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Lion Links: 1/22/21

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5 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? Personally, this week felt like an eternity and I’m glad the weekend is right around the corner. I don’t really have any plans for it beyond work, but hopefully the next few days go smoothly. Now, let’s hop into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Selects Four Players in MLS SuperDraft

Before the draft got started, Orlando forked over a total of $100,00 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Portland Timbers to move up to the eighth pick in the draft. With that pick, the Lions selected forward Derek Dodson, who scored 30 goals and had 11 assists across three seasons at Georgetown. With Dom Dwyer no longer with the team and Daryl Dike getting attention in Europe, Dodson helps give the offense some depth and won’t be thrown to the wolves from the start. Given Orlando’s track record with forwards whose first and last names both start with the letter D, I like the pick.

Later in the first round, Orlando strengthened its defensive depth by selecting Georgetown’s Rio Hope-Gund and Penn State’s Brandon Hackenberg with the 19th and 22nd picks, respectively. The pair of center backs helps replace the departures of both Alex De John and Kamal Miller and shore up part of the back line.

The Lions ended their draft day by selecting Wake Forest goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg in the second round. Although there is still uncertainty regarding Brian Rowe’s future with Orlando, Pannenberg would likely be with Orlando City B if the team plays in 2021 or he could be loaned out.

Alex Morgan Back in Training as USWNT Prepares for Friendly

United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski confirmed that Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan is back in training after recovering from COVID-19. Morgan won’t be playing in the USWNT’s friendly against Colombia today at Exploria Stadium, but it’s nice knowing she’s back on the field. As for today’s match, the Pride’s Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris could both play as Andonovski spoke about “significant” rotation to the roster and neither played in the previous match between the two nations earlier this week.

Krieger has fought hard to earn her spot on the USWNT roster and use her position to speak out against social injustice. Andonovski is focused on improving the USWNT’s defense and Krieger is making the most of her training at the January camp.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air honestly,” Krieger said. “I’ve learned a lot, even at my age and with my experience. I try to get better every single day and improve to help this team be successful. I really cherish the time that I’ve been able to be in camp and learn new things.”

How the Rest of the SuperDraft Shook Out

Austin FC selected Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira with first overall pick, a move that even surprised Pereira. Clemson midfielder Philip Mayaka was largely expected to be chosen first but went to the Colorado Rapids with the third pick after FC Cincinnati selected Wake Forest forward Calvin Harris with the second. In back-to-back picks after a trade with Atlanta United, D.C. United chose Clemson forward Kimarni Smith and Wake Forest defender Michael DeShields to round out the top five picks of the draft.

Make sure to check out the rest of the draft results and MLSsoccer.com’s Travis Clark took a stab at grading each club’s draft, although he gave Orlando a C+ for taking Dodson “too high” while the Philadelphia Union received an A+ for trading all their picks away. What do you all think about Orlando’s 2021 draft class? I’m personally a fan of selecting the players you want and not worrying about reaching or when players “should” be drafted.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Pens Letter to Fans

Prior to this year’s draft, Garber released a “letter to fans” regarding the past season and the year ahead. Garber congratulated the Columbus Crew and thanked fans for their support during a difficult season due to the pandemic. Looking forward, he talked about the effect the pandemic will have on the upcoming season as well as the negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Association.

A good portion of the letter is spent talking about the proposal the league gave the MLSPA and future meetings to reach an agreement. Garber noted the difficulties players faced with last year’s condensed schedule and being away from their families, but also spoke about the financial losses MLS ownership had and made sure to point out the league has been awaiting a response to a proposal made two weeks ago. The MLSPA had its own response to the letter and the not-so-subtle jab about the lack of response so far.

Conflicting Reports Arise About the Olympics

You’ll need to get past the paywall for all of the details, but the Tokyo Olympics may be canceled due to COVID-19 according to The Times. This news conflicts with a statement made by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who had the following to say on Kyodo News in Japan about the reports of cancellation.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic stadium in Tokyo,” Bach said. “This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful.”

While it would be disappointing for the Olympics not to take place for the second-straight year, at least the Orlando Pride wouldn’t be as shorthanded during the summer. If the Olympics are indeed cancelled, it will be interesting to see if that will affect the summer scheduling for sports leagues across the country.

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That’s going to do it for me, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/29/26

Orlando City plays New England tonight, the Orlando Pride are recognized, USMNT news, and more.

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14 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day with Orlando City taking on the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup tonight. The fixture congestion is real as this is the third match for the Lions in just eight days. I’m sure that it will be fine since Orlando City doesn’t have any injury or depth issues…err…let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Continues

Orlando City is in Rhode Island to take on the New England Revolution in the next round of the U.S. Open Cup. As always, it will be interesting to see which regular starters play and which youngsters get the start, though the difference between those two is not as stark as in the past. The Lions also have a trip to play Inter Miami this weekend to consider. I don’t think it will happen, but I say go all in on the Open Cup and play Orlando City B against Miami.

Orlando Pride Earns Recognition

Zara Chavoshi is the Orlando Pride’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for 2026. Chavoshi’s chosen community partner is Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Each of the 16 NWSL teams are represented with a panel of judges, including Holiday, determining the winner. In other news, the Pride are still in the top three of SI.com’s NWSL power rankings. Shockingly — I say with tongue planted firmly in cheek — Barbra Banda didn’t make CBSsports.com’s NWSL Team of the Week despite scoring a brace.

Griezmann Continues Champions League Chase

Orlando City’s next Designated Player, Antoine Griezmann, has unfinished business with current club Atletico Madrid. Griezmann and Atletico face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals this afternoon. As much as I’m looking forward to Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando, I am also all for him winning hardware before he leaves Atletico.

