Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/5/23

Orlando City wins against Nashville SC, Messiah Bright will share her story, 2023 World Cup hosts announced, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

It may be Thursday, but it feels a bit like Friday after Orlando’s big win last night. It’s definitely the kind of positive result that takes some of the sting out of what has been a grueling work week. I’ll be spending most of the day getting my ducks in a row before moving tomorrow morning. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City Beats Nashville On the Road

The Lions are returning to Orlando with three points after winning 1-0 against Nashville SC in an Eastern Conference showdown. A goal right before halftime was enough, as the Lions survived despite Nashville’s potent attackers and an absurd amount of stoppage time. No team in the league has won more road games than Orlando’s eight. Orlando’s win further cemented its spot in second in the Eastern Conference. The Lions will play their penultimate match of the regular season on Saturday against the New England Revolution.

Messiah Bright Part of Upcoming NWSL Written Series

The National Women’s Soccer League announced a new written series that will give a platform to six players to share more about their life on and off the field while covering topics such as mental health and motherhood. Orlando Pride forward Messiah Bright was one of the six selected and will give her perspective during her first year in the league. Veteran Jess Fishlock, NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Sinead Farrelly, and 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year Naomi Girma are a few of the other players who will share their stories. The series kicked off with Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Krueger writing about her pregnancies and return to soccer.

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Takes Shape

Things have been tight in the Eastern Conference standings for quite some time, but this round of midweek matches added some clarity to where each team stands heading into the final few games. The Lions are three points above the third-place Philadelphia Union, which won 3-2 against Atlanta United. The Columbus Crew are in fourth after leapfrogging over the New England Revolution following a 2-1 win at Gillette Stadium.

As for the teams still fighting for a playoff spot, the Chicago Fire picked up a massive three points by beating Inter Miami 4-1 at home. The New York Red Bulls revived their playoff hopes with a surprising 2-1 win on the road against FC Cincinnati, while Charlotte FC is back in the thick of things after winning 3-0 against Toronto FC in a match that included a nice goal from Brecht Dejaegere.

FIFA Announces 2030 World Cup Hosts

The 2030 World Cup will be unlike any other as FIFA announced that six countries across three continents will host the centennial edition of the tournament. Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will all host games and automatically qualify for the 2030 World Cup. The opening match will take place in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, which is where the inaugural World Cup’s final took place in 1930. I’m curious how the logistics of this will affect fans, as some may need to travel across continents to support their team. The bidding for the 2034 World Cup has also begun, with both Saudi Arabia and Australia throwing their hats into the ring.

Keeping Up With the Champions League

Newcastle United came up with a huge win in the Champions League group stage, beating Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at home. The English club now sits at the top of a competitive Group F after AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund played to a scoreless draw in Germany. Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, and Barcelona also claimed victory. Shakhtar Donetsk may have had the most exciting win though, as the Ukrainian club battled back from a 2-0 deficit to Antwerp to win 3-2. Antwerp had a chance to equalize with the final kick of the game, but defender Toby Alderweireld missed his penalty.

Free Kicks

  • Cucho Hernandez was named MLS Player of the Month after recording eight goals and an assist for the Columbus Crew in September.
  • D.C. United’s Mateusz Klich won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his equalizer against the Vancouver Whitecaps. I’m not a huge fan of it winning due to how much of a role the deflection played into winding up in the net, but it was a good strike regardless.
  • Rob Page, the manager of the Welsh national team, stated that Wrexham forward Paul Mullin is a step away from joining Wales.
  • Many Americans struggled in Champions League action, but forward Haji Wright scored a winner in Coventry City’s 1-0 result against Blackburn Rovers in the English Football League Championship.

I hope you all enjoyed today’s links! It’s a little bittersweet as domestic soccer seasons are winding down, so let’s all make sure to enjoy the beautiful game while it’s here. Have a great Thursday!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/28/25

MLS shares Orlando City’s club profile, Orlando Pride reveal new kit, Orlando City B signs Thalles and Riyon Tori, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to the final day of February, Mane Landers! This month has flown by for me, and I’m looking forward to a March that will include much more Orlando soccer, thanks to the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B seasons kicking off. I have a fairly busy weekend lined up but am hoping to catch the Lions on Saturday when they host Toronto FC. Let’s jump into today’s links!

