Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/24/23
Duncan McGuire in good company, the Pride lose in KC, OCB draws but wins spot kicks, U.S. Soccer reportedly chooses sporting director, and more.

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. Iâll be honest, Iâm not exactly feeling very merry. It wasnât a good weekend for those who follow the club. Losses by Orlando City and the Orlando Pride were disappointing. OCBâs draw with the extra point for the penalty shootout win wasnât the result we wanted, but was better than the rest. Still, it is a new week and hope springs eternal. Letâs get to the links.
McGuire Making History
If anyone had Duncan McGuire as Orlando Cityâs top scorer eight matches into the regular season on their bingo card, you might be a winner. The rookie has three goals in only 247 minutes over six matches. He is the first SuperDraft selection since Daryl Dike to score three goals in his first six matches.
Iâm not saying that McGuire is another Dike, but Iâm open to the possibility if the youngster keeps scoring. With Ercan Kara just coming back from injury, and MGuire having the hot foot, he should get more chances to do so. Someone has to score the goals, so it might as well be McGuire.
The Pride Fall in Kansas City
The Orlando Pride traveled to Kansas to take on the Kansas City Current on Sunday resulting in a 2-0 loss. The Prideâs Brazilians â Marta and Adrianaâ were not able to produce what Debinha was able to for the Current. Of course, itâs not only their fault, but it is a disappointing, if not unsurprising fact that the Current finally got a win this season at the expense of the Pride. If you are sensing some ire from me regarding Debinha choosing to go to the Current for (reportedly) less money than the Pride offered, you are correct. The Pride are back in action next Saturday at 10 p.m. against the San Diego Wave.
OCB Wins (Sort of)
The Young Lions hosted NYCFC II at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday night. Defender Nabi Kibunguchy scored a first-half brace for the Young Lions to give Orlando a good lead, but unfortunately it didnât last, with the baby Pigeons clawing back both goals in the second half.
There were plenty of fouls flying, with both Orlando and New York City having players sent off due to second yellow cards. The match went to kicks from the spot after the draw â a quirk of MLS NEXT Pro matches â with OCB finally putting it away after nine kicks. Sean Rollins has your match recap.
Report: U.S. Soccer Chooses Matt Crocker as Sporting Director
The U.S. Soccer Federation is reportedly hiring Southampton Director of Football Operations Matt Crocker as the organization’s new sporting director â first reported by The Athletic. U.S. Soccer has stated that a sporting director will be hired before any decisions will be made regarding a manager for the USMNT. Assuming Crocker is indeed the choice, that will allow the organization to either bring back Gregg Berhalter or move on to a new candidate.
Free Kicks
- Wrexham AFC defeated Boreham Wood 3-1 after going down a goal in the first minute to the visitors on Saturday. An equalizer from Elliot Lee and a brace from Paul Mullin secured Wrexhamâs promotion to League Two of the English Football League. Needless to say, Wrexhamâs owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were happy and appropriately humble.
- A third-tier German football match was suspended after a referee was doused with beer following a penalty call he made that a fan didnât like. There are a couple of problems with this. First, donât throw stuff in peopleâs faces â even referees â as itâs not acceptable. Second, why the heck are you wasting beer like that? Itâs just a bad decision all around.
- Mo Salah moved to sixth on Liverpoolâs all-time scorers list with a goal in the clubâs 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest this past weekend. He also now has the most left-footed goals in league history, with 108.
- Manchester United advanced to the FA Cup final on a penalty shootout over Brighton & Hove Albion. United will now meet rival Manchester City in the final in June. Itâs going to be really weird for me pulling for United to keep City from completing the treble.
That will do it for today. Check back for more coverage of all things Orlando soccer. Also, check out and subscribe to our new Pride podcast â SkoPurp Soccer – An Orlando Pride PawedCast. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/18/25
Scouting Saudi Arabia, Club World Cup summary, MLS midseason superlatives, and more.

Happy Wednesday, everyone. I’m pretty worn out after doing some traveling for most of the last two weeks, and I’m happy to be back home in Tampa for a bit before heading out on the road again. The soccer world has not paused during my time out on the road, and if anything its only picked up in intensity. That means we have a lot to talk about, but before we get into today’s links, let’s wish Orlando Pride defender Rafaelle a happy birthday.
Scouting Saudi Arabia
The United States Men’s National Team will continue its 2025 Gold Cup campaign on Thursday when it takes on Saudi Arabia in Austin, TX. That means this is a good time to familiarize ourselves with Arabian Falcons. They’re coached by Herve Renard, who deployed the team in a 4-2-3-1 in a 1-0 victory over Haiti in the team’s first game of the tournament. He isn’t married to that formation though, and will use a variety of tactical setups depending on the situation. Across all of them, Saudi Arabia plays with an emphasis on pressing in specific areas and quickly breaking in transition once winning the ball. Like the USMNT, the Saudis are missing a few first-choice players, and the midfield battle should be a particularly interesting area to keep an eye on.
