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Lion Links: 4/15/23

Lions travel to Allianz Field, Orlando Pride need first win, USMNT learns Gold Cup group opponents, and more.

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4 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy double matchday, Mane Landers! It is another busy weekend for my wife and I, as we yet again have family in town following the move into our new house. Is it a house? Is it a hotel? With all the people coming and going, it sure is starting to feel like one. But heck, we love seeing friends and family so there are no real actual complaints here. The good news is it really gives me ample time to try to create some more Orlando soccer fans when the games are on the television here for them to take in alongside us. Anyway, let’s get to what you came here for, today’s links!

Orlando City Travels to Minnesota United

The Lions are back after sitting out Matchday 7, and this week they are hitting the road to St. Paul, MN, where the Loons await. This is the first time Orlando City has visited Allianz Field since a 1-1 draw in August 2019. Both squads attempt to get back on track after an Orlando loss to Nashville SC and Minnesota loss to the Chicago Fire. Minnesota United started the season with a five-game unbeaten run prior to the loss.

Lions coach Oscar Pareja is also very familiar with both the Loons and their manager, Adrian Heath. The first manager in Orlando City history, Heath spent six years in the City Beautiful before he took over Minnesota in 2017.

“Minnesota is a team that has a structure that we know since we faced them in preseason. I have a good relationship with Adrian as well and I know him from his experiences in the league. But well, we say that every game. They know us, we know him. What we’re looking at is trying to use that knowledge and applying it on the pitch and then trying to get what we need. First, the victory and the most important is that our chemistry and our system can get more mature.”

Orlando Pride Aim For First Victory

The Orlando Pride attempt to get their first win of the season when they welcome Gotham FC tonight. Last week, the team dropped points with a last-gasp loss to Angel City FC. This will be the 20th meeting between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Pride, with the series currently even at 7-7-5. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines knows that his young players will have to adjust to the NWSL to grab the elusive first win, but he believes they are ready to step up.

“This is going to take time so it’s a new group of players building relationships over the course of the season,” he said, “and they’re in really high spirits and they know that they can go into games and compete with some of the best players in the world.”

Concacaf Announces 2023 Gold Cup Draw

The U.S. Men’s National Team is on the hunt for its eighth confederation championship as part of Group A in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. The other teams in the group include Jamaica and Nicaragua, with a final team that will be determined through the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims. Based on the Gold Cup Prelims draw, the remaining team in Group A could be one of four possibilities: Curaçao, French Guiana, Sint Maarten or St. Kitts & Nevis. The Prelims Round will occur June 16-20 in the United States. The Gold Cup tournament itself will take place June 24-July 16, with the schedule expected to be announced soon.

The USMNT enters the tournament as reigning champion after lifting the 2021 Gold Cup. The Yanks also won the inaugural tournament in 1991 before being crowned regional champions again in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2021. If the United States wins the 2023 competition, it would tie Mexico’s record of eight titles.

Must-Watch Matches of MLS Matchday 8

If you are one to stream multiple screens or watch replays, this might just be your week. Aside from catching Orlando City and Minnesota United, there are plenty of other games to check out around the league.

The Cascadia Cup rivalry between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders will be a late night match set to kick off at 10:30 p.m. Even though the Timbers are winless and the Sounders are flying high, anything can happen each season when these two teams meet. Another big rivalry, El Trafico, between LAFC and the LA Galaxy, will headline Sunday viewing at 4:30 p.m. LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga has been incredible this season and looks to make his mark against a struggling LA Galaxy.

St. Louis City started its inaugural season with a Cinderella story but has since fallen short. In a cross-conference meeting, FC Cincinnati will take its $10-million dollar man, Brenner, to town and show the club is leading the Supporters’ Shield race at 8:30 p.m.

Free Kicks

  • Congratulations are in order for Orlando City center back Rodrigo Schlegel who welcomed his daughter, Maria Emilia! Will she grow up to be a defender (or break-glass goalkeeper) like her father?
  • Orlando City has released El Pulpo’s sweet pink goalkeeper kit for purchase. I personally love the top, and want one, but I do think it clashes a bit with the purple shorts.
  • The Viking Army, an official supporters group of the New York Red Bulls, will walk out in protest during the club’s match against Houston tonight.
  • New York City FC has selected HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor to build its soccer-specific stadium set to debut in the 2027 MLS season.
  • A partial stadium ban imposed on Juventus for racist chants directed toward Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has been suspended.
  • Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his foot.
  • Ryan Reynolds dropped the best birthday wishes to his Wrexham AFC co-owner, Rob McElhenney.
  • And finally, Zava — I mean, Zlatan — is kicking butt and not just goals in this wild video clip.

That’s a wrap on today’s links. I hope you all enjoy the matches today. Vamos Orlando!

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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

19 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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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!

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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

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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.

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

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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

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October 21, 2026

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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.

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

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