USMNT News

The World Cup is just around the corner, and there are many players in MLS who will be representing their respective countries. Matt Turner is making an excellent case that he should be the first-choice keeper for the USMNT. Stepping outside of MLS, is Weston McKennie the player who the U.S. can least afford to lose heading into the World Cup? McKennie has been playing well this year for club and country. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has been in a bit of a slump. Hopefully, he can turn it around before the World Cup.

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  • Rodrigo Schlegel visited Orlando City’s training this week. I’m not saying I want him to start, but a short-term contract for depth might be nice.

🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. Time-sensitive ~€3m break clause in Benfica contract 🚨@theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/723…

— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T11:49:11.588Z
  • Sometimes there’s a light of hope in the dark forest that we’re travelling through. Believe.

That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s match tonight. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/28/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday 10, Americans in midweek action, Vancouver Whitecaps may be relocated, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 28, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda with the ball against Nashville.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B was the only one of the three sides to get a result. We’ve got another busy week ahead of us as Orlando City will be in action twice, the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit on Saturday, and OCB takes on Crown Legacy to round off the week on Sunday. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s jump into the links.

MLS Matchday 10 Lessons

Matchday 10 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, the Vancouver Whitecaps seem to have done a very good job of reloading from the off-season losses of Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson. New faces Cheikh Sabaly and Bruno Caicedo have been finding their feet and both had goal involvements in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Matt Turner looks to be rediscovering some of his best form as he made nine saves in the New England Revolution’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. New York City FC’s Matt Freese has been the frontrunner to start in goal for the United States Men’s National Team at the World Cup this summer, but based on his league performances, Turner could make a late charge.

Americans in Midweek Action

Plenty of Americans will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s have a look at the schedule. Things get started Wednesday, when Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, and Charlotte FC play Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Wednesday has Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On Thursday, Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of a UEFA Conference League semifinal. The action wraps up on Friday when Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Burnley in a Premier League tilt.

Relocation Possible for Vancouver Whitecaps

A special committee of MLS owners reportedly met earlier in April to discuss the potential relocation of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Specifically, Las Vegas is said to have been the primary relocation option discussed at the meeting. It’s been two decades since a team was relocated, as the last franchise to move were the San Jose Earthquakes, who went to Houston and became the Dynamo before being replaced with another San Jose expansion team two years later. Other cities said to be interested in landing a team include Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Sacramento, with Phoenix reportedly one of the main candidates being considered for relocation alongside Vegas. In the meantime, the Whitecaps remain up for sale while the team tries to find an in-market stadium solution, as the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the year.

High Profile Injuries Continue

The 2025-2026 European season has seen a number of high profile injuries, and that’s a trend that unfortunately continued over the weekend. Xavi Simons suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and he will undergo surgery that will sideline him for a significant amount of time. Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury, and he could reportedly miss the May 10 Clasico match against Barcelona as well as the rest of the La Liga season. AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric fractured his left cheekbone in the team’s 0-0 draw with Juventus on Sunday and had surgery to repair the damage. His club season is over, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is confident that he will be healthy in time for the World Cup.

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  • FIFA will reportedly increase the number of times that yellow cards are wiped away at this summer’s World Cup.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/27/26

Lions and Pride lose, OCB draws Chicago Fire II, FA Cup semifinals recap, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image of the OCB squad before the team's game March 8, 2026 vs. Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been keeping myself busy at work and looking forward to covering some high school soccer and lacrosse this week. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando Pride forward Seven Castain, who turned 22 Sunday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Late Lead in Defeat to D.C. United

Orlando City fell 3-2 to D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field. Jackson Hopkins scored the opener for D.C. United early in the first half. In the second half, Justin Ellis equalized for the Lions, and Tyrese Spicer added another goal to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. However, the Lions couldn’t hang on to the lead as D.C. United scored two late goals in six minutes to pull out a win at the death. It will be another busy week for the Lions with a road trip to New England to face the Revolution in a round-of-16 U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, followed by another road match Saturday against Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Pride Fall to Racing Louisville on the Road

The Orlando Pride fell 3-2 to Racing Louisville FC Friday at Lynn Family Stadium, continuing their winless streak in Kentucky. Louisville struck first with a goal from Lauren Milliet to take a 1-0 lead, but Barbra Banda buried the equalizer for the Pride to level the match before halftime. However, Louisville scored two early second-half goals to take a 3-1 lead before Banda pulled one back to make it 3-2 late in stoppage time, but Louisville held on to pick up its first win of the season. With that result, the Orlando Pride’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end. The Pride will look to bounce back Saturday, taking on the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Chicago Fire II

Orlando City B came from behind to draw 2-2 against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime, but in the second half, OCB got a break as Chicago goalkeeper Owen Pratt scored an own goal to pull the Young Lions within one. Late in stoppage time, Nicolas Lasheras scored the equalizer for OCB. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a second point. OCB’s next match will be at home against Crown Legacy Sunday.

FA Cup Semifinals Recap

The FA Cup final is set after the semifinals concluded over the weekend at Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, after a scoreless first half, all the goals came in the second half as Finn Azaz scored the opener to give Southampton the lead, but Manchester City was able to overturn the deficit on goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to seal a 2-1 win against Southampton to advance to the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive time. On Sunday, Enzo Fernandez’s lone goal in the first half was enough to pull Chelsea to a 1-0 win against Leeds United to book a spot in the final to face Manchester City. The FA Cup final will take place on May 16 at Wembley Stadium.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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