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Lion Links: 10/27/23

Pedro Gallese and Duncan McGuire named MLS Year-End Award finalists, what to watch for in Orlando’s playoff match, USWNT draws Colombia, and more.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s insane to me that October is almost over. I’m not usually too into Halloween, but I am pretty excited this year. I’ve also already set some money aside to stock up on discounted decor and candy after the holiday before all of the Spirit Halloween stores transform back into empty buildings. For now though, I’m getting my ducks in a row before National Novel Writing Month kicks off next week. Let’s get to the links!

Pedro Gallese and Duncan McGuire Are Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards

MLS announced the finalists for the 2023 Year-End Awards and two Lions received some deserved recognition. Pedro Gallese is a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist after recording 10 clean sheets, his most in a season since joining the Lions. The Peruvian also matched his 79 saves from last season, despite playing two fewer games. Rookie Duncan McGuire was also selected as a finalist for MLS Young Player of the Year, which goes to a player aged 22 or younger. It’s unfortunate that MLS did away with the Rookie of the year Award, as McGuire would be the clear favorite. Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja is not in contention for Coach of the Year despite setting club records in both points and wins. Center back Robin Jansson was also strangely absent from the list of finalists for both Defender of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

What to Watch For in Orlando’s Playoff Match

McGuire will be a key part of Orlando’s playoff campaign, which kicks off Monday at 7 p.m. With Ercan Kara in Turkey, the rookie spearheads Orlando’s attack and will need to keep up his strong form against a stingy Nashville SC defense. Nashville has sputtered as of late, but is still capable of frustrating opponents while leaning on its stars to survive and advance in tournaments. These two sides met in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, with the Lions falling 3-1 on the road. Even if Orlando wins on Monday, it will have to make a trip to Nashville on Nov. 7 due to the new playoff format. It’s a bit of a bummer that home-field advantage isn’t as strong during a year when Orlando could actually utilize it, but the Lions have won more road games than any other team in the league this year. To get fans all geared up for the match, free promotional items are available tomorrow night at Exploria Stadium.

USWNT Draws With Colombia in Friendly

The United States Women’s National Team hosted Colombia for a friendly in Utah and had to settle for a scoreless draw. Former Pride forward Alex Morgan had a golden opportunity to give the USWNT a lead with a penalty kick late in the first half, but her shot hit the post and she couldn’t put away a tough rebound. The offense wasn’t at its sharpest, but the defense did its part to secure a clean sheet. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw also made her USWNT debut at age 18, coming on late in the mach. The two teams will face off again this Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego

Keeping Up With the Europa League

The Europa League’s group stage has reached its midpoint and we have a better idea of where each team stands in the tournaments. AS Roma won 2-0 over Slavia Prague thanks to a pair of early goals, Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 5-1 win over Azerbaijan’s Qarabag, and Liverpool beat Toulouse 5-1 as all three clubs maintained their perfect records in the tournament. West Ham’s campaign suffered a setback when its late rally came up short in a 2-1 loss to Olympiacos. Meanwhile, Brighton shut out Ajax 2-0 at home for its first win in a European competition. While there haven’t been too many upsets this year, it’s all shaping up to be an exciting knockout stage once the Champions League dropouts join the fray.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City defender Alex Freeman got the start in a 2-1 U.S. win over Honduras, with fellow Lion Thomas Williams available as a substitute as well. The U.S. will next take on Colombia at 5 p.m. this Sunday.
  • Enjoy this very purple gallery of the Lions as they get ready for their playoff match on Monday.
  • According to MLSsoccer.com’s Casey Dunau, fans without a team to root for in the playoffs should support Orlando City if they’re used to overachieving without receiving much appreciation for it.
  • The Colorado Rapids have declined the option on captain Jack Price’s contract. The 30-year-old missed a majority of the 2023 season due to an Achilles injury, playing for only 37 minutes. Forward Diego Rubin also won’t be returning to Colorado according to the club, making him an interesting player to keep an eye on this off-season.
  • Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months for betting on teams he played for, meaning he will miss out on the 2024 Euros and the rest of the English Premier League season with Newcastle.
  • We’ll end our links with this great profile on Dick Campbell, who has been coaching in Scotland for decades and is currently leading a team of part-time players towards the Premiership.

That’s all I have for you today. Make sure to stay safe this weekend, what with all the spooky festivities going on. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

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19 hours ago

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October 23, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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October 22, 2026

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Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

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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: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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October 21, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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