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Lion Links: 1/13/19

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8 years ago

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Hey there, Mane Landers. I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful Florida weather this weekend as you soak in some quality football like yesterday’s Florida Cup. Personally, I’ve just adopted a kitten! It’s been a plan in the making, but my trip to Germany held it off…but I’ve finally pulled the trigger. She’s a Tortie (Tortoiseshell), and she’s currently hiding in my elaborate L-shaped couch. I hope she comes out soon because I haven’t had the opportunity to introduce her to the litter box yet.

Regardless, I’m ecstatic to have a new furry companion. I haven’t yet landed on a name, but I think Java or Bean (Beanie) have potential. She’s beautiful, in brown, orange, black, and white, so if you have any nice suggestions, drop them in the comments section below.

Anyway, back to the reason you’re here; your Sunday serving of delicious Lion Links. Enjoy!

Lions Moving on from Diego

Despite having a three-year offer on the table that was agreed to in principle, Diego Ribas is mulling a new offer from Flamengo and Orlando City is done waiting for the talented No. 10. Diego was going to be a big part of what the Lions wanted to do in 2019 and would make a great mentor for a guy like Josué Colmán, but OCSC isn’t interested in waiting for him to finalize a decision, although the door is reportedly not all the way closed just yet.

“We’re done waiting,” the executive said. “Our offer is off the table because we cannot wait and we will not get into a bidding war. You can’t think twice about an offer that involves a life project like the one we did.”

Orlando Becoming a Hub for Soccer

With an ever-growing supporter base for the Lions and the Pride, notable tournaments like the Florida Cup, featuring internationally renowned clubs, are contributing to an expanding soccer culture here in the Orlando area. The R9 Ronaldo Academy, opened in 2015 by the legendary Brazilian striker of the same name, has seen tremendous growth in its admissions of prospects into its competitive programs. The sport is growing in the Central Florida area, and it’s only a matter of time before the results and development of our state’s youth players comes to fruition. One thing is certain: it’s a good time to be into soccer in the Central Florida area (despite the recent disappointing seasons from the city’s top clubs).

SeaWolves Exact Revenge on Florida Tropics

Gordy Gurson netted four goals and added an assist, and Osvaldo Rojas and Lewis Neal each added a brace to lead the Orlando SeaWolves to a huge 11-6 road win over the Florida Tropics in Lakeland. The ‘Wolves bounced back from a 9-6 defeat in their last trip to Lakeland and picked up their first ever road victory in MASL play. It was also the team’s largest offensive output of its short existence.

2019 MLS SuperDraft: Conservative?

According to mlssoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal, he thinks so. In a class lacking a clear number one and/or number two selection, teams didn’t feel the need to make any aggressive moves. The general feel was that the top seven to 10 prospects were of around the same caliber, which allowed teams to sit back and wait on their pick, rather than trading up to nab their guy. That made this year’s draft noticeably conservative compared to years past.

“I think it has to be a reflection of some of the over the top talent,” Columbus Crew SC president Tim Bezbatchenko told MLSsoccer.com on Friday. “I think in the past there’s been some players that really had something different and unique, and they did this year, but maybe not to the same level. It’s a bit of a reflection of that.”

That doesn’t mean there were no deals struck, of course, as there was plenty of movement. The difference? The movement wasn’t notable or captivating. Stejskal even goes on to hypothesize that the continuing emergence of MLS academies will stymie the quality of future MLS SuperDrafts, with teams looking towards developing their Homegrown talent.

“I think people are more confident with their academy players and people coming through in their USL programs, so maybe they’re not maneuvering as quickly and aggressively,” said Bezbatchenko.

Only time will tell…but what do you think, was this a conservative year for the MLS SuperDraft?

Who Owns Inter Miami?

That’s the question a lot of people are asking right now, as the club has failed to officially disclose its investors — an ethical problem that could potentially throw a huge monkey wrench in Miami’s future MLS plans. as it’s preventing the club from obtaining construction permits for their Miami Freedom Stadium. To boil it down, the local face of the club, Jorge Mas, MasTec chairman, and his brother Jose are investors and own 35% of the team. Sprint chairman Marcelo Claure owns another 35% of the team, with SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son owning 20% and David Beckham owning the remaining 10%. No forms were filed to officially verify these claims however, and there is no evidence to corroborate the team’s investment group. Until the water is no longer muddy, Inter Miami is sitting at a red light — a really, really awkward and seemingly unnecessary red light.

French Federation Hopes to Leave “Strong Legacy” for Women’s Sports

With the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup just around the corner, host country France and its Football Federation has expressed hopes of leaving a strong legacy in France, as they hope to emulate the United States in the respect that women’s footballers are looked up to as role models.