Orlando City’s Club Profile

The club profiles for each MLS team were provided, giving the public a nice look at how each team’s roster is built for the 2025 season. Orlando City is one of 14 clubs that opted for the Designated Player model, with Martin Ojeda, Luis Muriel, and Marco Pasalic as its Designated Players. Ramiro Enrique and Nicolas Rodriguez occupy two of the three MLS U22 Initiative Player slots, while seven Lions are Targeted Allocation Money players. Center back Robin Jansson, who was listed as a TAM Player in last year’s profile, is not a TAM Player this time around. These snapshots are a pretty handy way of keeping track of where the club’s roster stands, as it also includes contract lengths, options, and unavailable players.

Orlando Pride Unveil New Kit

For their 10th season in the NWSL, the Orlando Pride revealed the “Decennial Kit” as their new primary jersey heading into the 2025 season. I’m a pretty big fan of the purple pattern, and the blue trim is a nice nod to the club’s past. I also like the iridescence on the badge, even if it feels like the kind of showy thing you can only do after winning the double. While I don’t mind the badge being in the center too much, I hate the Nike logo being right above it, as it creates a sandwiched look. The star representing the club’s first NWSL Championship is obviously a welcome addition though, and the jock tag wordmark is quietly one of the best parts of the kit. All in all, I like it, and there’s a decent chance it’ll wind up on my gift list this year.

Orlando City B Adds Thalles and Riyon Tori

With the MLS NEXT Pro season only a week away, Orlando City B made a pair of moves by adding forward Thalles on loan and signing Riyon Tori to a one-year contract. Thalles joins the club on loan through 2025 from Botafogo-SP in Brazil’s second division. Hopefully the 19-year-old can shine with the Young Lions after doing well in Brazil, and his loan includes an option to buy. As for Tori, he was selected by the Lions over a year ago in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder returned to college at Charlotte after being drafted and received First-Team All-AAC and Second-Team All-East Region honors last year.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

Americans will clash in the EFL Championship on Saturday when former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom travel to take on Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United. There’s also FA Cup action to look forward to, as Ethan Horvath could start in goal for Cardiff City when it plays Aston Villa today. Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards are also expected to be in action in the tournament.

Other interesting things to keep an eye on this weekend include Naomi Girma possibly making her Chelsea debut, Giovanni Reyna’s uncertain role with Borussia Dortmund, and whether or not Damion Downs can score when Cologne plays Karlsruher.

Free Kicks


That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/27/25

Getting to know Ramiro Enrique, USWNT loses to Japan, Concacaf Champions Cup results, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I haven’t done too much this week beyond working, but I did manage to put together a cat tree that my cat has already sent crashing into a wall twice so far. Pet ownership has been a joy, I must say. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Learning More About Ramiro Enrique

Orlando City put a spotlight on forward Ramiro Enrique with a nice video showcasing what he brings to the team for the 2025 season. Along with interviews from Enrique and Head Coach Oscar Pareja, the video includes highlights of his some of his biggest moments as a Lion so far. The 23-year-old spoke on how his father, World Cup winner Hector Enrique, is a major inspiration for him and how he’s both a scorer and Orlando’s first line of defense. Pareja praised both Enrique’s natural talent and his commitment to improving himself moving forward. It’s a pretty well-produced video and I’m looking forward to seeing the profiles for other Lions as well throughout the season.

USWNT Falls to Japan in SheBelieves Cup

The United States Women’s National Team lost its final game of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, falling 2-1 to Japan in San Diego. Japan took an early lead, but Ally Sentnor tied things up soon after with her second goal of the tournament. Toko Koga then scored for Japan in the 50th minute and the U.S. was unable to find the back of the net again against Japan’s solid defense. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams did not play in the match despite a strong showing against Australia on Sunday. It’s the USWNT’s first loss under Head Coach Emma Hayes and its first time losing the tournament since England won it in 2019.

In what was effectively the third-place match, Colombia beat Australia 2-1 to finish the tournament on a high note. Australia’s Hayley Raso equalized things in the second half, but Catalina Usme gave Colombia its winner a few minutes later.

