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Lion Links: 11/22/20

Published

3 years ago

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Happy Sunday, everyone. Several weeks ago I told you about the liquid diet I was on in preparation for a colonoscopy. That got canceled on me about half an hour before I was scheduled to take the prep solution, so at least I didn’t have to go through that part, but guess what? I’m back on a liquid diet in expectation of having the procedure tomorrow.

At least I can sip my liquids secure in the knowledge that Orlando City is in the second round of the playoffs after an incredible turn of events in yesterday’s penalty shootout against New York City FC.

Before we get into the news of the day, let’s all wish Orlando Pride midfielder Taylor Kornieck a happy birthday.

Lions Squeak Past Pigeons on Penalties

I probably don’t have to rehash the details of yesterday’s match to you here, but it’s fun, so why not do it anyway? Nani put the Lions up early with a goal on a penalty kick after he headed a shot off the outstretched arm of Anton Tinnerholm. Orlando then gave the goal right back on a corner kick on which Maxime Chanot moved pesky Junior Urso out of his way with an illegal, but uncalled, two-handed push, then headed home. Then no goals happened for a long time and the game went to kicks from the spot and wackiness ensued and now Rodrigo Schlegel is our new president. That’s the law.

Christopher Adams has your five takeaways from the match later and I’ll have a fresh batch of player grades — hot out of the oven! — and Man of the Match later this morning. We’ll have a photo gallery from Dan MacDonald, too.

Also, you can buy a Schlegel goalkeeper kit in the team shop.

Pareja Consoled Ruan in Locker Room While Winning Save was Reviewed

Oscar Pareja thought the match was over and ran down the tunnel to the locker room, where he found Ruan in tears. After assuring his fullback that Pedro Gallese had bailed him out in penalties, Pareja was informed that the save was under review and he had to return to the pitch. Luckily, it all worked out in the end.

OCSC Supporters Rock the Playoff Tifo

Let’s give a big tip of the cap to the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm for Saturday’s playoff tifo, which referenced the Clint Eastwood classic, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The tifo paid homage to Luiz Muzzi, Pareja, and Nani. The tag line under the main tifo said “For some, the season was hell. For us, it was practice.” The movie’s tag line includes the line “For three men, the Civil War wasn’t hell. It was practice.” Great job by all involved and very creative idea.

PRO Stands by Referee Allen Chapman’s Decisions

A lot of ire from fans was directed toward the confusion on the pitch during the penalty shootout when Pedro Gallese was sent off with a second yellow card. Allen Chapman didn’t seem to know the rules and nearly allowed Brian Rowe to substitute on for Rodrigo Schlegel. After lengthy consultation with the video assistant referee and the rest of his crew, Chapman sent Rowe back to the bench, paving the way for Schlegel’s heroics. The Professional Referee Organization said that Chapman ultimately made the right decisions.

Of course, it was Chapman’s own inconsistency throughout the match that created the issue to begin with. As tempers escalated throughout the match, Gary Mackay-Steven baited Ruan into retaliating for a garbage move of jamming his hands into the Brazilian’s abdomen and putting all his weight on Ruan to push himself to his feet. Ruan took exception and lashed out, which he shouldn’t have done. It was a selfish and foolish play. But that red card and being down a man no doubt contributed to Gallese’s 103rd-minute yellow card for time wasting, and subsequently to the madness in the shootout. PRO, as we often say, gonna PRO.

Marta Tests Positive for COVID-19

In less fun news, Orlando Pride star Marta has tested positive for COVID-19 while in her native Brazil. As such, she will miss Brazil’s upcoming friendlies against Ecuador. Obviously we hope Marta gets through this quickly and without any difficulties. Meanwhile, Brazil manager Pia Sundhage has replaced Marta on the squad with her Pride teammate, Camila.

