Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/2/18
Hey there, Mane Landers, and happy Sunday! You probably haven’t noticed, but I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus throughout the last month. I attended a friend’s wedding and then took a trip with a soccer program across the pond over to Munich, Germany! Well, this edition of your trusty links marks my return, and I couldn’t be happier to back with you.
I had a blast in Munich, with our team winning two of our three matches and enjoying the training grounds of FC Bayern Munich, TSV 1860 Munich, and FC Unterföhring. We also visited Bayern’s Bundesliga action as we traveled to neighboring Augsburg to see FC Augsburg drop three points to Eintracht Frankfurt. The experience was unforgettable, the food delicious, my teammates wonderful, and the city was incredible. I’d love to go on and on about the trip, but that’s not what you’re here for…you’re here for your Links.
Before we jump in though, make sure to wish Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar a very special birthday today! We love you, Mason, and the club is fortunate to have you!
All right, with that said, let’s jump right in.
Jonathan Spector Pays Tribute on Instagram
Former club captain Jonathan Spector shared a touching message via Instagram recently, thanking the club, the club’s personnel, and the fans for embracing he and his family during his stint as the Lions’ skipper. His presence, when healthy, will without a doubt be missed by the club, and it’ll be a tall task in finding a suitable replacement for the former U.S. Men’s National Team stalwart. His time in Orlando was appreciated, and the fans have reacted with both sadness and appreciation, as Spector brought nothing but class and professionalism to Orlando City Soccer Stadium. You will be missed, Jonathan!
David Villa Set to Join Iniesta
Former New York City FC striker and skipper David Villa is headed to Japan’s Vissel Kobe to join up with fellow World Cup winners Andres Iniesta and Lucas Podolski. The club, which aims to become the “best club in Asia,” has been quite ambitious in its attempts to acquire game-changing talents, and it’ll be exciting to see the former Barcelona and Spain National Team duo of Villa and Iniesta team up once again. The league will miss you, David!
Florida State Headed to NCAA Championship
My alma mater, Florida State University, has experienced a rough year when it comes to its football program. The same cannot be said about its women’s soccer team, which is headed to the NCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship to face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels later today. The Noles, who knocked off the Stanford Cardinal and their top-ranked attack (which was riding a 45-game unbeaten streak), will now have the opportunity to join an echelon of programs to have won multiple titles. Their opponents, the Tar Heels, are a different story. They’re the program that everyone else seems to chase, as they’ve hauled in an impressive 21 NCAA titles throughout their school’s history.
Former OCSC Head Coach Jason Kreis Remains in Orlando
There’s not much to talk about here, but it appears that former Lions gaffer Jason Kreis has stuck around in the central Florida area – recently making an appearance at a local half marathon. As a dedicated father, husband and manager, we obviously wish him the best in his eventual search for the next step in his coaching career.
Free Kicks
- Speaking of women’s college soccer, Anson Dorrance, the Tar Heels’ coach, wants to see an increased investment in the sport from his school in order to prove that the program can be a revenue-neutral sport at UNC. To be honest, I think he makes an excellent point.
- Wayne Rooney took some time to visit the reigning NHL champion Washington Capitals with his family this weekend, showing that the iconic striker is ever-committed to his journey with D.C. United.
Boys night in D.C. pic.twitter.com/3M69gPVFcy
— Major League Soccer🏆 (@MLS) December 1, 2018
- Young American striker Haji Wright got his first start for topflight Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04, playing 70 minutes before being subbed out in a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim. It’s nice to see young Americans making an impact in some of Europe’s top teams.
Haji Wright gets his first start for Schalke!#S04: Fährmann – Caligiuri, Sane, Nastasic, Oczipka – Serdar, Rudy, Bentaleb, Schöpf – Burgstaller, Wright pic.twitter.com/jJafpHuIWO
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 1, 2018
- If you’ve been following the Copa Libertadores, then this update is for you…River Plate has refused to play the second leg of the final (2-2 on aggregate) in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu on Dec. 9. The change of venue, as you may be well aware, is due to the controversial postponement of the match following River Plate supporters’ attack on the Boca Juniors’ team bus as it approached the Monumental Stadium for the second leg.
- Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves has slammed the move of the aforementioned second leg of the Copa Libertadores to Madrid, stating that the iconic match shouldn’t have been ruined for South American supporters due to the stupid actions of a few fools, and that the match should take place in South America.
- The third tier in Germany is currently in protest of the number of relegation and promotion slots available.
Here's an example of the protest, from the Braunschweig-Aalen game.
The protest is in response to the structure of promotion to and relegation from the third division. #3Ligapic.twitter.com/wQxMGP2muz
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 1, 2018
That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Enjoy your Sunday and keep an eye out for any impending news concerning, well, all of the things that you’re waiting for news on; a new OCSC general manager, a new Orlando Pride manager, a new USMNT manager, how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop, etc.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/8/24
Orlando Pride move up in power rankings, OCSC will celebrate Pride month, Orlando City B plays tonight, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We’re halfway through the week and I hope you’re doing well. Personally, I love Wednesdays, because in my job they are effectively my “Friday,” as my day off is on Thursday. So, as such, I love bringing you the news to start out your midweek morning. Let’s get to the links.
