Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/10/24
Orlando City announces preseason schedule, Facundo Torres reportedly signs new deal with Lions, latest MLS transfer news, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been riding out this snowstorm hitting the Chicago area this week by working out indoors and playing some video games to stay occupied. Besides that, I’ll be working the Chicago Cubs Convention this weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Announces 2024 Preseason Schedule
Orlando City announced its full 2024 preseason schedule on Tuesday. The Lions will face three MLS sides, Brazil’s Flamengo, Rhode Island FC, and Florida International University. Training camp for the Lions will begin on Monday and their first preseason match will be on Saturday, Jan. 27 against Flamengo at Exploria Stadium. That match will be open to the general public. The club will then go south to continue its preseason training at Port St. Lucie on Jan. 29, which will conclude on Feb. 4 with a preseason match against FIU. The Lions will play against USL Championship expansion side Rhode Island FC on Feb. 7, and then play the New England Revolution on Feb. 10 (open to Society XXI members) and the Houston Dynamo on Feb. 14. The Lions’ final preseason match will take place on Feb. 17 against the Colorado Rapids.
Facundo Torres Reportedly Signs New Deal with Lions
Orlando City winger Facundo Torres has reportedly signed a new contract to stay with the Lions. The new deal will keep Torres in Orlando through the 2026 season, with options for 2027 and 2028. Torres’ original contract ran through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. The new deal will also reportedly include a release clause, but the amount hasn’t been specified. Torres has made 63 regular-season appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals and adding 14 assists since he joined the Lions from Peñarol prior to the 2022 season. With many competitions ahead of him for both club and country, 2024 will be an important year for Torres.
Latest MLS Off-Season Moves
There were more notable moves as MLS teams prepare for the 2024 season. Inter Miami has added free agent Julian Gressel, signing him through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027. According to The Athletic (paywall), Chivas and the San Jose Earthquakes have reportedly reached an agreement on a transfer fee of a club record around $4 million for Cade Cowell to head to Liga MX. Atlanta United has officially signed midfielder Dax McCarty via free agency for the 2024 season, with an option for 2025. The Colorado Rapids reached an agreement with midfielder Cole Bassett on a contract extension through the 2027 season. Finally, FC Dallas is reportedly close to adding defender Omar Gonzalez to its squad.
Washington Spirit Name Jonatan Giraldez Costas as Head Coach
The Washington Spirit have selected Barcelona women’s manager Jonatan Giraldez Costas as their new head coach. Giraldez will stay in Spain to finish Barcelona’s current season before joining the Spirit. The 32-year-old has been with Barcelona since 2019 as an assistant coach and was promoted to head coach before the 2021-2022 season. He’s helped Barcelona win two Supercopas and two league titles. Barcelona also won last year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, while also achieving a 50-match winning streak in league play. The Spirit will name an interim head coach who will serve until Giraldez takes over.
Free Kicks
- Former Orlando City assistant coach Sean McAuley has been named the new head coach of the USL Championship’s Indy Eleven.
- OL Reign is no more, as the club is going back to a familiar name and rebranded as Seattle Reign FC ahead of the 2024 NWSL season.
- Al Lang Stadium, the home of USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies, will host a friendly between Flamengo and the Philadelphia Union on Jan. 21 as part of the FC Series.
- The North Carolina Courage and USWNT defender Emily Fox are reportedly close to reaching a deal for her to join Arsenal women’s team in the Women’s Super League.
- MLS NEXT Pro announced Connecticut United FC as its latest expansion team and it is expected to begin play in 2025.
- Manchester United forward Anthony Martial looks set to leave Old Trafford and has been linked with a potential move to Fenerbahce.
- Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will be sidelined for weeks after he suffered a knee ligament tear in this past Sunday’s 2-0 win against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
- Middlesbrough shut out Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of the English Carabao Cup semifinals. The second leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on Jan. 23.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/2/25
Lions fall to Chicago Fire, Pride players in action during international break, OCB beats Chattanooga FC, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy at work and will cover high school lacrosse and softball this week. Our beloved Lions lost, but OCB picked up a big win, while the Pride were off over the weekend. We have plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Falls to Chicago Fire at Home
Orlando City fell 3-1 to the Chicago Fire Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions trailed 3-0 in the first half before Alex Freeman pulled one back for Orlando just before halftime. It was not enough to spark a late comeback, as the Lions have now lost back-to-back matches within the past week. The Lions played the match without Head Coach Oscar Pareja, who was serving a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in the match against Atlanta United on Wednesday. Orlando City Assistant Coach Diego Torres was on the sidelines for this match. The Lions are off this weekend, with their next match on the road on June 14 against the Colorado Rapids.
Pride Players on International Duty
Multiple Orlando Pride players were in action over the weekend, representing their countries while away on international duty. Angelina captained the Brazil Women’s National Team, while Marta started on the bench and played in the second half as Brazil defeated Japan 3-1 in a friendly.
Barbra Banda scored for Zambia in a 1-1 friendly draw against Botswana. Grace Chanda and Prisca Chilufya also started in the match.
Pride defender Zara Chavoshi was on the bench for the Canadian Women’s National Team but did not play as Canada beat Haiti 4-1 in a friendly.
Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was on the bench as England defeated Portugal 6-0 in a UEFA Women’s Nations League matchup.
OCB Defeats Eastern Conference Leader Chattanooga FC
Orlando City B defeated Chattanooga FC 2-1 Sunday at Osceola County Stadium. Shak Mohammed scored the opening goal early in the first half for the Young Lions. Chattanooga FC found an equalizer just before halftime. In the second half, we had to wait all the way until stoppage time for another goal as Noah Levis scored the winner for OCB. The Young Lions are ninth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points. OCB will be on the road to take on Huntsville City FC Friday.
USWNT Beats China in Friendly
The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated China 3-0 Saturday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN in a friendly. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams came off the bench in the second half and played 21 minutes. Fellow Pride defender Kerry Abello was on the bench but did not play. Defender Naomi Girma made her first appearance for the USWNT this year after dealing with injuries. The USWNT dominated from the start as Catarina Macario scored the opening goal in the match. Sam Coffey made it 2-0 lead just before halftime. In the second half, Lindsey Heaps scored the final goal of the match. The USWNT will be back in action Tuesday night against Jamaica at Energizer Park in St. Louis.
LAFC Defeats Club America to Qualify for FIFA Club World Cup
LAFC overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat Club America 2-1 in extra time in a play-in game Saturday at BMO Stadium and booked its spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. LAFC trailed 1-0 through much of the match, but late in the second half, Igor Jesus scored the equalizer just before stoppage time. In extra time, Denis Bouanga scored the winning goal. LAFC will join fellow MLS sides Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders in the FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament begins on June 14, and LAFC will face Chelsea, Flamengo, and ES Tunis in the group stage.
Paris Saint-Germain and Cruz Azul Win Continental Titles
Paris Saint-Germain finally won its first UEFA Champions League trophy, beating Inter Milan 5-0 Saturday in Munich. Desire Doue scored twice and added an assist. Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu also contributed goals. Paris Saint-Germain completed the treble, winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Champions League this season. Luis Enrique became the second manager to win a treble with two different clubs, joining Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. Paris Saint-Germain also became only the second French club to win the Champions League title, with Marseille lifting the trophy back in 1993. For Inter Milan, it was the second time in three years the club lost the final, falling to Manchester City two years ago. Inter suffered the biggest defeat in UEFA Champions League final history.
