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Lion Links: 9/2/17

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Mane Landers! Hopefully as you're reading this, you're already sitting back with a drink in hand on this wonderful holiday weekend. And we thank you for taking the time on your vacation to read my very first β€” of many to come β€” Lion Links. But if you're like me and may not be as lucky, then know it's been an exciting week and will be a busy weekend so you came to the right place to keep tabs.

This weekend sets up for two-thirds of the Orlando contingent with matches for both Orlando City and Pride tonight. Additionally, there’s a full slate of World Cup qualifiers and plenty of MLS news to keep you occupied.

Yanks Upended by Costa Rica, 2-0

All the momentum the USMNT had built under Bruce Arena came crashing against the back wall of Costa Rica’s five-man defense at Red Bull Arena last night as the Ticos handed the Yanks a 2-0 loss in New Jersey. It’s not that the U.S. didn’t have chances, but, like we’ve seen with Orlando City, too many of those chances lacked that final bit of quality to end up in Costa Rica’s net. It didn’t help that Keylor Navas was excellent in goal and that the Panamanian referee (no bias there, obviously) ignored a sure penalty when Jozy Altidore was taken down from behind in the box with a dangerous cross on the way from the right flank. In the end, though, it was a bad outing from center backs Tim Ream and Geoff Cameron and good finishing by Marco UreΓ±a that undid the U.S.

This puts the USMNT in a near must-win position Oct. 6 in Orlando as we attempt to hold on to the third automatic qualifier to the World Cup. We face Panama in what is expected to be a battle to secure that final qualifier to avoid an eventual playoff.

Orlando City Eases Travel as Youth Set to Feature at New England

Travel conditions have always been a catalyst for debate around the league, and with the rough stretch Orlando City has endured, both in miles and results, Jason Kreis has his side up in New England for an extra day of acclimation, in what shapes up to potentially be a match flooded with young players as the FIFA weekend, injuries, and card accumulation takes many key players out of consideration.

Check out our match preview here

Orlando Pride Look to Continue Streak Against Boston Breakers

Orlando Pride look to extend a league-leading, five-match unbeaten streak against bottom of the table Boston Breakers and the hopeful return of young USWNT starter Rose Lavelle. On a four-match winning streak, the Pride seek to hold their current fourth place in the table and the playoffs. With the Pride playing exciting, attacking soccer this match lines up to be one you won't want to miss.

Support them tonight at Orlando City Stadium, 7:30 p.m. kickoff

Morgs Named NWSL Player of the Month

Speaking of the Pride, striker Alex Morgan has been crushing it of late, scoring in five straight games β€” every single match in August. As a result, she’s been named the league’s Player of the Month for August. In all, Morgan scored seven times and added two assists to help Orlando go 4-0-1 and complete the team’s first ever undefeated month.

U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy Kicks Off Inaugural Season

This weekend the U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy kicks off. While the boys have had a 10-year head start, it's now the girls' time to shine. We give you some different insight and share a great conversation between legends, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain, on the necessity and advantages of the new system.

David Villa Proving National Team Still in Sight for MLS European Players

Unfortunately the MLS has not been kind to European players in regards to their national teams. Cases like Sebastian Giovinco notoriously being blocked is just one of many cases of the global perception that the MLS remains a "retirement home" for those that can no longer cut it. David Villa breaks that perception into pieces as his success in MLS has brought him back into the Spanish National Team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

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So, there you have it β€” all the news you'll need to gear up for the weekend. Now go and enjoy your holiday! And I hope to see some of you tonight at the Orlando Pride as yours truly will be cheering them on!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/24

Jack Lynn named to MLS Team of the Matchday bench, Nico Lodeiro and Marta up for weekly awards, USMNT stock watch, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was an enjoyable weekend for fans of Orlando soccer as the Lions got in the win column, the Pride stayed unbeaten, and Orlando City B picked up two points by way of a shootout win. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s dive in.

Jack Lynn Makes Team of the Matchday Bench

Jack Lynn’s efforts in Orlando City’s 2-0 win over Austin FC have earned him a spot on the bench in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Lynn opened the scoring with a well-finished header in the first half, a tally which was also his very first for the senior side. Aside from his goal, he took another shot that was off target, completed 77% of his passes, and recorded 21 touches. The performance earned him a 6 out of 10 grade from Sean Rollins in his player grades from the match. Lynn’s inclusion in the TotM is well deserved, and hopefully it’s the first of many!

Orlando Players Up for Weekly Honors

Nico Lodeiro’s free kick during Orlando City’s win has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. In the 64th minute, with the Lions holding a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Lynn’s goal, the good guys were awarded a free kick due to a handball on the edge of the box. Lodeiro proceeded to deliver the goods, scoring his first league goal for OCSC with a powerful, bending effort that Brad Stuver was unable to keep out of the top corner. Make sure you go and vote for Nico to win this week’s award!

He wasn’t the only Orlando player who had an impressive goal either, as the Orlando Pride’s Marta has been nominated for the National Women’s Soccer League Goal of the Week. It was a well-deserved nomination too, as she leveled the score and rescued a point for the Pride in spectacular fashion. With time ticking down in the 88th minute, she expertly volleyed in a corner kick at home. Go and vote for her to win the honor!