Club World Cup Roundup
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup continued on Wednesday, so let’s take a look at the action. Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund got things started as they battled to a scoreless draw at MetLife Stadium. The Brazilian team had the better of the game overall, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made five saves to preserve a point for his team. The second game of the day was much livelier, as River Plate dispatched Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in Seattle. The Argentinians scored after just 12 minutes and never looked back despite Urawa making it a 2-1 game with a 58th-minute penalty. The third match took place at Inter&Co Stadium, and saw Mamelodi Sundowns beat Ulsan HD 1-0. While the scoreline didn’t reflect it, the South African team mostly dominated proceedings and finished with 68% possession and 718 passes to 325 for the South Korean side. However, it was a free-flowing game that offered both sides to take more from the match. Our Michael Citro was there to recap it for you at the link above.
Midseason MLS Superlatives
As much as it seems like the 2025 Major League Soccer season just started, we’re actually just past the halfway point of the campaign, and that means it’s a good time to look at some league superlatives. In a category that will be music to the ears of Orlando City fans, Bradley Wright-Phillips named fullback the most overlooked position and specifically took some time to praise Alex Freeman. BWP previously coached against Freeman with New York Red Bulls II when Alex was still with Orlando City B, so it’s interesting to hear his input from that additional aspect. It’s no surprise that the Vancouver Whitecaps got a lot of love, as they were named biggest surprise, and Jesper Sorensen was named best coach.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
Transfer season is in full swing, so here are some of the big rumors currently flying around. Manchester United is reportedly interesting in signing Callum Hudson-Odoi from Nottingham Forest, but the Red Devils face competition from Roma and Napoli. Arsenal might hit a snag in searching for a striker, as the Gunners are balking at paying the asking prices for either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, because they consider those numbers to be too high. Three different teams from the Saudi Pro League have reportedly shown interest in signing Son Heung-Min from Tottenham Hotspur, as he only has 12 months left on his current contract.
Free Kicks
- Get a peek at the Orlando Pride putting in work on the training ground.
- FIFA has been criticized after quietly doing away with its anti-racism messaging during the Club World Cup.
- Negative press for the tournament doesn’t stop there, as La Liga president Javier Tebas has said it’s his mission to eliminate the competition from existence.
- Atlanta United is reportedly closing in on a center back signing.
- The Washington Spirit have signed Sofia Cantore from Juventus.
And that’s it for me today. Have a great rest of your week. Vamos, Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/17/25
Orlando City and Orlando Pride players on Team of the Week, USMNT Gold Cup continues, and more.

Welcome to Wedn…er…Tuesday, Mane Landers. That’s right, I’m here a day early and not a moment too late. Orlando is knee deep in soccer, thanks to the FIFA Club World Cup on top of our favorite Orlando City and Orlando Pride clubs. We will have coverage of the matches taking place in the City Beautiful. Before we get started today, join us in wishing a happy 25th birthday to Orlando Pride midfielder Summer Yates. Now, let’s get to the links.
Schlegel Honored
Rodrigo Schlegel had a pretty good match against the Colorado Rapids. Despite not being named Man of the Match in our Player Grades, he did make the MLS Team of the Week bench. Meanwhile, Orlando held steady at the ninth spot in ESPN’s MLS Power Rankings, while dropping two spots from seventh to ninth in SI.com’s Power Rankings despite winning on the road. It just shows how very accurate and scientific power rankings are, doesn’t it?
Quadruple Honors for the Pride
The Orlando Pride saw Schlegel’s TotW Bench honor and said we can do better. Barbra Banda, Cori Dyke, Emily Sams, and Anna Moorhouse all made the NWSL Team of the Week from the Attacking Third. Congratulations to the Pride for covering a third of the Attacking Third’s selections.
Moorhouse is also up for Player of the Week and Save of the Week. As of this morning, she is not leading either category so you know what to do.
The USMNT Gold Cup Journey Continues
The Concacaf Gold Cup group stage is underway, with the USMNT securing a 5-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago Sunday evening. I’m always for beating Trinidad & Tobago, but more talented teams and tougher matches lie ahead. Next up for the USMNT is Saudi Arabia. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re correct. Saudi Arabia isn’t a Concacaf nation, but the team is the invitee for this Gold Cup. The match is Thursday night at 9:15 p.m. at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX. The U.S. will most likely need a win to secure the top spot in the group.
