Group J in the Generation Adidas Cup. Now the team will face St. Louis City SC 2 in the Round of 16. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the younger generations of players in Orlando City’s system, here is your opportunity.
U.S. Eyes Gold Cup
We’re about two months out from the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup and it feels like a must-win for the USMNT given recent results. Winning an eighth Gold Cup title will not come easily. Naturally, all eyes fall on Christian Pulisic to lead the squad, though not everyone thinks he should be the pick for captain. Tyler Adams is looking for more belief from his teammates heading into the competition.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City dropped two spots in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings thanks to the 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls. Fortunately, they’re still above the Red Bulls for whatever that is worth.
- The Women’s UEFA Champions League is down to four clubs. Here is your preview for the semi-finals.
- Orlando City did not make the Week 8 Moments of the Matchday. That’s not really surprising given there weren’t really any “moments” to speak of in the match.
- New York Red Bulls midfielder Omar Valencia was fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the simulation-embellishment policy against Orlando City.
- French Ligue 1 clubs on Tuesday voted to break their television deal with DAZN. There is no stated plan for next season.
- USWNT and Lyon midfielder Lindsey Heaps is heaps happy that her USWNT teammates Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger have joined her in Europe.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
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