Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/11/23
Orlando Pride lose to the Washington Spirit, U.S. U-20 World Cup roster announced, Oguchi Onyewu hired as U.S. Soccer’s vice president of sporting, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a pretty rough week for Orlando’s soccer teams, so hopefully things turn around this weekend. I don’t have many plans for the rest of the week other than working, but I’m looking forward to visiting my family this weekend for Mother’s Day. But for now, let’s get to today’s links.
Orlando Pride Lose in NWSL Challenge Cup
In their second game of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup, the Orlando Pride lost 4-2 on the road to the Washington Spirit. The Pride struck first early on, but the Spirit scored three goals within nine minutes later in the first half. Ally Watt pulled one back in the second half, but Orlando couldn’t find an equalizer and Ashley Sanchez put the game on ice in stoppage time. The Pride are now at the bottom of their group with one point and their next match of the tournament will be on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC on June 7.
U.S. Names Roster for U-20 World Cup
The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team’s roster for the upcoming U-20 World Cup was revealed, with 14 MLS players called up. Orlando City right back Michael Halliday was not called up, but center back Thomas Williams was included as an alternate that will travel to Argentina and train with the team.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Paxten Aaronson is the most notable name on the list of players who won’t be with the team, alongside LA Galaxy defender Jalen Neal and Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez. However, midfielder Rokas Pusktas was called up despite his club, Croatia’s Hajduk Split, announcing earlier this month that he wouldn’t be released. He joins an offense that also includes Cade Cowell, Kevin Paredes, and Jack McGlynn. Chelsea’s Gabriel Slonina will likely start in goal. The team’s first match of the tournament will be on May 20 against Ecuador before matches with Fiji and Slovakia the following week.
U.S. Soccer Federation Hires Oguchi Onyewu
Former Orlando City B sporting director Oguchi Onyewu was named as the USSF’s vice president of sporting, a new role in the organization that will report to Sporting Director Matt Crocker. Onyewu played for the USMNT for 10 years and was named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year in 2006. After retiring, he joined OCB in 2018 and went on to serve as Belgian club Royal Excelsior Virton’s secretary general before joining the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. In this position, he will help Crocker in hiring a USMNT head coach and drive funding for the federation’s many youth and extended teams.
Kaká Looks Back On FIFA Youth Cup
Former Orlando City star Kaká talked with FIFA about his experience at the 2000 Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup with São Paulo. Although an injury prevented him from taking part in the tournament at age 18, Kaká spoke fondly about his time at the tournament as São Paulo won for the second-straight year. Now 41 and retired after a storied career, Kaká fielded questions regarding the importance of the Youth Cup, the inclusion of a women’s edition, and why this a great opportunity for young players to impress on a global stage.
“This is such a platform for these young players to show themselves because you are going to be pressured, you’re going to have the media there, and a lot of people around the world watching you. Maybe big clubs will also be watching you. You start tasting what professional football is.”
Free Kicks
- CF Montreal will close its visitors section for Saturday’s match against Toronto FC. This decision comes after violence at the Canadian Championship match between the two teams’ supporters earlier this week, which reportedly included a fan throwing a megaphone at Toronto midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye.
- Portland Timbers defender Claudio Bravo won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his low shot from outside of the box in a 2-2 draw with Austin FC.
- Inter Milan scored two early goals to win 2-0 over rival AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. The two teams will reconvene at San Siro again on Tuesday for the decisive second leg.
- The Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, and FC Cincinnati were a few of the MLS teams that advanced to the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16.
- The Vancouver Whitecaps reached the Canadian Championship semifinals after a 4-1 win over York United FC.
- Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years with the club. Only Lionel Messi and Xavi have more appearances for Barcelona than Busquets.
- We’ll end today’s links with this incredible bicycle kick from U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team captain Nick Perera in the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship’s group stage.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week. Stay hydrated out there!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/30/23
City’s home unbeaten run, Lions hunting for home field advantage, Facundo Torres loves scoring goals, and more.

