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Lion Links: 5/10/23

Orlando City loses to Charlotte FC in U.S. Open Cup, Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit tonight, Champions League semifinals begin, and more.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Well, last night could have gone better. I plan on starting the day with the strongest coffee I can find to help shake off that Orlando City loss. Today is a new day and we have the Orlando Pride’s match to look forward to tonight as well. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Falls in U.S. Open Cup

Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup title defense is already over, as the Lions lost 1-0 on the road against Charlotte FC. Charlotte’s Kamil Jozwiak made the most of an Orlando turnover, powering through Orlando’s defense to score the game’s only goal in the 70th minute. The Lions pushed for an equalizer but lacked sharpness, finishing the match without a shot on target. Mason Stajduhar came up with a few great saves, but the Lions came up short in their first game of the tournament. Orlando’s next game will be another road match on Saturday against the Columbus Crew.

Orlando Pride Face the Washington Spirit Tonight

After winning their first home game of the year, the Orlando Pride are on the road tonight to take on the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup. The Pride started this year’s tournament with a 1-1 draw against the North Carolina Courage, with the Courage scoring a late equalizer to leave Orlando with a point. Although the Spirit lost 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC in their tournament opener, they are unbeaten in league play this season and are coming off of a 3-1 win at home against San Diego Wave FC. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how tonight’s match is a great chance for the team to keep building momentum.

“You want games, you want opportunities to play, another opportunity for us to go back to our identity and our style of play and just build on what we’ve already done this season. We’re looking forward to it. The energy is high, the confidence is high and there’s no better way to show it again than in a football match.”

More Teams Reach U.S. Open Cup Round of 16

The USL Championship’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds “cupset” the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium to advance to the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16. Danny Griffin scored right before halftime and Pittsburgh’s defense held on for the win. Inter Miami avoided a similar fate against the Charleston Battery, winning 1-0 due to an own goal. The Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner scored two equalizers against Minnesota United, but missed his penalty kick in the shootout as the Union were eliminated. Elsewhere in the tournament, the Chicago Fire beat St. Louis City 2-1 and the New York Red Bulls won 1-0 to oust D.C. United.

Real Madrid and Manchester City Draw in Champions League

The UEFA Champions League semifinals kicked off with a cagey 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Manchester City. Vinicius Junior gave Real Madrid the lead in the first half, scoring off of a powerful shot from distance. Madrid’s defense did well and kept Erling Haaland in check for most of the game, but Kevin De Bruyne beat Thibaut Courtois to score an equalizer in the 67th minute. The two teams will meet again for the second leg on May 17 in Manchester. Today’s action features the first leg between rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan.

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  • The U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team roster was announced for the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship later this month. The U.S. is in a group with Canada, Jamaica, and Panama, with the top two finishers in the group advancing to the semifinals.
  • Eintracht Frankfurt Head Coach Oliver Glasner will leave the club following the German Cup final against RB Leipzig on June 3. Glasner led Frankfurt to winning the Europa League title last year, but the club has not won in its past 10 Bundesliga matches.
  • Paris Saint-Germain reportedly shortened Lionel Messi’s suspension and he will be available for the club’s match this Saturday against Ajaccio.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/26

Orlando City wins big against Charlotte FC, Javier Otero receives praise, Young Lions sign short-term contracts, and more.

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24 hours ago

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April 23, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We might have to start petitioning for all of Orlando City’s games to be moved to Wednesdays as the Lions have won a midweek game for the second consecutive week. This one was a much more exciting affair to boot, and it does feel a bit like a shot in the arm this morning. Let’s go ahead and get to the win and more in today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Crushes Charlotte FC

The Lions hosted Charlotte FC and claimed all three points in a 4-1 victory, snapping a four-game winless streak in league play. Luis Otavio scored his first goal as a Lion to give Orlando the lead, but Charlotte managed to equalize later in the first half. The second half belonged to Orlando though, as Martin Ojeda took over and Robin Jansson anchored the defense to prevent a comeback. It’s only the third time this year that the Lions have scored multiple goals in a match and hopefully they can keep that attacking momentum going when they travel to play D.C. United on Saturday.

Javier Otero Earns Praise After U.S. Open Cup Win

Orlando City goalkeeper Javier Otero came up with big saves to help the Lions win 1-0 against FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 earlier this month and his performance earned him a spot on the bench of the Team of the Round. He was also nominated for Save of the Round for his diving save to parry away a low strike, and voting will remain open until 8:30 p.m. tonight, so be sure to vote! Tyrese Spicer’s impressive strike wasn’t nominated for Goal of the Round, but you can vote on that award as well.

Young Lions Sign Short-Term Contracts

Orlando City B players Ignacio Gomez and Bernardo Rhein were signed to short-term contracts with the first team and both came off the bench for the Lions Wednesday night. Gomez, who made his MLS debut on Saturday, capitalized on his time on the field by scoring his first goal as a Lion. The pair of Young Lions will be available for Saturday’s game against D.C. United too, as the Lions are dealing with a rash of injuries that have tested their depth. Gomez is with Orlando on loan from Velez Sarsfield II, while Rhein has made 24 appearances with OCB as he continues to develop his game.

