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Lion Links: 11/10/18

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The weekend is here, friends. It’s time to throw off the shackles of our nine-to-fives and enjoy two days of freedom, completely unfettered by the bonds of servitude (most of us, anyway). Let’s enjoy them to the fullest with many hours of soccer watching and perhaps a delicious and refreshing beverage or two in a comfy chair.

Don’t forget the Orlando SeaWolves will be playing a preseason match against Brazil tonight at Silver Spurs Arena as part of a doubleheader. Get out and support Orlando’s newest team.

Before we get to the news of the day, I want to remind you that you’re running out of time to vote for Scott Sutter for MLS Goal of the Year. Voting closes tomorrow night at midnight Pacific Time.

Orlando City Youth Players Earn Scholarships

I love hearing stuff like this and, frankly, there’s not enough news like this. Orlando City/Orlando Pride sponsor, Central Florida Audi Dealers, have given scholarships to four Orlando City youth soccer players. Congratulations are in order for Rodney Bargaineer (age 11, from Sanford), Magnoly Isaac (15, Orlando), Courtney Jones (13, Apopka), and Lindsay Sheets (13, Sanford). 

“We are very fortunate to have great partners like the Central Florida Audi Dealers who are not only integrated with our professional men’s and women’s teams, but are also invested in helping us at the core youth development levels of our business,” added Orlando City SC Chief Revenue Officer Chris Gallagher. “Audi understands the importance of supporting youth development and shares our vision to provide the best opportunities to young athletes to be part of the fastest growing sport in North America.”

It’s the second consecutive year that Central Florida Audi Dealerships have passed out such scholarships. It’s very cool to kick off today’s Lion Links with such a positive item.

Eddie Johnson Putting Dom, Syd Through Their Paces

Former USMNT and MLS striker Eddie Johnson has found a nice second career training players of all ages. He famously trained Christian Pulisic during his off-season and we told you a few days ago (via linking a story in Lion Links) that he would be working with Orlando City striker Dom Dwyer and Orlando Pride forward Sydney Leroux. Well, now we have visual evidence.

It’s nice to see soccer’s power couple staying sharp and looking to improve so soon after the end of their respective seasons.

U.S. U-20s Win Group A at Concacaf Championship

The U-20 USMNT advanced to the next stage of the U-20 Concacaf Championship after winning Group A last night with a 7-0 victory over Suriname in Bradenton. Alex Mendez and Ayo Akinola each scored a brace in the match.

The tournament now moves into a second group stage, where the winner of each of the two remaining groups will advance to the 2019 U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Poland.

The US will play Honduras and either Haiti, Costa Rica or Saint Lucia, with that stage beginning on Tuesday.

FC Cincinnati Expansion Draft Details Released with Off-Season Calendar

Major League Soccer released its annual off-season calendar yesterday with all of the various draft dates. We already know the SuperDraft will be Jan. 11 in Chicago, but now we know when in December the MLS Expansion Draft, Waiver Draft, and two stages of the Re-Entry Draft will take place. Click the link above for the details. FC Cincinnati may select up to five players on Dec. 11 from the pool of eligible MLS players and each club may lose only one player.

Eric Wynalda Loses Home to Ventura Fire

The fires in California are no joke and our thoughts are with everyone who is in harm’s way or who have homes in the area. Former USMNT star and current Las Vegas Lights coach Eric Wynalda had his house destroyed, including many irreplaceable mementos of his playing and coaching days. Thankfully Eric has his health, but you’ve got to feel for someone who has lost so many memories in the forms of photos, jerseys, etc.

Wynalda said they received an alert on their phones about 12:30 a.m. of a voluntary evacuation. His wife decided to leave then, loading their kids into the car with jewelry, important documents and four suitcases of clothes.

Wynalda said he’d be right behind them and began packing clothes into a smaller sedan. At about 3 a.m., he went upstairs and saw decades worth of soccer memorabilia — jerseys from a career that took him to the 1987 NCAA championship game with San Diego State, to Germany’s Bundesliga, to scoring the first goal in Major League Soccer history, to being the U.S. national team’s all-time leading scorer, to three World Cups, to international all-star games, to several stints as a TV analyst and now to coaching.

By 4 a.m. he got a text from a friend who informed him he was watching Wynalda’s house burn on the local news. Man, that suuuuuuuucks.

Free Kicks

  • What do you think of this conceptual home Orlando City kit?

  • Former Orlando City forward and SuperDraft selection Hadji Barry had an outstanding USL season and it caught the eye of his national team. Congrats to Hadji.

  • Didier Drogba announced on Twitter that he wasn’t going to retire after his Phoenix Rising FC lost the USL title Thursday evening to Louisville City FC. Much like the way he plays, he did it like a boss.

  • Italy announced the squad that will be playing the United States Men’s National Team in a Nov. 20 friendly. After reading who made the squad, I’m in the mood for lasagna. Also, Kevin Lasagna has one of the all-time great names.
  • The Portland Timbers would like you to know that they were just excited about penalties and it wasn’t at all that they thought they advanced on away goals after extra time or anything. Honest!
  • Those born on this date include Martin Luther (1483), inventor of the flush toilet George Jennings (1810) — seriously, thank you George! — actor Richard Burton (1925), Jaws sheriff Roy Scheider (1932), ELP bassists/guitarist/vocalist Greg Lake (1947), former college football coach Les Miles (1953), film director Roland Emmerich (1955), writer Neil Gaiman (1960), Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy (1963), actor/comedian Tracy Morgan (1968), former Arsenal/Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann (1969), Grey’s Anatomy actress Ellen Pompeo (1969), and Justified star Walton Goggins (1971).

That’s all my time for today. Enjoy your weekend, folks!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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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.

Free Kicks


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.

Free Kicks

  • 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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