Welcome to the weekend, Mane Landers. The Lions are closing out the month of September at home tonight with CF Montréal. On Sunday, OCB takes on Crew 2, while the Orlando Pride have a late match against Angel City on Monday. I never hate this time of year, when it seems like at any moment we can turn on the TV and catch a match, whether it be Orlando-based or afar. I’m here for it.
Before we head into the links today, let’s take a moment to wish our Brazilian midfielder and master of the late match dark arts, Felipe, a happy birthday!
Orlando City Go Streaking at Home
After a disappointing 1-1 draw against Inter Miami, Orlando City is powering towards the playoffs. The Lions will take on CF Montréal at Exploria Stadium tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Lions enter the match riding an impressive 10-game unbeaten home streak in league play. On the other side of the ball, CF Montréal has gone five straight games without a win and sits eighth in the East battling hard to stay above the playoff line. Orlando City sits on the cusp of a record points total, with 51 currently tied for the best in club history. A win or draw against tonight’s Canadian opposition would make this the best MLS season in its ninth campaign since joining MLS in 2015.
“Obviously, the last game was a great effort from the team and, you know, you’re disappointed to not take the three points at the end and only be able to take the draw,” Orlando forward Martin Ojeda said. “I think we’re gonna give that little bit extra in these last four games and continue pushing to try and put ourselves in second place or as high as we possibly can.”
Orlando City Hunts for Home Field Advantage
With just four games left in the season, two points separate Orlando City’s second-place position with the New England, which is currently in sixth. The close gap could pivot the upper half of the Eastern Conference table with a combination of different results across the league. While the Lions have clinched a playoff spot, they have yet to fully secure postseason home field advantage. All season the club’s preparation has led up to this crucial moment where a knockout round mentality can push them forward in locking down a playoff match in Exploria Stadium.
“We have pushed for two-and-a-half, three months towards us achieving these objectives and putting the team in the best place we can,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “Now we are in that spot, but we have to sustain it or even go higher. And knowing that in the playoffs, we need to be optimized to be sharp and advance.
Facundo Torres Keeps Scoring
With 12 goals and four assists, Uruguayan Designated Player Facundo Torres is having himself a great season heading into Matchday 35. As it stands, Torres sits tied for fourth in MLS goals and tied for third on the club in assists. If you need a hype video to get you pumped for the match tonight, take a look at this highlight reel showcasing the winger’s prowess in front of the net.
Orlando Pride Travel to Angel City
On Monday night, the Orlando Pride will kick off at 10 p.m. against Angel City at BMO Stadium. Orlando currently sits in seventh place, just a point behind the playoff line. This will be the second meeting between the two sides. In their first fixture, Angel City walked away the victors at Exploria Stadium in April with a 2-1 scoreline. An Angel City first-half goal by forward Claire Emslie was countered early in the second half by Pride forward Messiah Bright. However, it was the visiting team with the last laugh as Angel City forward Katie Johnson scored a last-gasp header at the death in the 10th minute of stoppage time to earn all three points.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando City match day media team had quite the time trolling Inter Miami fans at Exploria Stadium.
- Orlando Pride staff put in the extra work this week improving the team’s training facility.
- The United States Men’s Deaf National Team earned a 1-0 win against England in the Round of 16 at the 2023 DIFA Men’s World Deaf Football Championships.
- You can take as many steps as you want when walking up to strike a penalty, but the more you take, the worse you look when you fail at scoring. Just ask Neymar.
- RB Leipzig parted ways with its sporting director Max Eberl amid speculation linking him with Bayern Munich.
- Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga with a 1-0 home win over Sevilla after defender Sergio Ramos accidentally put the ball into his own net in the second half.
- Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has suffered a serious injury and will likely miss substantial time according to the club.
That’s all I have for you today. Enjoy the match at home tonight. Show up early and be loud. Every point counts this late in the game. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/29/23
Orlando City prepares for CF Montreal, learning more about Duncan McGuire, Jack Lynn named to MLS NEXT Pro Best XI, and more.

