Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/27/25
Orlando City’s Leagues Cup continues, the Orlando Pride are in a slump, Lions are called up, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is also match day as Orlando City takes on rival Inter Miami in a Leagues Cup semifinal edition of Tropic Thunder. The winner has a chance to play for a trophy. If you can’t watch the match for some reason, you can follow it on The Mane Land’s Bluesky account. Before we get started, let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B forward Shak Mohammed. Now, let’s get to the links.
Tropic Thunder Part Trois
Orlando City heads to Ft. Lauderdale for a Leagues Cup semifinal against Inter Miami tonight. A trip to play either the Seattle Sounders or the LA Galaxy for a chance at a trophy is on the line. While not certain, it is likely that both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will be available for the match as they both participated in training this week. Oscar Pareja will almost certainly put out a first-choice lineup in this must-win match. You can also listen to our key matchups and score predictions on the 500th episode of The Mane Land PawedCast.
Pride Slumping
The Orlando Pride haven’t won in five matches. For a club that won the double in 2024, such a bad streak can officially be called a slump. As a result, the Pride have dropped to No. 4 in Si.com’s power rankings. In the All For XI power rankings the club dopped three spots to No. 6. Things aren’t looking good at the moment, but the Pride have an opportunity to turn things around this weekend at home against Gotham FC.
Lions Called Up
Alex Freeman will once again represent the USMNT at the September training camp for the upcoming matches against Korea Republic and Japan. Players will begin reporting to New Jersey on Aug. 31, meaning Freeman may miss the final Leagues Cup match (or third-place match if Orlando doesn’t go through tonight), though I suspect he will report following that game.
Orlando City B midfielder Gustavo Caraballo received a call-up to the Venezuela U-17 national team in preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. That competition will take place Nov. 3-27.
USMNT Roster
As mentioned above, Freeman is on the roster for the September friendlies for the USMNT. He’s not the only one though, as we will see the return of Christian Pulisic. Interestingly, we won’t see Weston McKennie, among others. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino is giving MLS and the players in the league more value than in the past.
Free Kicks
- The often brash, sometimes inciteful, and always opinionated Alexi Lalas has come out in defense of Paxten Aaronson’s move to the Colorado Rapids.
- The LA Galaxy are hoping to salvage 2025 with a Leagues Cup trophy, but the Seattle Sounders and the winner of Orlando City and Inter Miami are standing in the way.
- Lizbeth Ovalle’s kit is now available if you need some new threads.
- I do love a sweet goal, so here’s one to finish things up.
That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of tonight’s match. Vamos Orlando!