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Lion Links: 2/26/18

Orlando City plays for fitness, Parkland student to be honored, USLD3 expands, Manchester City wins Carabao Cup, and more!

MLS: Orlando City SC vs. Chicago Fire Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! We’re so close to the start of the season, you can practically taste it. Between new jersey reveals, Jose Aja leaving town, and the Orlando Pride schedule, it’s been a busy week. But now we start the first week of the MLS season, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. Of course, we will literally have to wait, so here are some links in the meantime.

Orlando City Ready for the Season

Jason Kreis took advantage of Orlando City’s final preseason match to evaluate his players to see who will make the starting XI for Saturday’s season-opener. Dom Dwyer is still out with a quad injury, and Sacha Kljestan will be serving a suspension from last season’s altercation with Jozy Altidore. The main objective for Kreis was to not have any more injuries and to work on the fitness levels of his players.

Parkland Students Contact U.S. Soccer

One of the 17 students that tragically lost their life during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL was Alyssa Alhadeff. Alyssa was a member of the MSD girls soccer team. Jamie Morris and her teammates have taken it upon themselves to get U.S. Soccer to honor their friend during halftime at the SheBelieves Cup match in Orlando City Stadium on March 7. Alex Morgan replied to Jamie’s tweet directly.

Alex wasn’t the only one to see the tweet, and U.S. Soccer is going to honor Alyssa during halftime.

USL Division Three Expands

There are two teams in the new USLD3 so far, and the expectation is that more are to come. FC Tuscon and South Georgia Tormenta FC are the two teams currently in the new league. The league has decided to provide a bi-weekly update as it continues to grow.

Manchester City Wins Carabao Cup

Manchester City has been on a tear through the EPL this season, and it won the Carabao Cup this past weekend. The club defeated Arsenal, 3-0, following up its surprise loss to Wigan Athletic during the fifth round of the FA Cup. For Arsenal, it continues a rough downward trend.

Free Kicks
  • Molde captain Ruben Gabrielsen has turned down a lucrative contract offer from an MLS side. Gabrielsen has also earned a spot on Norway’s national team.
  • Former USL Lions legend Dennis Chin has already scored for Pittsburgh.
  • Famous birthdays for today include USWNT player Morgan Brian (24), R&B singer Erykah Badu (46), soccer player Kepler Pepe (34), actor Tony Randall (1920-2004), singer Michael Bolton (64), pianist Fats Domino (1928-2017), and the great Johnny Cash (1932-2003).

That’s going to do it for today’s links. By next week, we’ll have started the new season! Go City!