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Lion Links: 4/29/23

Orlando City focused on winning at home, Pride strive to remain unbeaten against San Diego, OCB hosts TFC II, and more.

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3 years ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

It’s time for another pair of matches today, Mane Landers! Orlando City invites one California team to town in the LA Galaxy, while the Orlando Pride takes the flight all the way across the country to San Diego. I feel like some jet fuel money and ozone layer could have been saved with a little bit of plane-pooling had both matches been played in the same state, but hey, I’m no airplane expert. But, it is a neat proposal to think that nearby men’s and women’s teams could start traveling together and playing double-headers for fans. While I’m almost certain this will never happen, I’ll take credit for it if it ever does, because I have now put the idea into print here. Alas, scroll no further, here’s what you really came here for, today’s links.

Orlando City Focused for LA Galaxy

With a home match upon us, the Lions of Orlando City spent their final Friday practice in the stadium. There is a photo gallery of the boys looking all-business as they aim for their first win at home since February. The LA Galaxy currently sit 13th in the West following their first win of the season last weekend against Austin FC. Orlando City midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsson discussed the team’s focus following another disappointing home loss.

“It is always kind of a worry when you’re not winning in front of your home fans. And of course, we as a team want to win every game. But especially, we want to make the Orlando City Stadium like… people come there and they fear to be there. But that is something that we need to do as a team. And I don’t have the answer why it is happening, but we are going to find out. And we’re going to start winning.”

The match is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Exploria Stadium. Be sure to get there early, be loud, and make the stadium somewhere for opponents to truly fear.

Orlando Pride Travel to San Diego

The Orlando Pride will look to pick up where they left off in San Diego. The last time the club traveled to San Diego it left Torero Stadium with a 1-0 victory. In that match, Meggie Dougherty Howard scored from the spot for the Pride. While she is now with the Wave, she has not accumulated any minutes so far this season due to injury. The Pride remained undefeated against the 2022 expansion team after playing to a 2-2 draw at Exploria Stadium. Dougherty Howard was once again able to find the back of the net, with Gunny Jónsdóttir scoring the second goal for Orlando. Despite the Pride sitting winless and in last place, Head Coach Seb Hines remains optimistic for his team to find a result.

“You know it is going to be a difficult game. They have some good players, but you know this league. Now anyone can win on any day so we’re hoping to go there and put a really good team performance out there and hopefully come away with three points.”

Tune into the match at 10 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network to see if the Pride can gather those first three points of the season.

MLS NEXT Pro Matchday 6: OCB Hosts Toronto FC II

The Young Lions of Orlando City B round out the festivities for the weekend, hosting Toronto FC II Sunday at 6 p.m. On MLS NEXT Pro Matchday 5, Toronto was able to finally find its scoring prowess. After an early 2-0 deficit, the match finished 3-3 in regulation. Ultimately, TFC II fell in a 5-4 shootout following regulation. Orlando City B earned two points on Matchday 5 in a thrilling 8-7 shootout of its own against NYCFC II after a 2-2 draw. OCB defender Nabi Kibunguchy claimed his first goals for the club in the match.

MLS Matchday 10 Preview

With 13 matches around the league, there are sure to be some fireworks this weekend. After catching Orlando City at home (or while simul-streaming from your seat), be sure to check out some notable other fixtures around the league. Giorgos Giakoumakis, who is tied for fourth in the Golden Boot race, will be unavailable for Atlanta United in its match against Nashville SC. Lucas Zelarayán and the Columbus Crew look to make it seven straight league losses for Inter Miami at Lower.com Field. The Eastern Conference’s two top clubs, FC Cincinnati and the New England Revolution, headline must-watch this week’s matches, playing at Gillette Stadium.

And finally, let us know in the comments below who you have in matchup of marquee strikers: D.C. United’s Christian Benteke or Charlotte FC’s Karol Swiderski?

Free Kicks

  • Midfielder David Ruiz has signed a Homegrown contract with Inter Miami through the 2025 MLS season with options for 2026 and 2027.
  • The Portland Timbers signed midfielder Noel Caliskan through the 2023 MLS season with options for 2024 and 2025. Caliskan was selected by Portland with the 15th pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
  • Gareth Bale confirms that he will not be coming out of retirement to play for Wrexham next season, despite the begging of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
  • Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani submitted his third and final bid to buy Manchester United on Friday and remains confident it will be successful.
  • Alejandro Garnacho has signed a new contract that will extend his stay at Manchester United until 2028. At the age of 18, he has already made 31 appearances for the senior team.
  • Napoli will secure the club’s third Serie A crown if it can beat visitors Salernitana and second-place Lazio drops points against Inter Milan.
  • Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund’s title chances are in question after they stumbled to a 1-1 draw at struggling VfL Bochum with four games left to play.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the scoresheet after a goalless three-game run by heading in the opening goal in Al Nassr’s 4-0 victory over Al Raed in the Saudi Pro League.
  • The Liga MX match between Club Puebla and Club Tijuana has been rescheduled due to the activity of the Popocatepetl volcano.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the matches. Vamos Orlando!

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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.

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1 day 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: 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.

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2 days ago

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October 22, 2026

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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.

Free Kicks

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

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