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Lion Links: 7/14/18

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8 years ago

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Happy double match day, everyone. At least I hope it’s happy. There have been far too many sad ones of late. It doesn’t make things any better that the Pride have caught Lion-itis and have scored just three goals over the course of 57 (!) shots in their past two matches.

The Pride will kick off against Utah Royals FC tonight at 7 p.m. ET and the Lions will follow at home against Toronto FC at 8 p.m., provided there’s not a weather delay. Both teams need to snap out of their current funks.

Before we get into our top stories at this hour, let me throw out a big happy birthday to Lewis Neal. The former USL and MLS Lion has been helping out Head Coach James O’Connor at training since JOC’s arrival and it’s good to see him still giving back to the club.

OK, now for the news.

JOC is Setting the Example for the Lions

In this excellent piece on Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor by ProSoccerUSA’s Jordan Culver, it’s easy to find a lot of things to like about the new gaffer. No one’s going to outwork him. He’s not going to ask any of his players to do anything he’s not willing to do himself. It’s honestly not something you don’t typically hear when a new coach comes in, but you have to like his positive vibe and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Another thing I liked was his call for positive vibes from the stands as he gets set for his first home match in charge of the team he once played for.

“Just generally – and I know it’s really difficult, because everyone is so frustrated – just to try to support the players as much as you can,” O’Connor said. “That’s what we all need. We really need to get behind Orlando City as a club. I can understand the frustration without question. I think that the important thing for us is to try to get some confidence and belief back into the players.”

As for what might be going on during the transfer window, O’Connor said the club has held some preliminary discussions but nothing is advanced, but he does see some of the team’s needs now that he’s had some time for evaluation.

“There’s a couple of areas that I’ve looked at and I’ve thought, ‘OK, maybe we may need a little bit of strengthening there.’ So, there’s been some initial conversations. That’s very early stage as we want to really focus on this Saturday against Toronto.”

Should Orlando City Dump Pizza Sponsorship Partner?

In the wake of “Papa” John Schnatter being booted from his own company after the use of a racist term, Orlando City has yet to determine whether or not it will continue its partnership with Papa John’s Pizza. The Orlando Magic have reportedly already suspended theirs and the Orlando Sentinel’s George Diaz is calling for it. Will the club do it? Should it?

An Orlando City spokesperson said the club is aware of the situation and has not yet made a decision about any changes to the partnership. Fans get a discount any time Orlando City or Orlando Pride earn a win or draw this season.

I can see why many would say dump them (besides the terrible product), but if the company has already booted the offensive person and is doing everything it can to distance itself from the guy, well…I still believe in redemption and not punishing a huge organization for the actions of a bad person because, spoiler alert: every large organization has many bad people and oftentimes they’re right at the top. I don’t have all the details of the partnership, but Papa John’s recently sponsored a youth soccer camp for City back in June. Certainly that’s the kind of thing we need more of.

That is some straight fire.

Orlando City’s Hot Sauce Has a Name

As we find out time and time again, the public should never be allowed to vote on anything. Tijuana Flats announced the names of three finalists for the fast-casual Mexican food chain’s new brand of hot sauce geared toward Orlando City fans. The finalists were:

  • Three Effin’ Points.
  • Take Your F’n Shirt Off.
  • Bleed Purple.

Because people are generally terrible at deciding things, the winner was Take Your F’n Shirt Off, which I think was the worst of the three, and by a long, long way. One thing is for certain, with two finalists having a stand-in word for an expletive, Tijuana Flats has definitely been keeping up with the team’s play of late. However, looking into the stands, I generally want people to put their “F’n” shirts back on. Also, if a player takes off their f’n shirt, it’s a yellow card, and that’s not good. Personally, I liked Bleed Purple because it was at least directly identifiable as being related to the team. I kind of thought more people would have wanted to see Three Effin’ Points though. It’s been a while.

Colorado Rapids Sign Former Lion

Giles Barnes officially joined the Pids on Friday after rumors broke out of him signing with the Colorado side earlier in the week. Barnes played in all 34 matches for Orlando City in 2017, starting 23 times and scoring three goals with two assists. After a detour in Liga MX with Club Leon, Barnes is back in Major League Soccer and, because the Lions have already faced the Rapids in 2018, I wish him a successful rest of the season.

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  • Croatia’s Ivan Perisic, who was instrumental in his country’s win over England, might have to miss the World Cup final with a thigh injury.
  • The 2022 World Cup will have a dramatic effect on the MLS postseason.

  • LAFC will sell defender Omar Gaber to Pyramids FC of the Egyptian Premier League due to a family matter back in Egypt.
  • Among those born on this date (like Lewis Neal) were Woody Guthrie (1912), Gerald Ford (1913), Jane Lynch (1960), LOST actor Matthew Fox (1966), and MMA star Conor McGregor (1988).

That’s all my time for this morning. We’ll have full coverage of both the Pride and the Lions throughout today and tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend!

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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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18 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.

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  • 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: 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.

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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: 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.

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

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