Orlando Pride Nearly Top Power Rankings
The Orlando Pride are at the top of the NWSL standings with 18 points, and are riding a five-match winning streak while staying undefeated so far this season. If you thought that would be enough for the team to top ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, you’d be wrong. The Pride actually came in at second despite all the factors I list above, with the Kansas City Current ranked above them. Even more shocking is that the writer doesn’t have much of a reason for not ranking the Pride first. I’m not sure what to do with my hands.
Orlando Soccer Matches Will Celebrate Pride Month
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride will recognize Pride month during a pair of matches in June at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are set to host the Utah Royals on June 21 and the Lions will then host the Chicago Fire on June 22. Both matches will include celebrating Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. There are plenty of more events throughout Pride month in the Greater Orlando Area as well. I will be at those matches and I hope to see you there as well.
Orlando City B Hosts New York Red Bulls II Tonight
OCB will try to follow up a result on the road with its first result at home tonight at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL. Forwards Yutaro Tsukada and Shak Mohammed lead the attack for the Young Lions as the club plays only its third home match of the season — and only the second at their actual home field. There’s plenty to look for from OCB as it takes on New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. Try to make it to the match if you are able.
U.S. Soccer Doubles Down
The battle between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer over equal pay has been going on for years. Now, U.S. Soccer has reportedly employed Washington D.C. lobbying firms to provide what the organization asserts are “accurate information and factual numbers” to policy makers. Spokespersons for the players associations of both the USWNT and USMNT expressed disappointment regarding the move by U.S. Soccer. The issue is front and center as two congresswomen have proposed legislation to block funding for the 2026 World Cup unless equal pay is enacted.
Free Kicks
- Were you wondering how good Barbra Banda has been since arriving in Orlando? Me either, but here is a cool stat from OptaJack on her shot production.
- Orlando City fans know all too well how good FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta is at scoring goals. Now, the striker is in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and expressed a desire to play for the USMNT. It would be nice to have him score goals for a team I support.
- Nottingham Forest’s point reduction appeal was rejected by the independent board overseeing the decision. Only three points separate Nottingham from Luton Town and the relegation zone with two matches left this season.
- I know that some Orlando City fans were hoping to see Thiago Silva join the Lions after he left Chelsea, but the defender has chosen to rejoin his old Brazilian club, Fluminense.
- It’s not often that someone follows up an unpopular decision with an even more unpopular explanation for that decision, but that is exactly what MLS Commissioner Don Garber did when explaining that the U.S. Open Cup didn’t offer a competition that “drives value” and that “rises to the level where fans care about it.” I’m sure everyone will now understand the decision. Well done, Commish.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/7/24
Barbra Banda up for NWSL Goal of the Week, Americans in midweek action, Champions League preview, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B drew 1-1 with Chattanooga FC and lost the subsequent shootout, Orlando City lost 1-0 to FC Cincinnati, and the Orlando Pride won 1-0 over Racing Louisville. As usual, we have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s dig into the links.
Barbra Banda Up for Goal of the Week
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week for her strike in the 77th minute against the North Carolina Courage last Wednesday. Banda controlled the ball off a throw-in, turned, and drove across the box before slotting a low shot past Casey Murphy for the Pride’s fourth and final goal of the game. She scored twice in that game and scored again in Sunday’s win over Racing Louisville. Banda now has four goals in four games — including at least one in each of her three starts since appearing off the bench in her debut — and shows no sign of slowing down. Make sure you go vote for her to win this week’s award!
Americans in Midweek Action
As usual, there are a number of Americans playing games this week, so make sure you mark down any that you want to tune in for. Wednesday has Brandon Vazquez and Monterrey traveling to El Volcan to take on Tigres in the quarterfinals of the Clausura. Moving to Friday, Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio, and Venezia have a chance to gain promotion to Serie A if they beat Spezia and Como loses. On the other side of things, former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini and Como play Cosenza, and will secure automatic promotion as long as they don’t have a worse result than Venezia.
UEFA Champions League Preview
The UEFA Champions League continues this week with the second legs of the two semifinal matchups. In this afternoon’s game, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has said that even Kylian Mbappe will have to work hard defensively if his team is going to progress to the final. Borussia Dortmund leads that tie 1-0, and will need to rely on a defense that has kept five clean sheets in this year’s tournament. However, the German club has a concerning record away from home, where it has lost nine of its last 11 games. In tomorrow’s game between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, this season’s La Liga winner will hope its finishing prowess continues from the first leg, when it turned two chances into two goals.