FIFA Club World Cup Results
The Club World Cup, which will visit Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium later today (we’ll be on hand with the coverage, naturally), continued early this week with Bayern Munich obliterating Auckland City 10-0, PSG defeating Atletico Madrid 4-0, Botafogo beating the Seattle Sounders 2-1, and Facundo Torres and Palmeiras drawing Porto 0-0 on Sunday. In the Monday slate, Chelsea defeated LAFC 2-0, and Boca Juniors and Benfica drew 2-2. Overshadowing all of this is the poor attendance, despite FIFA spending millions to boost said attendance.
Free Kicks
- One might think that a club sitting second in the official standings on a three-match winning streak would have matching ranks in all the various power rankings. However, one would be wrong, because although the Pride are in the second spot in the SI.com Power Rankings, the club sits at third in the ESPN.com Power Rankings. Do I need to say anything?
- You don’t often see Barcelona get passed over for an MLS club, but that is exactly what happened despite Barcelona calling FIFA to get a spot in the Club World Cup. That MLS club was LAFC, and it had to earn its way in by beating Club America.
- Liverpool has set a date for the medical for Florian Wirtz following the record transfer.
- Congratulations to Orlando City’s Alex Freeman on his performance in his first cap for the USMNT in a competitive match.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this week. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/16/25
Lions and Pride win, USMNT beats Trinidad & Tobago in Gold Cup opener, FIFA Club World Cup weekend recap, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you and belated happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there. The Lions and the Pride both won while OCB was off this weekend. Weâve got plenty to cover today, so letâs get to the links.
Lions Blank Colorado Rapids on the Road
Orlando City defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Martin Ojeda scored the lone goal for the Lions in the first half to snap their two-match winless streak. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made two saves and earned his eighth clean sheet of the season. With the win, Orlando moved up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 30 points. Orlando City will be off this weekend but will be return to action June 25 on the road at St. Louis City.
Banda’s Goal Lifts Pride Over Bay FC
The Orlando Pride defeated Bay FC 1-0 Friday at PayPal Park in San Jose, CA. After a scoreless first half, Barbra Banda scored the only goal in the match â her eighth goal of the season â and the Pride held on for the win. It’s the team’s third straight 1-0 victory over Bay FC, and the Pride also claimed their fifth clean sheet of the season. Orlando has won three matches in a row and remains second in the NWSL table with 25 points. The Pride will be on the road to take on Racing Louisville Friday.
USMNT Dominates Trinidad & Tobago in Gold Cup Opener
The U.S. Men’s National Team beat Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 Sunday in the opening match of the Concacaf Gold Cup at PayPal Park. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started the match and played 90 minutes. Malik Tillman scored twice, and Patrick Agyemang added one to give the USMNT a 3-0 lead before halftime. In the second half, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright each added a goal to extend the USMNT’s lead to 5-0. With the win, the Yanks snapped a four-match winless streak. The USMNT will take on Saudi Arabia Thursday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX.
FIFA Club World Cup Weekend Recap
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicked off on Saturday, with Inter Miami and Al Ahly playing to a scoreless draw in the opening match of the group stage. Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made eight saves, including a penalty kick saved in the 43rd minute against Trezeguet of Al Ahly as the teams split the points. On Sunday, Jamal Musiala scored a hat trick as Bayern Munich crushed Auckland City 10-0, Paris Saint-Germain routed Atletico Madrid 4-0, and Palmeiras and FC Porto ended in a scoreless draw. The Seattle Sounders battled Botafogo in the late match. Today’s matchups feature Chelsea taking on LAFC, Boca Juniors facing Benfica, and Flamengo taking on Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
Tampa Bay Sun Wins USL Super League Championship
The Tampa Bay Sun defeated Fort Lauderdale United 1-0 after extra time to win the inaugural USL Super League championship on Saturday at Riverfront Stadium in Tampa. Former Pride players Jordyn Listro and Erika Tymrak were part of the squad’s stellar run to its first championship title in the inaugural season of the USL Super League. After no goals came from either side during the 90 minutes of play, the match went to extra time, and Cecilie Floe scored the winning goal for the Sun. Sydny Nasello was named the 2025 USL Super League Final MVP.
Free Kicks
- Check out this video on Orlando Cityâs social media pages featuring some players giving their dads a surprise phone call on Fatherâs Day.
- PayPal Park will host the 2025 NWSL Championship match on Nov. 22.
- Liverpool has reached an agreement to sign former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.
- Italy has reportedly named Gennaro Gattuso as its next manager of the Men’s National Team, one week after former manager Luciano Spalletti was fired.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and Iâll see you next time.
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