It’s Friday, which means we’re just one day away from a pretty busy weekend of Orlando soccer. It should be a pretty fun next few days, with Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B all in action. I don’t have many weekend plans beyond working and getting some writing and reading done. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Prepares for CF Montreal
Orlando City hosts CF Montreal tomorrow night in a showdown between two Eastern Conference teams with just four games remaining this season. It’s the second match between the two teams this year, with Montreal beating the Lions 2-0 in Canada on May 6. In the time since that game, the Lions have only lost three games this season and have not been defeated at home since April 22. Orlando’s next win will be Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s 60th with the Lions, and tomorrow’s match could also break club records for most wins and points in a season. A win for the Lions would be massive to put some breathing room between them and the other top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Get to Know Duncan McGuire
Orlando forward Duncan McGuire was the latest to go under the microscope as part of the club’s video series to learn more about the players. The rookie spoke on his upbringing as a middle child, as well as how he turned to soccer after struggling in other sports. McGuire also talked about his acrobatic goal celebrations and a clip is included of a time he didn’t quite stick the landing after scoring for Creighton. It’s a pretty fun interview, as he gave some details on how Mason Stajduhar is a quick learner when it comes to golf and how he wants to go out to dinner with Ana de Armas.
Jack Lynn Makes MLS NEXT Pro Best XI
Orlando City B forward Jack Lynn was named to the MLS NEXT Pro’s Best XI for the second straight year. Lynn fueled OCB’s offense this season, scoring 19 goals to help the Young Lions claim a spot in the playoffs. No MLS NEXT Pro player has scored more goals since the league’s inaugural season last year than Lynn, who has 34 goals under his belt. The 23-year-old is joined on the front line of this year’s Best XI with the two players he tied with for the Golden Boot, New York City FC II’s Matt Myers and Colorado Rapids 2 forward Remi Cabral.
Orlando City B Takes On Columbus Crew 2 This Sunday
The Young Lions will play their first MLS NEXT Pro playoff game this Sunday when they face Columbus Crew 2 on the road at 5:30 p.m. It will be the third and final match between the two sides this year, with each claiming a big win over the other earlier in the season. No team that qualified for the playoffs has lost more road games than OCB this season, which may be why Columbus elected to face Orlando. However, Orlando’s offense has been electric at times this year thanks to Lynn, Shak Mohammed, Wilfredo Rivera, and others. Sunday may be another wild game with the Young Lions involved and you can check it out on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
Tahir Reid-Brown Called Up for Training Camp
United States U-17 Men’s National Team Head Coach Gonzalo Segares called up 20 players for a training camp in Brazil to prepare for the U-17 World Cup in November. OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown was the lone Orlando representative called up for this camp. The 17-year-old was called up to the U-17 team earlier this April for a training camp in Florida. He’s had an impressive year, earning a spot in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game and making 10 appearances for OCB. The U.S. will take on Brazil on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 in a pair of friendlies during this camp.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City center back Rodrigo Schlegel unveiled the meaning behind his tattoos, including the ones for his parents and his biggest moments as a Lion.
- Former Orlando Pride forward Jodie Taylor announced her retirement. Over the course of her 21-year career, Taylor played for 17 teams across six countries.
- Center back Justen Glad, who has been with Real Salt Lake since 2014, has signed a contract extension with the club through the 2026 season.
- Andres Reyes also signed a new deal, agreeing to a new contract with the New York Red Bulls that begins next year and will last through 2026.
- ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf gave a nice breakdown on how the NWSL needs to improve, both for itself and the United States Women’s National Team.
- We end our links in the best way possible, as a dog took to the field in Mexico and stole the show.
That’s all I have for you today. Hopefully the weather plays nice this weekend and you’re able to do everything you have planned. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/28/23
Ajax is reportedly scouting Facundo Torres, Orlando Pride focus on upcoming matches, Houston Dynamo win U.S. Open Cup, and more.