“What I like and what I wish we could bring in France is the atmosphere, the support of the game,” Georges said. “To have role models – because in France, now it’s starting, players are role models. When I came to the U.S. … it was already in the culture, a woman’s football player, you’re a role model.”

Brigitte Henriques, the French Federation’s vice president, and Laura Georges, the secretary general, gave an hour-long presentation in Chicago last Thursday, and spoke about the vast potential this tournament holds. They have their eye on highlighting the value of women’s soccer to their male counterparts, as well.

“What we expect is to have more men’s professional teams supporting the women’s game,” Georges said. “Make sure that they really think: ‘We are doing it because they ask us? No, we are doing it because it’s worth it.’”

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  • Last but certainly not least, we have American U-18 prospect Charlie Kelman netting an impressive goal from midfield after helping out in the tackle that won the ball. Take a bow, sir.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Now, I need to go find this kitten. Have a great week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/15/26

Orlando City concedes late in draw with Toronto FC, Justin Ellis earns praise, U.S. Soccer announces Crest Cup for women’s soccer, and more.

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3 minutes ago

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October 15, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann and Justin Ellis celebrating a goal against Real Salt Lake.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How are you feeling after last night’s Orlando City game? I don’t think my thoughts have ever been as mixed, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles at times when supporting the Cardiac Cats. It could’ve gone worse though, and being able to watch Antoine Griezmann work his magic is always a treat. Today marks nine years since Kaká’s final game with Orlando City, and I’ve loved being able to see world class players like him, Griezmann, Nani, and more over the years in Orlando. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Blow Lead Late in Dramatic Draw

Orlando City went on the road to Canada and played to a 3-3 draw against Toronto FC in a rollercoaster of a match. The Lions clawed their way back to equalize twice and managed to take the lead late in the match, but couldn’t close things out despite another solid performance by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau behind a leaky defense. Make sure to check out our match recap of what was an exciting, yet frustrating, match that at least featured a couple of great Orlando goals.

Justin Ellis Earns Praise During Breakout Season

The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert ranked his top 22 MLS players under the age of 22 and Orlando City forward Justin Ellis ranked eighth on his list. The 19-year-old has 10 assists and a goal to his name this season, thriving in the attack with an intriguing combination of creativity, strength, and positioning. He’s also already scored for the United States Men’s National Team, doing so in Orlando last month against Peru. Bogert predictably has Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan at the top of his list and Julian Hall in second. We’ll see if Ellis lands a bit higher than eighth when the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list is unveiled later this year.

U.S. Soccer Announces Crest Cup

A new club tournament is coming to women’s soccer. U.S. Soccer announced the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup for women’s soccer teams across the country to compete against each other in a single-elimination format. Official details such as when this will take place and which teams will be allowed to participate haven’t been unveiled at this point, but it does seem like it will at least include teams from both the NWSL and USL Super League. The winner of the Crest Cup will receive $1.1 million and qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Toothpaste jokes aside regarding the name, I’m excited for a tournament that puts a spotlight on more women’s soccer teams.

Takeaways From USWNT Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team may not have beaten Spain in either of its two friendlies against the European powerhouse, but it at least finished strong by rallying to a 2-2 draw in the second meeting. Not many of the problems the USWNT faced were unexpected either. Naomi Girma’s absence was felt on defense, neither Claudia Dickey nor Phallon Tullis-Joyce emerged as the clear starter in goal, and the midfield looked suboptimal against the best team in the world. Head Coach Emma Hayes has multiple decisions to make before the Women’s World Cup next summer, with the USWNT’s next match coming on Nov. 27 against El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The UEFA Champions League returned this week and there were plenty of good games across Europe. In one of the bigger matchups of this round, Paris Saint-Germain went to England and beat Manchester City 4-2 to move to the top of the table. Elsewhere, Real Madrid mounted a late comeback to beat AS Roma 4-3 in Italy, Bradley Barcola scored a hat trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over LAK Linz, and Bodo/Glimt won 1-0 in Norway against Borussia Dortmund. The teams will play again on Tuesday and Wednesday, with PSG going up against Barcelona and Bayern Munich hosting Arsenal as two of the heavyweight showdowns.

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  • Congratulations to Orlando Pride newlyweds Rafaelle and Hailie Mace on tying the knot!

That’s all I have for you this time around. Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/26

Orlando City plays Toronto FC, Orlando Pride prepare for Houston, the USWNT draws Spain, and more.