USWNT Will Face El Salvador in Concacaf W Championship

The schedule and matchups for this year’s Concacaf W Championship were revealed and the United States Women’s National Team will take on El Salvador in the quarterfinals on Nov. 27. This tournament will also notably serve as qualifying for both the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The four semifinalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the two finalists and third-place nation will secure an Olympic spot, though the U.S. already has as host. Orlando Pride forward Solai Washington and Jamaica will play against Costa Rica with a World Cup berth on the line, with the winner facing the victor between the U.S. and El Salvador in the semifinals.

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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

Lion Links: 4/22/26

Orlando City hosts Charlotte tonight, the Orlando Pride prep for Louisville trip, NWSL expansion coming to Columbus, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Kaka celebrating a goal.
Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day for Orlando City. That’s as much a warning for your mental health as it is a notification if you decide to watch the match tonight. Perhaps you could catch up on Pluribus, or rewatch Ted Lasso. I’m simply saying you have options that might not raise your blood pressure. On a brighter note, join me in wishing Orlando City legend Kaká a very happy birthday. More on him below. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Host Charlotte Tonight

Orlando City is looking to rebound against Charlotte FC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It’s no secret that the Lions are having a rough time of it so far this season, and with Charlotte sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. That doesn’t stop Martin Perelman and the players from thinking they are getting better and having a plan for the match tonight. What was it Mike Tyson said about everyone having a plan? Can the Lions turn things around on short rest?

Orlando Pride Return to NWSL Play Friday

The Orlando Pride return to action Friday against Racing Louisville FC. The match is at Louisville where the Pride have yet to win. Despite that, the players are ready to pick up where they left off before the international break. The break provided much-needed rest for many of the players. The Pride will play six matches during the month of May before the league takes a break for the World Cup.

Osceola Heritage Park Expansion Funding Moves Forward

Osceola County leaders have agreed to have Orlando City expand the club’s footprint at Osceola Heritage Park. Orlando Sports Enterprises (OSE a.k.a. the Wilf family) will match the $25 million that the county is putting up for the project. OSE will assume repair, maintenance, and operating costs for the facility. A hotel and free-standing restaurant are also in the plans. This is a good investment for the club’s future in the arms race that is professional sports.

NWSL Coming to Columbus

The owners of the Columbus Crew have been awarded an NWSL franchise. The Haslam Sports Group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to obtain the 18th NWSL club. The new club will renovate and play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field downtown. The organization will also build a training center at McCoy Park that had previously been slated to be renovated for local residents, including features that would enable physically disabled people to use the park.

The NWSL called and Columbus answered 📞 Columbus joins the league as team No. 18!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-21T19:44:42.987Z

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That will do it for today. Check back later today for our coverage of the Orlando City match this evening. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/21/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday eight, USWNT stock watch, transfer rumor roundup, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 21, 2026

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Image of Ignacio Gomez making his MLS debut with Orlando City vs. Houston.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a frustrating weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as Orlando City lost a close game to the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando City B blew a two-goal lead against Carolina Core FC, and had to settle for the two points that come with a shootout victory after a draw. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), OCSC will have a chance to get right back on the horse when Charlotte FC comes to town on Wednesday. We’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

MLS Matchday Eight Takeaways

Major League Soccer’s eighth round of matches is in the books, and there are plenty of talking points to go over. The San Jose Earthquakes ended the weekend on an emphatic note by dismantling LAFC 4-1 on the road, adding to an impressive list of scalps that also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego FC. They’re tied with Vancouver atop the Western Conference and continue to look like one of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC, Orlando City’s next opponent, kept things organized in a 4-4-2 block and scored from two of its three shots on goal to take down NYCFC 2-1. That result puts the club in third place in the Eastern Conference.

USWNT Stock Watch

The United States Women’s National Team wrapped up its three game slate against Japan over the weekend, so let’s check in on how the matches affected the standing of several players. Lindsey Heaps was name-dropped by Emma Hayes as having had a great run of three matches, while 20-year-old Claire Hutton wore the captain’s armband during the series and looked far more poised and ready than one would expect given her age. At the opposite end of the spectrum, winger Emma Sears struggled to make an impact in the final third, and while her speed makes her a tempting option to have in the squad, the depth at her position means she’s always going to face a battle for a place.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be here before we know it, and that means the rumors are already flying thick and fast. We begin with Arsenal, which is said to be interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, but will likely face competition from Barcelona. Speaking of Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has reportedly held talks with Robert Lewandowski about extending his stay with the team, while the Chicago Fire also interested and reportedly having submitted a bid to the striker’s representatives. Liverpool is said to be ready to spend in excess of  €100 million to sign Red Bull Leipzig forward Yan Diomande as a replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Finally, center backs Hiroki Ito and Min-Jae-Kim could both reportedly leave Bayern Munich this summer if interested teams are willing to meet the German club’s valuations of them.

Jonathan Klinsmann Suffers Broken Neck

American goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann suffered a broken neck while playing for Serie B side Cesena on Saturday. The son of former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the shot stopper was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Palermo player and was diagnosed with a fractured first cervical vertebra after being taken to the hospital. Klinsmann confirmed on social media that his season is over, which will leave him unavailable for Cesena’s promotion push. The team is currently eighth in the second division, which is the final playoff promotion spot.

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That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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