Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/12/23
Ercan Kara shares his soccer journey, Messiah Bright officially named NWSL Player of the Week, USMNT takes on Panama tonight in Gold Cup semifinal, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. There’s not much new with me lately up here in Chicago. I’ve been busy at work, but I try to catch some soccer whenever I can. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Ercan Kara Shares His Soccer Journey
Orlando City forward Ercan Kara gave some insight about his career, hobbies, and more. He said that two of the most memorable moments in his career were playing his first game for Austria and winning the U.S. Open Cup with Orlando. Kara also discussed his style of play and feels he plays well as a striker. Off the pitch, he enjoys watching NBA games and revealed that the one celebrity he would invite over for dinner would be Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
Messiah Bright Named NWSL Player of the Week
Orlando Pride forward Messiah Bright was officially named National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week, earning the honor for the first time in her young career.
Bright won the league voting on Monday, edging out NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Abby Smith for the award. She scored the lone goal in the Pride’s match this past weekend to defeat OL Reign for the club’s second consecutive win and presented problems for the visitors throughout her time on the pitch. This is also the second straight week that an Orlando Pride player won NWSL Player of the Week, with Julie Doyle claiming the honor last week.
USMNT Takes on Panama Tonight in Gold Cup Semifinal
The United States Men’s National Team will be in action tonight as it takes on Panama in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals. The match will be played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, as the U.S. looks to book a spot in the final and continue its quest to repeat as Gold Cup champions. The USMNT will need to eliminate some of the sloppy play it displayed in its last match against Canada in the quarterfinals. The U.S. will need to put in a better performance tonight and not give Panama any confidence to stay in this match. If the USMNT can serve good crosses into the box on set pieces, it can lead to more scoring chances for the Americans. The winner will face either Mexico or Jamaica in the Gold Cup final on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
USWNT Prepares for World Cup Clash With Vietnam
After a 2-0 win over Wales, the United States Women’s National Team will now get ready for its first World Cup match against Vietnam on July 21. Just Women’s Sports shared a scouting report on Vietnam, along with what we should keep an eye on for the match. Huynh Nhu is Vietnam’s top player, with 67 goals in 103 appearances for her country. Vietnam performed well against Germany last month and showed its attacking power despite losing 2-1 in a friendly. Vietnam did lose its next match 2-0 to New Zealand and has one more friendly against Spain tomorrow before it faces the U.S. These two sides have never played against each other before, and the USWNT will need to stay focused to avoid any costly mistakes.
Latest MLS Transfer News
In the latest MLS transfer moves, the LA Galaxy acquired defender Tony Alfaro from New York City FC in exchange for $125,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM). NYCFC could also receive up to $375,000 in GAM if certain conditions are met. NYCFC signed Algerian forward Mounsef Bakrar from Croatian side NK Istra 1961 to a contract through 2026, with an option for 2027 as well. The Vancouver Whitecaps signed defensive midfielder Andres Cubas to a contract extension as a Designated Player through 2026, with a club option for the 2027 season.
Free Kicks
- The latest MLS power rankings have been released. The Lions dropped four spots to 11th after their 4-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
- This week marks the four-year anniversary of one of our favorite Orlando City moments, the “Running of the Wall” in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup.
- Check out the sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win against the Reign.
- Lionel Messi arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday.
- The Philadelphia Union signed Head Coach Jim Curtin to a new contract extension through the 2026 season. The extension had been widely reported but is now official.
- Check out this breakdown of the USWNT roster that gives interesting details about the players and their potential impact in this summer’s World Cup.
- A group of investors is working towards bringing a women’s professional soccer team to Denver, but hasn’t indicated whether it will aim to join the NWSL or the USL Super League.
- Gabriela Anelli, a Palmeiras supporter, died two days after she was hit in the neck by a beer bottle during a brawl at a match between Palmeiras and Flamengo.
- Columbus Crew Head Coach Wilfried Nancy will be suspended an additional match after review by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for what it deemed irresponsible behavior towards the referee this past weekend.
- Former USMNT interim head coach Dave Sarachan has joined Robbie Keane’s staff in Israel as an assistant coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- The United Soccer League reportedly plans to take a vote on adding the promotion and relegation system to its league structure.
- Everton is reportedly signing 38-year-old left back Ashley Young.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/25/25
Orlando City and OCB play tonight, the Club World Cup continues, and more.

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is a busy week here at The Mane Land. Orlando City and Orlando City B play tonight, there are FIFA Club World Cup matches, Concacaf Gold Cup, and USWNT friendlies. It’s a lot, but it also means there’s a ton of soccer to watch, which is a good thing. Let’s get to the links.