Bay FC Scouting Director Resigns Amid Backlash

Graeme Abel, who was hired as Bay FC’s director of domestic scouting last week, has resigned from his position. This decision comes after backlash from his hiring due to reported allegations of abuse by former players from his time as the University of Oregon’s women’s soccer coach. A report last April detailed allegations of verbal abuse that included threatening to revoke scholarships, having players kicked off the team, and throwing objects, with players stating that they dealt with suicidal ideation while playing there.

Concacaf Champions Cup Results

Real Salt Lake was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup after losing 2-1 at home to Costa Rican club Herediano. The MLS side took the lead in the first half, but Herediano leveled things in the second half and sealed victory with a late penalty kick. FC Cincinnati took care of business at home in a 1-1 draw against Honduran club Motagua, with Kevin Denkey scoring in his third straight game for his new team. The Seattle Sounders also reached the next round, beating Guatemala’s Antigua GFC 3-1. Cincinnati will face Tigres in the round of 16, while the Sounders will take on Cruz Azul. The first round wraps up tonight when the Vancouver Whitecaps host Saprissa for the final spot in the round of 16, which kicks off on Tuesday.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride will unveil their new home jersey for the 2025 season today and I’m pretty excited to see what they’ve come up with. I’m also looking forward to seeing the team sport a shiny new star after winning last year, as teased by Marta.

A very ✨ golden ✨ addition

Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-02-26T00:03:16.959Z
  • The Pride gave a shoutout to coaches Seb Hines, Giles Barnes, and Yolanda Thomas this Black History Month.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/26/25

Tsukada out for the season, OCB adds a striker, the SheBelieves Cup finishes tonight, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I hope you’re recovering from the season opener. I find it best to look for the positives or just pretend none of it ever happened. I’m certain one of those two is a healthy way to process your feelings. The good news is that the season is underway, the Orlando Pride are close to starting their new campaign, and we get to watch the USWNT play tonight. See? It isn’t all bad. Let’s get to the links, but first, let’s wish Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat a happy birthday.

Tsukada Out for the Season

Yutaro Tsukada has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury list for Orlando City following successful surgery on his left ACL. The young midfielder sustained the injury in the preseason match against CF Montreal. While we expected this news, it doesn’t make it any easier for Tsukada, the club, or any of us. It’s another blow to the depth of Orlando City in a season that has only just begun. We wish Tsukada a full and speedy recovery.

OCB Striker Signing

When I said I wanted Orlando City to sign a new striker, I should have been more specific. The club acquired the SuperDraft Priority to forward Dyson Clapier from Sporting Kansas City. In return, Sporting Kansas City gets Orlando City’s natural second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Following the acquisition, Clapier was signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2025, with a club option in 2026.

SheBelieves Cup Finishes Tonight

The USWNT will need a victory against Japan tonight to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. Japan holds the advantage thanks to a plus-seven goal differential as compared to the plus-three goal differential of the U.S. The match is set for 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. There are on air and streaming options available to watch the match. If the USWNT can pull out the victory, it will be the sixth SheBelieves title in a row. Emily Sams got the start and went the full 90 minutes against Australia on Sunday. Hopefully, the Orlando Pride defender will see more action this evening.

Ream is a Believer

With the 2026 World Cup coming up next year, the USMNT wants to make a big splash. Longtime U.S. defender Tim Ream says that Mauricio Pochettino is the right man to do the job. Ream will certainly be an integral part of the next World Cup squad, and he asserts that Pochettino will evolve the USMNT to the next level.

Free Kicks

  • Casey Krueger’s time with the USWNT appears to be done. Emma Hayes is going younger.
  • The MLS Disciplinary Committee suspended and fined Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez for one match.

MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez for one match and issued an undisclosed fine for violent conduct at Columbus on Saturday. He will miss this weekend’s match vs D.C. United.

Steven Goff (@stevengoff.bsky.social) 2025-02-25T21:11:38.395Z
  • Gutierrez wasn’t the only player fined by DisCo. The only thing I’m certain of is that the fine wasn’t big enough.
  • Congratulations to Chris and Alyssa Mueller on the birth of their new baby.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the match this weekend. As for today, go USA!

Continue Reading

Trending