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this work week has gone smoothly for you as we get ready to bid farewell to September. It’s been a hectic week for me, but I started and then promptly devoured all of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. It was a nice read, albeit a bit intense at times. I’m not sure what I’ll read next as most of my reading list is packed up for a move, but if you have any recommendations then let me know in the comments below. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Ajax Reportedly Interested in Facundo Torres
Orlando City forward Facundo Torres has reportedly garnered the interest of Dutch club Ajax according to Fabrizio Romano.
It’s not too surprising that Ajax, which currently sits in 14th in the Eredivisie with just seven goals from five games, has scouts keeping tabs on Torres. The 23-year-old has scored 12 goals this season, powering Orlando to second in the Eastern Conference. It wouldn’t be the first time Torres has received attention from European clubs and likely won’t be the last as he continues to impress with the Lions
Orlando Pride Focus During Playoff Push
The Orlando Pride are back in action on Monday for a crucial road match with Angel City FC. Both teams have 25 points this season, one point from the sixth and final playoff spot currently held by the Washington Spirit. It will be the first of three remaining games for the Pride this season, with matches against fellow playoff hopefuls Racing Louisville and the Houston Dash set for later in October. As a result, there’s not much margin for error if the Pride wish to make the playoffs and Kylie Strom talked about how the team is focused for these games.
MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Begin This Weekend
The first round of the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs kicks off this weekend with six matches that can all be watched on MLS Season Pass. Unlike last year, Orlando City B will be taking part and is set to face off with Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Although the Young Lions have struggled on the road against Columbus, Jack Lynn and Shak Mohammed can make things difficult for the hosts. Hopefully we’ll see OCB make Columbus regret its choice of opponent in the postseason. I like the wrinkle and mind games to the playoffs the new rule gave and am interested to see which of the lower seeds plays with a chip on their shoulder. The playoffs begin on Friday when Sporting Kansas City II hosts Austin FC II in a battle between the third and fourth seeds of the Western Conference.
Houston Dynamo Win U.S. Open Cup
The Houston Dynamo have lifted the U.S. Open Cup trophy after winning 2-1 on the road against Inter Miami. A pair of goals in the first half were enough for Houston to win its second U.S. Open Cup title after also winning in 2018. A goal in stoppage time from Josef Martinez made things interesting, but the Dynamo defense did well to secure the win and deny Miami its second tournament title this year. It was a strong end to a solid tournament campaign from the Dynamo, as they beat four MLS sides before taking down Miami in the final.
Albertin Montoya Hired as Bay FC Head Coach
Ahead of its inaugural NWSL season next year, Bay FC named Albertin Montoya as the club’s first head coach. Montoya, who has lived in California for most of his life, served as the interim coach for the Washington Spirit in 2022 and also coached the U.S. U-17 women’s national team in 2011. Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton spoke on how Montoya’s name came up often while the club searched for a head coach, as well as how his skill at developing players will help build the club’s foundation.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja called for the supporters to continue filling Exploria Stadium and pushing the Lions forward for the team’s remaining home games this season.
- St. Louis City midfielder Njabulo Blom won MLS Goal of the Week for his winner against Minnesota United. It was also the 23-year-old’s first professional goal.
- In the Carabao Cup, Newcastle eliminated Manchester City in a 1-0 win. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal all advanced as well. The fourth round is set, with Newcastle taking on Manchester United, Bournemouth hosting Liverpool, and West Ham facing off against Arsenal.
- Speaking of Bournemouth, American midfielder Tyler Adams made his debut in the club’s 2-0 win over Stoke CIty.
- Inter Milan’s five-game win streak in Serie A was snapped after a 2-1 loss to Sassuolo.
- Morocco won the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda won the rights to host in 2027.
- FIFA’s legal department and other teams are moving from Switzerland to Coral Gables in Florida for a permanent office there.
That’s all I have for you today. Have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
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