Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links 3/29/23

Published

4 years ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope you all are having a good week as we all get ready for another weekend filled with Orlando soccer. It’s been a busy past few days for me, but I’m looking forward to checking out a place not too far from me in Tampa that serves booze-infused ice cream. Is margarita ice cream a crime against nature? I plan on finding out for myself. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Prepares for Nashville SC

After winning on the road against the Philadelphia Union this past weekend, Orlando City hosts Nashville SC this Saturday at Exploria Stadium. Martin Ojeda has scored in Orlando’s past two games and has 20 shots this season, the most in the league alongside Sporting Kansas City’s Erik Thommy. Center back Robin Jansson could make his 125th appearance across all competitions for Orlando City and spoke on how the team is getting ready to go up against Nashville’s offense.

“We know that [Hany Mukhtar] is a great soccer player and we need to be ready and aware of of the way Nashville is attacking and playing. We know them because we played them a lot in the last couple of years. It’s going to be an interesting game, we’re going to go out there and play our way and focus on our game first. Then we have to be aware of their strengths.”

– Orlando City center back Robin Jansson

Orlando City’s Theme Nights for 2023 Season

To celebrate April Fool’s Day, Saturday’s match with Nashville will be Sea Cows Night. It is one of seven themed nights scheduled to take place over the course of this Orlando City season. For Sea Cows Night, players will wear Sea Cows warm-up tops and there will be limited-edition merchandise available as well. Orlando’s match against the Colorado Rapids on June 10 will be Love Unites, which will recognize the seven-year remembrance of the victims of the Pulse shooting. Fan Appreciation Night will take place on Oct. 7, with the club dedicating Decision Day to its supporters.

Orlando Pride Acquire an International Roster Spot

The Orlando Pride traded away $70,000 in Allocation Money to Angel City FC in exchange for a 2023 international roster spot. Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter spoke on the PawedCast earlier this month about exciting things ahead for the Pride during the summer transfer window. This trade comes at an interesting time with the season underway and could be part of the Pride’s plans during that window.

Scarf the City is Underway Today

For those of you in the City Beautiful, be on the lookout today for Orlando Pride scarves. Over 1,000 are hidden around Central Florida as part of Scarf the City, a scavenger hunt of sorts where scarves are located at iconic locations and local areas to find. Fans who find a scarf can share it on social media for a ticket deal for the Pride’s home opener this Sunday against Angel City. As part of the event, Pride players Ally Watt, Mikayla Cluff, Emily Madril, and Summer Yates will be at local Publix locations this evening to give out scarves and sign autographs.

USWNT Roster Announced for April Friendlies

Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski called up 26 players for the United States Women’s National Team’s friendlies next month against Ireland. The roster includes Julie Ertz, who has not played for the USWNT since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. It will be interesting to see how much she features across the team’s two matches. Sophia Smith, Kelley O’Hara, and Casey Krueger are a few other players returning to the team for these friendlies. The USWNT will take on Ireland in Austin on April 8 and then again on April 11 in St. Louis. These are the last USWNT matches before Andonovski names the roster for this summer’s World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Pedro Gallese started in goal and had a save in Peru’s scoreless draw with Morocco in Madrid. Wilder Cartagena started against Germany, but didn’t appear in this one.
  • Mason Stajduhar’s save against Alejandro Bedoya was highlighted as one of the top saves from this past weekend.
  • Orlando City jumped up five spots to eighth in the MLS power rankings after its 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.
  • Facundo Torres started and played for 60 minutes in Uruguay’s 2-1 win against South Korea.
  • Orlando City B placed sixth in the MLS NEXT Pro’s first top 10 rankings of the season. There were some stream issues in the team’s 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union II, but now you can check out Jack Lynn’s first goal of the year.
  • American midfielder Tyler Adams has undergone surgery for his hamstring injury and will be out for Leeds United for an extended period of time.
  • Scotland beat Spain 2-0 in Glasgow thanks to a brace from Scott McTominay. It was the first time Spain has lost a Euro qualifier since 2014 and this was the first time Scotland has won against Spain since 1984.
  • Kevin De Bruyne had two assists within the first 10 minutes and then added a goal of his own in the second half to lead Belgium to a 3-2 win over Germany.

That’s all I have for you today. Have a wonderful Wednesday and rest of your week!

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

Published

15 hours ago

on

October 23, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

October 21, 2026

By

Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Trending