European Transfer Rumor Roundup
With European seasons drawing to a close, the transfer rumor mill is starting to heat up, which means there are several items worth discussing today. First, Manchester United will reportedly face competition to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise. Chelsea and PSG are said to also be interested in signing the Frenchman, who was instrumental in his side’s 4-0 drubbing of the Red Devils yesterday. Staying in the Premier League, Virgil van Dijk has said he intends to be part of the transition following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool, confirming that he does not intend to leave in the summer. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich is said to have agreed to personal terms with AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez. David Moyes has confirmed he will leave West Ham at the end of the season, with reports suggesting that the Hammers have reached an agreement with Julen Lopetegui to be the team’s new manager.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City held steady at 20th in ESPN’s MLS power rankings.
- Bruno Fernandes missed a club match due to injury for the first time in his career, as he did not play in Manchester United’s loss to Crystal Palace.
- Speaking of that match, the Premier League outfitted the referee with a camera for the first time in that game, with the footage to be released at a later date.
- Angel City FC will enter a team in The Soccer Tournament this summer.
- Will Ferrell has bought a stake in Leeds United.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/6/24
Lions lose at home, Orlando Pride win, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was another mixed weekend for our teams as the Lions lost, the Pride won, and OCB drew. As for me, I’ve been busy managing the broadcast operations for the NISA league’s matches this weekend and also got a chance to cover high school soccer, softball, and badminton. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Lose at Home to FC Cincinnati
Orlando City lost at home for the second straight weekend with a 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday. Luciano Acosta scored the lone goal for Cincinnati just seconds into the match. Orlando City went down to 10 men when defender Rodrigo Schlegel received a red card in the first half. The Lions had some chances to get back in this one, including a free kick opportunity in the second half when Wilder Cartagena scored what would have been the equalizer, but Facundo Torres was ruled offside, and the goal was waved off. Cincinnati also dropped to 10 men late in the second half as defender Bret Halsey received his second yellow for a foul on Ivan Angulo and knocked the ball out to waste time. Still, FC Cincinnati found a way to hang on for the victory, securing its third win in a row. Orlando City will look to rebound on Saturday as it takes on the Philadelphia Union at Suburu Park.
Orlando Pride Win at Home Against Racing Louisville FC
The Orlando Pride defeated Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, 1-0, at Inter&Co Stadium, winning their fifth straight game. Barbra Banda scored the lone goal of the match and now has four goals for the Pride this season. The Pride remain undefeated in league play, keeping their unbeaten streak alive at eight matches (5-0-3). Orlando also moved up to first in the NWSL table with 18 points. The Pride will be back home on Saturday to face Bay FC.
OCB Draws Chattanooga FC
Orlando City B drew 1-1 on the road against Chattanooga FC on Saturday. The Young Lions trailed early in the first half as Mehdi Ouamri put Chattanooga FC in front 1-0. Later in the first half, OCB got an equalizer, with forward Shak Mohammed finding the back of the net to score his second goal of the season. The match went to penalties after 90 minutes of action, where Chattanooga FC won the extra point with a 5-4 win over OCB. Despite not getting the extra point in penalties, the Young Lions still keep their road unbeaten streak alive at five. OCB will have a quick turnaround with its next match at Osceola County Stadium on Wednesday against New York Red Bulls II.
European Soccer Roundup
Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title on Saturday, defeating Cadiz 3-0, while their rivals Barcelona dropped points in a 4-2 loss to Girona over the weekend. Madrid has now won La Liga for the 36th time and still has a shot of adding another trophy if it gets past Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday to reach the final next month. Elsewhere, we had plenty of drama in England. Let’s start in the EFL Championship, where Ipswich Town joined Leicester City, getting promoted to the Premier League after a 2-0 victory against Huddersfield Town. Leeds United, Southhampton, West Brom, and Norwich City will go to the playoffs to determine the third club to secure promotion. Arsenal won 3-0 over Bournemouth, while Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 win over Wolves to keep the EPL title race tight. Arsenal is in first with 83 points, with two matches remaining, while Manchester City is just behind in second with 82 points and three matches left to play.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos gave insight on her first NWSL start for the Pride after their match against Racing Louisville FC on Sunday.
- PSV Eindhoven clinched the Eredivisie title on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Sparta Rotterdam. American Malik Tillman played for 90 minutes, while Ricardo Pepi came off the bench and added an assist.
- USMNT midfielder Christian Pulisic put on a solid performance and contributed an assist for AC Milan in a 3-3 draw against Genoa on Saturday.
- USWNT forward Catarina Macario came off the bench for Chelsea in the second half and made WSL history by adding two assists in 10 minutes in an 8-0 win over Bristol City.
- Despite their manager Xabi Alonso being in the stands serving a suspension due to yellow card accumulation, Bayer Leverkusen dominated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 and extended its unbeaten streak to 48 matches.
- Wrexham is reportedly targeting Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. His contract expires with the Premier League-bound club at the end of June.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
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