Sunday in Mexico, Cruz Azul routed the Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 Sunday at Estadio Olimpico Universitario to win the Concacaf Champions Cup. Angel Sepulveda scored two goals as Cruz Azul dominated the matchup. The Whitecaps were unable to record a shot on target. It’s the third straight final that an MLS side has lost to a Liga MX side since 2022, when the Seattle Sounders lifted the trophy. With the win, Cruz Azul has qualified for the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Free Kicks
- Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport.com shared his insight on which MLS players to watch during the summer transfer window for potential moves. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman was mentioned, as well as Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang and the Chicago Fire’s Brian Gutierrez.
- Former Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni reflected on his time with the club. He provided insight into his journey from coaching the Pride as an expansion team, including the early challenges, Orlando’s first NWSL playoff appearance, mentoring young coaches such as Khano Smith and Seb Hines, and more.
- Washington Spirit Head Coach Jonatan Giraldez is reportedly set to become the next manager at OL Lyonnes and will join the club in June. Assistant Coach Adrian Gonzalez will be promoted to head coach for the Spirit.
- U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has added Walker Zimmerman, Nathan Harriel, and Paxten Aaronson to the roster to replace DeJuan Jones, Sean Zawadzki, and Folarin Balogun, who are all out due to injuries. The USMNT will play friendlies against Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10.
- The LA Galaxy finally snapped their record 16-match winless streak on Saturday, defeating Real Salt Lake 2-0.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/30/25
Orlando City players called up, Orlando Pride sign Simone Jackson, USWNT gets ready to play China, and more.

Happy Friday! It’s been a bit of a brutal week, but we’ve made it through. Our reward is an exciting weekend of soccer to enjoy to close out the month. I’ll be spending most of the weekend working, but it should still be a nice next few days. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world.
Lions Called Up For International Duty
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was predictably called up for Peru’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Peru is ninth in the standings and will take on Colombia June 6 before hosting Ecuador on June 10.
Defender David Brekalo was called up by Slovenian for a pair of friendlies against Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These matches will help prepare Slovenia for World Cup qualifying this fall against Sweden, Switzerland, and Kosovo.
A few Young Lions are also heading to Europe for the UEFA Friendship Cup in Switzerland. The U.S. will represent Concacaf at the U-18 tournament, and OCB players Justin Ellis, Colin Guske, and Jackson Platts were called up for it.
Orlando Pride Sign Simone Jackson
The Orlando Pride signed forward Simone Jackson to a contract through the 2028 season. Jackson played at the University of Southern California for four years, recording 22 goals and 13 assists in 75 games, and trained with the Pride during the preseason. Internationally, she’s represented the U.S. at various youth levels and scored a goal in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The 22-year-old gives Orlando some helpful depth up front and can develop her game learning from some of the best attackers in the sport as well.
USWNT Prepares For Friendly Against China
The United States Women’s National Team will take on China Saturday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN in the first of two friendlies during this international window. Orlando Pride defenders Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up to join a young roster as the team builds a foundation before the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Goalkeeper will continue to be a position to watch, as opportunity knocks for Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Mandy McGlynn, and Claudia Dickey to stake a claim as the team’s starter. Following this match, the USWNT will take on Jamaica in St. Louis on Tuesday before a pair of friendlies against Ireland later in June.
Denver’s NWSL Team Hires First General Manager
Denver’s NWSL team hired Curt Johnson to serve as the club’s first general manager. He will have the opportunity to build the team’s roster and staff from the ground up before the team takes the field as an expansion side in 2026. Johnson left the North Carolina Courage in December and was the chief soccer officer when the club dominated the league in 2018 and 2019. It looks like a solid hire in my opinion and I’m interested to see what kind of team he puts together in Denver.
Free Kicks
- Racing Louisville forward Kayla Fischer was suspended for an additional two games for pulling Madison Hammond down to the ground by her hair. As a result, she’ll miss Louisville’s game against the Pride on June 20.
- Washington Spirit Head Coach Jonatan Giraldez is reportedly in talks to manage OL Lyonnes.
