Lion Links: 10/10/18

What’s up, Mane Landers? Hurricane Michael is expected to make landfall sometime today, so please stay safe out there if you are in the storm’s path. It’ll have a huge impact not only on the panhandle, but most of the coast as well. With my weatherman impersonation over, let’s get excited for U.S. soccer both tonight and tomorrow, with the women’s and men’s national teams in action.

But before we get to the links, let’s wish a happy 25th birthday to Orlando Pride defender Camila!

Alex Morgan Nears 100 Goals

Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan’s brace against Mexico for the U.S. Women’s National Team on Oct. 4 has put her within striking distance of reaching 100 goals before the Concacaf Women’s Championship ends next week. Seventh on the all-time U.S. women’s scoring list, Morgan sits at 92 goals and will look to add to her total tonight against Trinidad and Tobago at 7:30 p.m. ET in the final group match before the semifinals.

Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita Starts Scouting for OCB

Orlando City’s future talent will hopefully come from Orlando City B and newly named Head Coach Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita is on the hunt for them. He and General Manager Mike Potempa are on their way to Brazil to spend the rest of the week checking out the youth players at partner club Atletico Paranaense. Hopefully he can find the next great player for the Lions.

Depth Allowing USWNT to Cruise

Although the competition faced so far is not at the same level of the teams the USWNT will face in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, it is still impressive to beat a team 6-0 and then use an almost entirely different team to win 5-0 a few days later. Not a single player on the team has played the full 180 minutes and although the explosive offense is making headlines, it is the team’s depth that will be its greatest weapon next summer.

USMNT Prepares for Friendly Face-Off

Today’s the anniversary of the United States Men’s National Team’s embarrassing elimination from World Cup qualifying. A year later, the team is gearing up for a series of friendlies in the fight to get the team back on track. Injuries from Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams have taken some of the excitement out of tomorrow’s friendly against Colombia at 7:30 p.m. ET, but there is still plenty to be gained from the camp and exhibitions for the team.

Free Kicks

• Between matches, Jonathan Spector and Jose Villarreal paid a visit to the Arnold Palmer Hospital to spend some time with some of the smallest Lions supporters around.

• Former Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni is on the shortlist for the New Zealand Women’s National Team coaching gig.
• It looks like the Lions are struggling at all levels as both the U-17 and the U-15 teams have yet to win a match in Generation Adidas Cup qualifying so far.
• In MLS expansion news, St. Louis’ dream of an MLS team is back from the dead and FC Cincinnati unveiled some design concepts for the future club’s stadium.
• Despite both being over the age of 30 and facing criticism for their inclusion, U.S. veterans Brad Guzan and Michael Bradley are focused on serving as leaders for a young U.S. team this month.
• The list of U.S. venues for the Concacaf Gold Cup has been revealed and it seems Orlando City didn’t make the cut.
• Former U.S. player April Heinrichs is stepping down as U.S. Soccer’s youth director after eight years on the job.
• Thierry Henry is rumored to be the new manager at Monaco, dashing any hopes that he would become the manager at Aston Villa.
• FIFA has launched its first global strategy for the women’s game. According to FIFA, it will focus on the empowerment that the game brings to young girls and women across the globe.
• Former FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali is expanding his charity that helped bring soccer to Syrian refugees to try reaching all corners of the world.
• The Thai boys soccer team that was trapped in a cave earlier this year was invited to the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and played against River Plate’s youth team.
• We end our links with the cutest pitch invader ever.

That’s all from me. Try to stay dry out there as I’m sure we’re going to get hit with buckets of rain today. Have a great day!