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1 day ago

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October 14, 2026

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Image of Iago passing the ball against Toronto FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. As the regular season winds down, the tension ramps up. The Lions are currently above the playoff line, but it’s a precarious perch. With two matches this week, earning crucial points will be even more difficult. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Visits Toronto FC Tonight

Orlando City travels to the Great White North tonight for a match against Eastern Conference opponent Toronto FC. Points are at a premium as both teams chase a playoff appearance. Rest assured that Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman is making sure the team is prepared and taking it one match at a time. It is a double match week so we’ll see how Perelman rotates the starting lineup.

Orlando Pride News and Notes

Yolanda Thomas is getting the Orlando Pride ready for Sunday’s road match against the Houston Dash. Of course, there are several players on international duty before then. Oihane got the start for Spain against the USWNT (see below) on Tuesday night. Barbra Banda scored a brace for Zambia in a 4-1 win over Uganda in an Olympic qualifier. Ally Lemos contributed two assists in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team’s 5-0 dismantling of the Dominican Republic.

USWNT Comes from Behind to Draw Spain

The USWNT played its second friendly against top-ranked Spain Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Philadelphia. Much like the previous match, Spain was able to build a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half. Unlike last time, the U.S. was able to score two goals to draw Spain. Ashley Sanchez scored in the 49th minute in her first USWNT start in nearly two years, and Mallory Swanson added the second goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, the USWNT wasn’t able to get a third, but a 2-2 draw is still a better result than last time and coming back from two goals down made it feel more like a win in the end.

USMNT Players in Club Action

Former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman came on in the 63rd minute of Villarreal’s 3-1 victory over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. Johnny Cardoso played all 90 minutes for Atletico Madrid in his club’s 2-0 win over Manchester United. He almost scored a goal, but it was disallowed after video review. Sergino Dest’s PSV lost 1-0 to RB Leipzig. Dest is Top 10 when it comes to Champions League appearances by U.S. players. There are a few more USMNT players making appearances in the matches today.

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That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for live match updates and we will also have a recap of the match tonight and more coverage tomorrow. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/13/26

Orlando City players named to MLS Team of the Matchday, USWNT takes on Spain tonight, Americans in action this week, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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October 13, 2026

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Image of Ivan Angulo playing against D.C. United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a bit of a pep in my step so far this week after Orlando City’s win this weekend. Hopefully, the soccer we have ahead of us tonight and Wednesday night doesn’t end up dimming that enthusiasm. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Lions Make MLS Team of the Matchday

Orlando City players Maxime Crepeau and Ivan Angulo were both named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, with Antoine Griezmann landing on the bench. Crepeau was immense in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew, recording a club-record 12 saves. Angulo also excelled with a goal and an assist, with his late winner landing a spot on Sports Illustrated‘s top five goals of the week as well. Griezmann also chipped in a goal and an assist. There are a couple of familiar faces on the bench with Griezmann, with former Orlando goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. earning the honor after making nine saves for the San Jose Earthquakes and former Lion Shak Mohammed recording a goal and an assist in Nashville’s win.

USWNT Aims to Bounce Back Against Spain Tonight

After a 2-0 loss to Spain on Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team will play the top team in the world again tonight. It will be interesting to see what lineup changes Head Coach Emma Hayes makes following the loss, particularly with regard to the defense to help stop Spain’s potent attack. Spain got off to a hot start in Saturday’s match, but the team’s physicality likely won’t catch the U.S. by surprise this time around. Orlando Pride defender Oihane, who is with Spain for these friendlies, said she expects the U.S. to be more aggressive in this rematch.

Spain's Oihane Hernández on what she expects from the #USWNT in Tuesday's rematch:"I honestly expect like a really more physical game. I think they're gonna be more aggressive."(I would expect the same.)

— Jeff Kassouf (@jeffkassouf.bsky.social) 2026-10-12T15:37:35.556Z

Americans in Action Abroad This Week

The UEFA Champions League and Europa League return this week and there are many Americans to keep an eye out for across Europe. Former Lion Alex Freeman, who earned plenty of praise for his performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, could start in his first UEFA Champions League game today when Villarreal hosts Napoli. We may also see more of 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert when Borussia Dortmund plays Bodo/Glimt as he continues to impress at such a young age. Sergino Dest and Johnny Cardoso are other Americans who could play in the Champions League, while Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Tim Weah may suit up for Europa League play.

U.S. Soccer Announces Referee Development Program

U.S. Soccer unveiled a new program aimed at improving referee development and making the pathway for aspiring officials more consistent. Named R90+, the program will give referees access to mentors and coaches for them to improve across multiple aspects of officiating, such as game management, physical preparation, and tactical awareness. The first edition of this program will take place in the South, with 10 of the 60 officials coming from Florida. Hopefully this investment in officiating improves things for everyone involved.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

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