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Lion Links: 7/20/23

Junior Urso returns to Orlando City, Bryan Reynolds linked with the Lions, Orlando Pride get ready for NJ/NY Gotham FC, and much more.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? If you’re a fan of soccer tournaments, it’s an exciting time to be alive. The Women’s World Cup is underway, the Leagues Cup kicks off this weekend, and the NWSL Challenge Cup gives us even more to enjoy over the next few weeks. Even though the time zones may destroy my sleep schedule, I’m really looking forward to the next month. Now, let’s dive right into today’s links with some of the best news of the year!

The Bear is Back

Less than a year since he left for personal reasons, midfielder Junior Urso has returned to Orlando City on a deal through the rest of this season, with an option for 2024 as well. The 34-year-old will become available once his paperwork clears and should be a great addition to the team as he won’t need much time to get up to speed in Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s system. On the field, Urso will provide versatility, depth, and a needed scoring threat to Orlando’s midfield. It’s also just great to have him back, as he’s been a fan favorite since joining the team in 2020 and brings a fun energy to the Lions. He’ll wear No. 21 this time around and the video announcing his return is definitely worth the watch.

Bryan Reynolds Linked With Orlando City

According to Will Forbes, Orlando City is interested in bringing American right back Bryan Reynolds to the City Beautiful on loan. Reynolds joined AS Roma from FC Dallas back in February of 2021, but has not received much playing time with the Italian club and spent time with Westerlo and Kortrijk in Belgium on loan. Orlando could use the 22-year-old, considering Michael Halliday’s injuries and Kyle Smith’s inconsistency at the right back position. Of course, this is just a rumor and it would be somewhat odd for Reynolds to return to MLS and not play in Dallas. Still, it will be interesting to keep an eye on him as this transfer window progresses.

Orlando Pride Prepare For NWSL Challenge Cup Match

In the first of the club’s four consecutive upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup matches, the Orlando Pride will take on NJ/NY Gotham FC at Exploria Stadium this Sunday. The Pride have not played in the Challenge Cup since a 4-2 defeat to the Washington Spirit and sit last in the group with just one point. However, a victory over Gotham on Sunday will get the Pride in the conversation to win the group. This match was originally scheduled for June 28, but had to be postponed due to weather. Both teams will be without some of their best attackers due to the World Cup, so it will be interesting to see which players step up. Pride forward Messiah Bright spoke on how the Pride is preparing to bring the intensity for Sunday’s match.

Tahir Reid-Brown Features in MLS NEXT All-Star Game

Orlando City B defender Tahir Reid-Brown played in the second half of the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, which was won by the West in a penalty shootout. Reid-Brown was the lone OCB representative and nearly scored a late winner if not for a good save by Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Mo Shour, who was named the game’s MVP. Nashville’s Adem Sipic bagged a brace in the first half, but the lineups changed for the second half and the West clawed back into the match with goals from the LA Galaxy’s Paulo Rudisill and LAFC’s Adrian Wibowo.

MLS All-Stars Wrecked By Arsenal

Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars were level for just five minutes in this year’s MLS All-Star Game in the nation’s capital, as the English Premier League club won, 5-0. Gabriel Jesus banked his shot off the post and in to give Arsenal an early lead, which Leandro Trossard then doubled in the 23rd minute with a nice strike from outside the box. Jorginho converted a penalty shortly after halftime, and late goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put the game to bed. Maybe it was a good thing no Lions were selected for this game, although I’d like to think Pedro Gallese would’ve kept the score from getting out of hand.

Learning About Vietnam Ahead of USWNT’s World Cup Opener

The United States Women’s National Team will kick off its 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign against Vietnam tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Not only will it be the first match between these two nations, but it will also be Vietnam’s World Cup debut. The Asian nation qualified for the tournament by beating Chinese Taipei and Thailand in a playoff following an exit in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup. Of the 23 players Vietnam Head Coach Mai Duc Chung called up for the tournament, Huynh Nhu is the only one who doesn’t play for a Vietnamese club, as she joined Portuguese side Länk Vilaverdense last year. Nhu is the star of Vietnam’s attack, scoring 71 times for her country.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja was honored for becoming just the sixth head coach to win 150 MLS regular season games. He reached that mark in the team’s dominant 4-0 win over Toronto FC on the Fourth of July.
  • Charlotte FC transferred Nuno Santos to Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal’s top flight for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder joined Charlotte from Benfica less than a year ago, scoring once in just nine appearances.
  • Inter Miami signed Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez as a U22 Initiative player. The 20-year-old joins Miami from Club Libertad, where he scored six goals in 51 appearances. I’m surprised Miami was aware there are soccer players who aren’t in their mid-30s.
  • Here is a list of 10 Liga MX players who could make an impact in the Leagues Cup. Santos Laguna center back Doria was featured, so he will be a player to watch when the Lions face the Mexican side on July 29 at Exploria Stadium.
  • Office hours are shifting in Brazil to accommodate the Women’s World Cup matches taking place in the morning.

Enjoy the gauntlet of soccer that’s upon us! I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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21 minutes ago

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April 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/31/25

Lions and Pride win, NWSL weekend recap, FA Cup quarterfinals, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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March 31, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work but will attend the Chicago Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field later this week. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats LA Galaxy on the Road

On Saturday, Orlando City fought back from a 1-0 deficit, scoring two goals in the second half to defeat the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Galaxy struck early in the first half to jump on top. In the second half, the Lions were awarded a penalty kick after Eduard Atuesta was taken down in the box, and Martin Ojeda buried the spot kick to tie the match at one. In the 90th minute, Luis Muriel scored the winning goal on a long-range free kick to complete the comeback. Orlando is on a three-match unbeaten streak and beat the LA Galaxy for the third consecutive time. Orlando City’s next match will be on the road Saturday against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.

Orlando Pride Defeat San Diego Wave at Home

The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium and extended their win streak to three matches to start the season. After a scoreless first half, Haley McCutcheon scored to give Orlando the lead. The Wave equalized before Marta converted a penalty kick goal to seal the win for Orlando. The Pride are off to a great start this season, outscoring their opponents 10-1, and are atop the NWSL standings ahead of the Kansas City Current on goal difference. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will be on the road in their next match against the Seattle Reign on April 12.

NWSL Weekend Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s third week of matches is in the books. On Friday, the Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC match ended in a scoreless draw. The Washington Spirit defeated Bay FC 2-0, with Ashley Hatch scoring both goals. On Saturday, the Kansas City Current defeated the Utah Royals 3-0, while the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage match ended in a scoreless draw. On Sunday, the Chicago Stars fell 1-0 to Racing Louisville and remain winless, while Angel City FC edged the Seattle Reign 2-1 to secure its first win of the season.

FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap

The FA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with thrilling drama as four clubs booked a spot in the semifinals. Crystal Palace cruised to a 3-0 victory against Fulham, while Nottingham Forest edged Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw to advance. Aston Villa dominated Preston North End as Marcus Rashford scored twice to seal a 3-0 win, while Manchester City edged Bournemouth 2-1. The FA Cup semifinals are set for April 26 as Crystal Palace faces Aston Villa while Nottingham Forest will take on Manchester City.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City GM Luiz Muzzi provided some insight in an ESPN.com article on player transfers and highlighted the importance of building connections with different clubs to facilitate transfers.
  • Former Lion Benji Michel is going to play for HJK Helsinki.
  • That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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