- The Independent Review Panel rescinded the second yellow card Chicago Fire midfielder Dje D’Avilla received on May 25, meaning he’ll be available for the Fire’s game against Orlando on Saturday.
- AC Milan fired Sergio Conceicao after finishing eighth in the Serie A standings and losing in the Italian Cup final. The club has reportedly reached an agreement with Massimiliano Allegri for him to take over as manager.
- Angel Di Maria will return to his boyhood club of Rosario Central in Argentina’s top flight. The 37-year-old started his career at Rosario in 2005. He’ll still play for Benfica in the Club World Cup this summer.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/29/25
Orlando City loses rivalry game, MLS All-Star voting opens, Antonee Robinson undergoes knee surgery, and more.

Good morning, Mane Landers. The bad news is that Orlando City lost last night. There’s not much good news, unless you count how I probably lost some weight pacing around my apartment for a few hours annoyed at how the game went. But today is a new day, and with it comes the fact that there’s no soccer to fret over. Before we dive in, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride Head Coach and former Lion Seb Hines a happy birthday! OK, let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Falls in Atlanta
The Lions went on the road and lost 3-2 to Atlanta United in a frustrating result that snapped the team’s 12-game unbeaten streak in league play. A solid first half by the Lions was spoiled by a red card to Cesar Araujo late in the second, with Atlanta scoring twice while the Lions were a man down. Head Coach Oscar Pareja was sent off as well, and Orlando was deprived of a great chance to move up in the standings. Orlando will have to shake this off or use it as motivation as it gets set to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday. A much-needed break in the schedule is awaiting the Lions after that match following a busy May.
MLS All-Star Voting Begins
The voting for who will play in this year’s MLS All-Star Game is underway, and a few Lions may have a shot at being selected. Right back Alex Freeman’s case to be an All-Star is backed by statistics, as he’s done well creating chances for others and has three goals himself during his breakout season. Former MLS player Dax McCarty has Freeman on his list of players who deserve selection this year, along with midfielder Martin Ojeda. The 26-year-old Argentine’s eight goals so far are already twice as many goals as he had last season and he’s right up there with some of the league’s best playmakers. McCarty also gave honorable mentions to goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and winger Marco Pasalic. Voting will last through June 11 and the All-Star Game is set to take place on July 23 against Liga MX’s All-Stars in Austin.
Antonee Robinson Undergoes Surgery
Fulham announced that American left back Antonee Robinson underwent successful knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the English club’s next season. The 27-year-old started in 35 of Fulham’s 38 games this past season and did not take part in the Concacaf Nations League. He’ll miss out on this summer’s Gold Cup, but hopefully he has a smooth recovery and benefits from some time off the field before things start up again in Europe.
Chelsea Wins Europa Conference League
Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 to win the Europa Conference League, becoming the first club to win all five of UEFA’s men’s club competitions. Real Betis scored first, but Chelsea mounted a comeback and scored four goals in the second half to win. Cole Palmer had a pair of assists to spark the turnaround and Enzo Fernandez had a goal and an assist. It’s a brutal end to Real Betis’ tournament as its wait for its first major trophy continues. The Spanish club is at least bound for the Europa League regardless after placing sixth in the La Liga standings.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady was called up by the USMNT to replace Patrick Schulte, who is dealing with an oblique injury. Brady joins a crowded goalkeeping unit that includes Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, and Matt Freese.
- Welcome to Wrexham was renewed for a fifth season, and only time will tell if another happy ending is in store for the Welsh club when it plays in the EFL Championship.
- Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is reportedly interested in signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli ahead of the Club World Cup.
- Lamine Yamal signed a contract extension with Barcelona through 2031. The 17-year-old has already made 106 appearances for the club and led La Liga with 13 assists this season.
That’s all I have for you today. This month of ups and downs as an Orlando soccer fan is almost over and there’s some international soccer to obsess over on the horizon. Have a wonderful Thursday!
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