Post-Nations League Stock Watch

Several United States Men’s National Team players either boosted or hurt their stock over the course of last week’s Concacaf Nations League matches. Guys like Giovanni Reyna and Tyler Adams turned in impactful and timely performances. Reyna was named the best player of the tournament at a time when minutes at the club level are tough to come by, while Adams looked great as he continues to work his way back from a long injury layoff. Joe Scally and Folarin Balogun struggled though, with Scally being hooked at halftime against Jamaica and Balogun having a relatively quiet two games while fellow striker Haji Wright was the hero against Jamaica. Nobody’s stock dropped more than Mexico’s though, which has now gone seven games without beating the U.S., and hasn’t scored in almost 500 minutes. *Insert eagle screech here*

Big Names Missing for Euro 2024

The club season won’t be over for a couple more months, but there are a number of big stars who we either already know won’t be appearing at this summer’s Euro 2024, or who have a race against the clock in order to feature. The Real Madrid duo of David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois will both miss the tournament through injury, although Courtois’ rocky relationship with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco means he may not have been called up anyway. Sven Botman will be unavailable for the Netherlands due to an ACL tear. Ivan Perisic suffered the same fate, sidelining him for Croatia. Then there are the cases of Sandro Tonali and Paul Pogba, who are unavailable for Italy and France, respectively, due to suspensions for off-field issues.

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  • Happy National Athletic Training Month from one AT (me) to another!
  • The young Yanks engineered a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw with France, with Cade Cowell scoring the equalizer.
  • A vote has reportedly taken place on a new tentative agreeement between PRO and the PSRA.
  • LAFC has reportedly sent a formal contract offer for Olivier Giroud to join the Western Conference side once the Serie A season concludes.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/25/24

Orlando City gets first win, Pride and OCB earn draws, USMNT wins Nations League, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. What a weekend it was for the teams in purple, with results all around. I’ll take more weekends like that, please. Even my Tallahassee Soccer Club pulled out a win in a friendly on Saturday night. Here’s hoping this week is just as good. Let’s get to the links, but first, let’s give a shout out to Dave Shine, our most recent Buy Me a Coffee subscriber. If you’re not familiar with that, it’s a way for us to give you more content/value (or you can simply make a one-time donation if you don’t wish to subscribe). There are thre levels at which you can get involved. Check them out here.

Orlando City Victorious

It took a lot longer than any of us liked, but Orlando City posted its first victory of the 2024 regular season in a 2-0 win over Austin FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night. Jack Lynn scored a goal in his first start with the senior team and Nico Lodeiro opened his account with Orlando City. It was a much better performance from the Lions despite not having several normal starters due to international call-ups. Orlando City’s next match is at home against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Pride Come Back for Late Draw

The Orlando Pride came from behind for a second match in a row, earning a 1-1 draw against Angel City FC Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride left it about as late as possible, with Marta scoring the equalizer in the 88th minute of the match. Seb Hines was forced to employ a makeshift back line with Kylie Strom serving a red card suspension and Emily Sams out sick. The Pride are back in action this Friday at home against the Chicago Red Stars.

OCB Win Shootout Following Draw at Huntsville

Orlando City B earned two points in a penalty shootout win over Huntsville City FC at Joe W. Davis Stadium on Friday night in Alabama. The Young Lions earned one point for the 1-1 draw and another for the shootout win. It’s an MLS Next Pro rule. The Young Lions are a point behind first place in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference standings. OCB has a bit of a rest until the club hosts Inter Miami II on April 2. If you aren’t watching OCB, you really should. The matches are always exciting.

USMNT Wins Concacaf Nations League

The USMNT defeated Mexico 2-0 on Sunday to win the Concacaf Nations League. Tyler Adams sent in an absolute banger to give the U.S. the lead just before halftime.

In the second half, Gio Reyna scored the second goal on a one-time volley to make it dos a cero.

Once again, the Mexico fans used homophobic slurs in a banned chant, meaning that the match was stopped and the players brought to the center circle. That this keeps happening is utterly abhorrent and, in my opinion, more serious repercussions need to happen for it to stop. Regardless, the U.S. won the competition on the pitch.

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  • Florian Wirtz scored the fasted goal ever for Germany. It only took Wirtz seven seconds to give Germany the lead over France. The Germans ultimately won 2-0.
  • Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner accepted the “how fast can you score” challenge thrown down by Wirtz and beat him by one second. Baumgartner scored after only six seconds in the 2-0 friendly win over Slovakia. It was a national team record for Austria.
  • Julian Hall made an appearance for the New York Red Bulls at the tender age of 15 years old β€” one day before his 16th birthday. He was able to do so because the match was at 2 p.m., meaning he wouldn’t break any New Jersey labor laws.
  • Brazil’s Endrick became the youngest male scorer at Wembley Stadium, breaking a 40-year-old record formerly held by Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside.
  • Spain defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in a Women’s Nations League semifinal to earn a berth in the Paris Olympics.
  • The Houston Dynamo broke the hearts of Colorado Rapids fans with this last-minute winner.

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

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