Go West, Orlando City
Orlando City heads to Missouri to take on St. Louis City FC tonight. The Lions will be without Alex Freeman (international duty) and Rodrigo Schlegel (yellow card accumulation). Orlando City will need to deal with St. Louis City striker Joao Klauss while finding goals on the road. This is a must-watch midweek match. We will have a preview later today, and you should also listen to The Mane Land PawedCast to prepare.
Orlando City B Returns Home vs. Toronto FC II
Orlando City B hosts Toronto FC II at Osceola County Stadium tonight. Like the first team, we will have coverage for you. The Young Lions are coming off a two-week break after a loss to Carolina Core FC. It will be interesting to see which OCB shows up for the match. You can watch the match on mlsnextpro.com.
Club World Cup, Orlando-Style
There might not be as many people in the seats at the Club World Cup as FIFA would like, but Orlando is still a big part of it. The group stage finishes this week as the competition heads into the Round of 16. There’s a ton of prize money up for all the competitors no matter where they are currently in the standings. Our Michael Citro was at Camping World Stadium last night to cover LAFC vs. Flamengo in Group D.
USMNT News
The USMNT will face Costa Rica Sunday in a Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal match in Minneapolis. Malik Tillman has been a bright spot on the roster, though Orlando City fans will be watching Freeman. The perpetual search for a consistent striker continues for the USMNT, though Patrick Agyemang may be the answer — at least for now.
Free Kicks
- The Pride managed to maintain the Number 2 spot in SI.com’s Power Rankings despite the loss to Racing Louisville.
- So, the 2025 MLS All-Star jersey has arrived. Thoughts?
- There’s nothing quite like having your number retired after playing for a team for two whole years after playing for another club for six years. It is especially special when the new club has been in existence for a whole four years. Congratulations to former Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan.
- Lyon has been relegated to Ligue 2 due to the club’s financial problems.
- Paul Mullin is headed to Wigan on a season long loan from the recently promoted Wrexham AFC. That’s probably a spoiler for a future episode of Welcome to Wrexham.
- Concacaf has cleared Jesse Marsh of allegations that he disregarded the competition’s rules regarding suspended match officials.
- After the Gold Cup, Agyemang may be making the move from Charlotte FC to Derby County.
- You may have seen that the USWNT is celebrating Pride month with rainbow numbers on the team jerseys. I am a supporter and ally, but it means even more to the players.
That will do it for today. Make sure you check back later for our match coverage. You can also follow our live coverage on Bluesky. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/24/25
Orlando City’s upward aspirations, Tim Weah reportedly set for transfer, Club World Cup roundup, and more.

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We’ve got a busy week ahead of us with the Club World Cup approaching the end of the group stage, OCB at home on Wednesday, and Orlando City back in action with a pair of games. That means we have plenty to talk about, so let’s get straight into today’s links.
Orlando City’s Lofty Goals
Kyle Smith took some time after training on Monday to speak to the media and shed some light on where OCSC is at right now. The utility player was candid in saying he believes this year’s team is the best one he’s seen since he’s been with the club, and that’s saying something considering he’s the longest-tenured player on the team. Smith said the team is focused on climbing higher in the standings and that the two recent breaks will help the team do just that. He emphasized the importance of handling extra time off between games the right way by making sure the players are taking care of their bodies, getting in the gym, and recovering afterwards. That sort of professionalism paid off in the 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, so hopefully the same is true of Wednesday’s game against St. Louis City.
Tim Weah Reportedly on the Move
Nottingham Forest has reportedly agreed a deal with Juventus to sign Tim Weah and fellow Juve player Samuel Mbangula for roughly €22 million. That being said, personal terms have not yet been agreed upon with Weah, and that will likely take some time, since he’s playing for them at the Club World Cup, and the Italian side is probably keen to minimize outside distractions. Weah broke out with Lille during a four-season spell with the French side, earning a move to Juventus in 2023 as a result.
Club World Cup Roundup
The Club World Cup continues to roll on, as the tournament entered its final round of group stage games on Monday. Atletico Madrid became the first big name to exit the competition, as it beat Botafogo 1-0 to finish level with the Brazilians on six points but will be going home due to having worse goal difference. Atletico needed to win by at least three in order to overtake Botafogo in the standings and might have managed it if not for some poor finishing. In Group B’s other game, Paris Saint-Germain took down the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to finish top of the group. Seattle was given a brutal draw and accounted itself as well as can be expected, but ultimately, the Sounders exit the competition without picking up a point.
