Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/28/20
Happy Thursday, lionesses and lions. As always, I hope you overcame your hump day with ease. Furthermore, I hope you’ve been enjoying the recent, Floridian weather returning — it’s been cold out there for Floridians like me as of late, but now things are going back to normal. Anyway, there was a decent amount of interesting news in the soccer world yesterday, so let’s get right into the links.
Exploria Stadium Will Host 2022 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony
Yesterday, it was announced that the Exploria Stadium will host the 2022 Special Olympics opening ceremony from June 5-12. Coverage will be broadcast on ESPN and the ABC family of networks.
“We are so excited to be able to partner with such an important and impactful organization in the Special Olympics,” Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said. “We are honored that our home, Exploria Stadium, has been chosen to host the 2022 USA Games Opening Ceremony and bring the start of these games, not only to the City of Orlando, but to those participating and those watching all around the world. We can think of no better place to kick off an event that will showcase some of the best athletes in the United States. Our organizations have been working together for a while, building toward today’s announcement, and I’m confident our work leading into next year will make 2022 the biggest and best Opening Ceremony to date.”
The City Beautiful is set to host yet another top-level event — you love to see it.
NWSL Calendar Takes Shape; League Won’t Break for Olympics
The NWSL has announced key dates for the 2021 season. The 24-match regular season is set to begin in May. Be sure to mark your calendars. One of the biggest takeaways is that the league will not stop play during the Olympics, which will obviously affect teams heavily laden with international players.
“Players will report to camp on Feb. 1, 2021. Following the Challenge Cup, the NWSL’s 10 teams will face off in a 24-game regular season beginning May 15, 2021. The league will not break for the 2021 Olympic Games and the regular season will conclude on Oct. 30, 2021. Full details on the Challenge Cup format and the complete regular season schedule will be released at a later date.”
The NWSL Medical Task Force is working tirelessly to ensure the environment is as safe as possible for the players and staff. Let’s hope all goes to plan this time around.
MLS Memo Advises Teams to Prepare for Possible Lockout
MLS has reportedly sent a memo stating that teams and staff should prepare for a possible lockout as CBA negotiations are still ongoing. The contract is nearing its deadline so preparing for a lockout is a normal procedure. That said, if a stoppage does occur and no agreement is met, it would be the first one in MLS history.
“The January 29 deadline provides all constituents ― the League, the clubs, and the players ― adequate time to prepare for the upcoming season,” the memo reads, in part. “At this point, however, we are required to plan for the possibility that the CBA may be terminated and that a work stoppage could occur. Therefore, we will be providing the clubs with guidance later today regarding the rules that must be followed during any such work stoppage.” If a stoppage comes to fruition, it would be the first in league history. “We want to be clear ― our hope is to reach an agreement and avoid a work stoppage,” the memo said. “But we must be prepared in the event that we are unable to reach an agreement.”
The MLSPA is expected to submit another counter offer prior to the deadline according to sources close to ESPN. It will be interesting to see how the negotiations transpire.
Galatasaray Expresses Interest in DeAndre Yedlin
The current contract in which DeAndre Yedlin is tied down to at Newcastle United expires in June. Because of that, a number of suitors have shown interest in the American. Galatasaray is the latest team to be linked with Yedlin. That said, the 27-year-old apparently wants a new deal with his current club and a deal could still happen for the former Seattle Sounders man. However, as time passes a new deal looks less and less likely — it seems as if Yedlin’s time in England could be nearing its end.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City’s Andres Perea is among the 10 young players Andrew Wiebe of MLSSoccer.com is rooting for in 2021.
- Chris Mueller is settling in with the USMNT. Let’s hope Cash can build on his dream debut against El Salvador with another stellar outing against Trinidad and Tobago at the Exploria Stadium. The quotes in the video aren’t new (they’re from Monday’s presser) but the footage is.
Two goals in your first cap is about as close to a dream debut as one could imagine.
Feeding off that experience, @OrlandoCitySC forward @cmueller1662 is hungry for much more in 2021, beginning with Sunday's match vs. Trinidad & Tobago @ExploriaStadium. pic.twitter.com/b3832J9teV
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) January 27, 2021
- Former Orlando City winger Josue Colman has found a new club. All the best to him with his future endeavor.
¡Bienvenido @ColmanJosue al Legendario! 🙌
El volante ofensivo de 22 años se pone la Aurinegra y ya se suma al plantel del Profe Costas#JosueLegendario #MásGuarani 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/zWlDLIUFjw
— Club Guarani (@ClubGuarani) January 27, 2021
- USMNT youngster Brenden Aaronson bagged his first assist for Salzburg yesterday. His side is currently atop the Austrian Football Bundesliga table.
And just like that Brenden Aaronson has his first assist for @FCRBS_en!
👀 (@ForTheFansHQ)pic.twitter.com/4XI1qermt8
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) January 27, 2021
- Austin FC unveiled its secondary kit.
- Terry Fenwick has named his Trinidad & Tobago roster that will face the USMNT in Orlando on Sunday.
That’s all for this Thursday’s set of links, folks. Enjoy the second half of your week.
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 I’ll 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 — 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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