Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/23/18
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! The weekend is almost here and although we donโt have any Orlando City soccer, the Orlando Pride have their season opener tomorrow night against Utah Royals FC. I think we could all use a week off from the Lions after recent results, but before we can get to a relaxing weekend, we have to finish today. Luckily, I have some Lion Links to start your day off the right away.
New Faces Take Center Stage in Pride Opener
After a season where the Orlando Pride led the NWSL in goals and earned their first playoff appearance, Head Coach Tom Sermanni and the front office didnโt take their foot off the gas. This off-season, the Pride brought in eight new players, including big names like Sydney Leroux and Canadian international Shelina Zadorsky, to complement a team led by Alanna Kennedy, Marta, and Alex Morgan. Itโs that blend of fresh talent and team leaders that has Morgan looking forward to the 2018 season.
โIโm really excited about some of the newer playersโฆthereโs quite a few that weโve picked up over the off-season, said Morgan. โWe just have the quality on this team to do really well this year. I think weโre going to start of pretty strong from the beginning.โ
But the Pride have more on their checklist this season than just winning the title. With expectations high, the club is focused on delivering not only on the pitch, but by generating a greater sense of community within the club as well. One of the more popular teams in the NWSL, the Pride are hoping to show fans some of the core values that will shape the club in the coming years.
The Pride kick off their 2018 campaign tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET against NWSL newcomers Utah Royals FC, which absorbed the now-folded FC Kansas City roster before trading Leroux to Orlando.
Zlatan to Join the LA Galaxy
A rumor that has circulated for the past two years has now become a reality as reports surface that Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovich has signed a two-year contract with the LA Galaxy. Ibrahimovichโs former club, Manchester United, confirmed yesterday that it would terminate its contract with the striker four months in advance so that he may move to MLS as soon as possible.
The 36-year-old has not played since December of 2017 thanks to a nagging knee injury but he could be on the pitch as early as this month for his new MLS side. The move may ignite MLS critics who claim the league is a retirement destination for players in the tail end of their careers, but Ibrahimovich remains one of the most dynamic and iconic players on the planet.
The Young Lions Head to GA Cup
Orlando Cityโs U-17 squad is currently in Dallas, TX for the 2018 Generation Adidas Cup. The academy team will take on Real Salt Lakeโs U-17 team at 12:30 p.m. ET in its first match of the tournament that will see the young Lions take on both international and domestic teams alike. Make sure to wish our future Lions good luck!
The @OCSC_Academy U-17s are out in Dallas for the #GACup. Give them a follow and keep up with the team. #VamosOrlando https://t.co/DK58FTpF3i
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 22, 2018
Juventus Chosen as MLS All-Star Game Opponent
Italian club Juventus was revealed as the club to take on the MLS All-Star Team on Aug. 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. One of the most iconic clubs in the world, Juventus has been the reigning champion of Serie A for the past six years and boasts some of the best players soccer has to offer. Itโs also my favorite European club, so forgive me when I show up in Atlanta in black and white to support the Old Lady.
Path to 2019 FIFA Womenโs World Cup Revealed
Although not official, the word around the proverbial U.S. Soccer water cooler is that the United States will host CONCACAF qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Womenโs World Cup, with tentative locations in Cary, NC, and Frisco, TX. The USWNT will certainly get a boost from the home-field advantage and should earn a berth into the World Cup when qualifying starts in October. But as we found out last year, nothing can be taken for granted in U.S. soccer anymore.
Free Kicks
- It looks like some former Lions have linked up at their new jobs over in England.
Fun fact I just learned: English 5th tier @GuiseleyAFC currently has two former @OrlandoCitySC players on roster. Sean St Ledger (MLS) and John Rooney (USL) pic.twitter.com/atyXfpGACV
— Austin David (@AustinDavid22) March 21, 2018
- Speaking of new jobs, Orlando Pride goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer is getting her side hustle on by joining Orlando City Youth Soccer Club as a goalkeeping coach.
OCYS announces Orlando Pride GK Haley Kopmeyer has joined our Goalkeeping Staff.
Goalkeepers … check your schedules and come train with us.
Welcome @hkopmeyer to OCYS. #anotherreasonOCYS #thefutureispurple
— Orlando City Youth (@OCYouthSoccer) March 22, 2018
OCYS Thanks @khopmeyer for joining our youth GK staff. Great role model and coach for the players. #thefutureispurple #givingback pic.twitter.com/UhforgDPid
— Orlando City Youth (@OCYouthSoccer) March 22, 2018
- USMNT player Graham Zusi has gotten rid of his signature man bun to donate his hair to a wig donation program for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
The rumors are true. It's the end of a hair-a.
But don't be sad. #8's locks were donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a wig donation program that helps women battling cancer. 8 inches of hair or $8 is all it takes. #8or8 pic.twitter.com/ZZxgOW10Mc
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 22, 2018
- U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan had his love for soccer reignited in the most unlikely of places: Mexico.
- In probably the most disgusting and horrifying story from yesterdayโs news cycle, a since-released player for Argentine club Independiente has allegedly been prostituting teenage boys.
- Closing our links is an interesting take on the current parallel between MLS and the NBA in regard to young athletes, with the NBA looking to change its โone-an-doneโ rule while MLS welcomes teenage players with open arms.
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Thatโs all from me, folks. Have a great Friday! I hope it goes smoothly so you can rest before this weekendโs festivities.
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.
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
- The latest MLS power rankings have been released. The Lions moved up six spots to 21st after finally getting their first regular-season win this past weekend against Austin FC.
- In the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, Orlando City B dropped two spots to seventh after securing two points on the road against Huntsville City FC.
- FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal is out for the rest of the season. He’ll undergo season-ending surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.
- Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen will be sidelined for three weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee after sustaining a meniscus injury two weeks ago in Atlanta’s match against Orlando City.
- The Ecuadorian FA condemned the behavior of several of its players, including 16-year-old Kendry Paez, for attending a strip club during the international break, but issued no punishment.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and Iโll see you next time.
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.
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.
- Emil Forsberg’s wife has accused him of abandoning and neglecting his family during his move to the New York Red Bulls.
- Vinicius Junior was in tears during a press conference on Monday, as he opened up about the struggles he has faced as a result of the racist abuse he has suffered while playing in La Liga.
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/25/24
Orlando City gets first win, Pride and OCB earn draws, USMNT wins Nations League, and more.
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.
Free Kicks
- 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 โ 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.
- Here is everything you need to know about this year’s Copa America. The USMNT is in Group C with Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia.
- In case you missed it, Kyle Smith made his 150th appearance for Orlando City against Austin FC. A big thank you to the Accountant.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the upcoming matches. Vamos Orlando.
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