Club World Cup Takeaways
Speaking of the Club World Cup, what are some of the impressions so far of the expanded tournament? There have been plenty of good things, as teams have been taking it seriously with strong lineups, and barring the outlier that is Auckland City, no one team has been consistently getting shelled. On the other hand, making the jump from six teams to 32 simply feels like too much too soon, and that’s probably contributed to fluctuating levels of interest from local fans. High ticket prices and games starting in the heat of the day haven’t helped much either, as weather conditions have been a recurring concern among both fans and players. The competition is still a net positive overall, but there are certainly some things to learn from and improve upon next time around.
Free Kicks
- Check out some of the scenes from the Lions’ training session on Monday.
- The Orlando Pride slid down to fifth in ESPN.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Three people are dead while a further 81 have been injured following the collapse of a stand at an Algerian soccer match.
- Manchester United has reportedly submitted an improved offer for Bryan Mbuemo.
- Manchester City’s Rico Lewis has had his Club World Cup ban extended for two additional matches.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/23/25
Pride fall to Racing Louisville, Seb Hines and Giles Barnes share insight on path to success in Orlando, USMNT defeats Haiti, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy working and catching up with friends over the past week. Before we get started, let’s wish a belated happy birthday to Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter, who turned 41 on Saturday. The Pride was the lone team in action over the weekend, while the Lions and OCB were off. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Fall at Racing Louisville
The Orlando Pride fell to Racing Louisville 2-0 Friday at Lynn Family Stadium. Arin Wright scored the opening goal in the first half, and former Pride midfielder Taylor Flint converted a penalty kick for Racing Louisville. The Pride struggled offensively and failed to capitalize on their scoring chances. Orlando’s struggles in Louisville continue, as the club is winless in five matches at Lynn Family Stadium. The Pride will be on a long break, and their next match will be Aug. 3, taking on the Utah Royals at Inter&Co Stadium.
Seb Hines, Giles Barnes Share Insight on Path to Success in Orlando
Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines and Assistant Coach Giles Barnes were featured in an interview in The Guardian. Both Hines and Barnes shared insight into their longtime friendship, which began with playing in English youth international camps, their different paths to playing in Major League Soccer, and how they became involved in coaching. Hines discussed his time as interim manager of the Pride in 2022 and how he brought in Barnes to help change the club’s culture. Hines and Barnes helped change the perception of the club and led the Pride to winning both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last season.
USMNT Defeats Haiti to Win Group D in Gold Cup
The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Haiti 2-1 Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, in their final match in the group stage of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. The USMNT finished atop its group with three wins and nine points. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman made his third consecutive start and played 90 minutes.
Malik Tillman scored the opening goal 10 minutes into the match to give the USMNT the early lead. Haiti tied the match not long after Tillman’s goal. In the second half, Patrick Agyemang pulled the USMNT back in front. The USMNT advances to the quarterfinals as the group winner and will play its next match Sunday against the Group A runner-up which was the late game Sunday night and had yet to conclude as of this writing.
Club World Cup Weekend Recap
Another weekend of matches from the FIFA Club World Cup is in the books. On Friday, Benfica crushed Auckland City FC 6-0, while Flamengo beat Chelsea 3-1. LAFC was eliminated from advancing to the knockout round after a 1-0 defeat to ES Tunis. Bayern Munich edged Boca Juniors 2-1. On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3. Inter Milan needed a late stoppage-time winning goal from Valentin Carboni to edge Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1. Fluminense beat Ulsan HD 4-2, and River Plate and Monterrey ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, Juventus cruised to a 4-1 win over Wydad Casablanca. Xabi Alonso secured his first win as manager of Real Madrid with a 3-1 victory against Pachuca. Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Hilal played to a scoreless draw, with Manchester City playing Al-Ain in the late match Sunday. Today’s matches feature Atletico Madrid facing Botafogo, the Seattle Sounders hosting Paris Saint-Germain, FC Porto vs. Al Ahly, and Inter Miami taking on Palmeiras.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos and forward Simone Jackson have been called-up to the U-23 U.S. Women’s National Team. The U-23 camp will be led by Orlando Pride Assistant Coach Yolanda Thomas.
USL Championship side San Antonio FC has signed former Orlando City defender Abdi Salim to a 25-day contract.
San Diego Wave winger Maria Sanchez has reportedly reach an agreement to return to her former club, Tigres of Liga MX Femenil, on a four-year contract.
Paul Pogba is reportedly set to return to playing soccer and has signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
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