U.S. Players Abroad

It was a big day for Americans playing overseas, even if they didn’t score. Josh Sargent set up Werder Bremen’s goal with this nice assist in a 1-1 draw vs. Bayern Munich.

Niko Gioacchini, fresh off his two-goal effort for the USMNT, drew a penalty to set up the winning goal for his team, Caen. John Brooks helped his team keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win. Gio Reyna not only had some good contributions to Borussia Dortmund’s 5-2 win over Hertha Berlin, but he also signed a contract extension.

Free Kicks

  • Erling Haaland won the 2020 Golden Boy award as the best European player under 21 years old. USMNT fullback Sergino Dest finished 13th in the voting.
  • In Saturday’s later first-round Eastern Conference playoff match, the Columbus Crew held off the New York Red Bulls, 3-2.
  • In really icky soccer-related news, Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, has been banned for life for sexual abuse of young players.
  • Those born on this date include Rodney Dangerfield (1921), Robert Vaughn (1932), Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam (1940), Billie Jean King (1943), E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt (1950), Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth (1950), Jamie Lee Curtis (1958), The Wire and Lovecraft Country star Michael K. Williams (1966), Boris Becker (1967), Mark Ruffalo (1967), Scarlett Johansson (1984), and England/Roma center back Chris Smalling (1989).

That’s my time for today. Enjoy the rest of our coverage of yesterday’s match as we prepare for whoever is next on the schedule.

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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.

Published

17 hours ago

on

May 7, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

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

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/6/24

Lions lose at home, Orlando Pride win, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 6, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

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.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the homestretch of the week and I couldn’t be happier. A busy weekend awaits me, but I’m hoping for some quiet, nice moments to offset some of the hustle and bustle. It’s also another weekend packed with Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your next couple of days accordingly. But for now, let’s get to the links!

MLS Unveils Club Roster Details

There’s a little more transparency in Major League Soccer after the league released helpful snapshots of each club that detail the composition of each roster. From Designated Players and MLS U22 Initiative Players to international roster slots and contract lengths, the graphics are easy to comprehend and give a nice look behind the curtain on each team. Using this, we can see that Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo no longer takes up a U22 Initiative slot and that the team also has an open international roster slot. It should be a fairly nice reference guide for fans moving forward, as well as a way to check out how other MLS teams are building their rosters.

Emily Sams Earns Recognition as Potential USWNT Player

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was mentioned as one of the top 20 eligible Americans who have yet to make an appearance with the United States Women’s National Team according to Pro Soccer Wire. The shout out is well deserved, as Sams has helped anchor a Pride defense that’s only given up seven goals this season. Only time will tell if Sams will earn a call-up once Emma Hayes is at the helm of the USWNT, but it does feel inevitable given how she’s been playing. Other notable players on the list include Ajax’s Lily Yohannes, Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune, and Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden.

Marta’s Top Moments

All For XI compiled some of the best moments from Marta’s career into a tidy top five. Considering how prolific she has been for Brazil over the years, it was nice to see a pair of goals from her time with the Pride receive some recognition. Both of those moments were from 2018, with her free kick to equalize against the Seattle Reign placing fifth and her solo effort to stun the Spirit taking third. It’s fitting though that the top moment on the list showcases the impact she’s had off the field, as it’s Marta’s emotional speech after Brazil’s exit in the 2019 World Cup.

Kelley O’Hara Will Retire After 2024 Season

USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara announced that she will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. Over the course of her international career, she’s played in four World Cups, three Olympic Games, and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2019. O’Hara has played in every NWSL season since the league’s inception, winning the title with the Spirit in 2021 and again with NJ/NY Gotham FC last year. She joined Gotham as the first free agent signing in NWSL history and she is set to close out her illustrious career there.

Free Kicks

  • Curve Fragrances was named the official fragrance partner of Orlando City. As part of the partnership, there will be giveaways and product sampling at select games this season.
  • Wrexham’s women’s squad for The Soccer Tournament this summer will include a trio of former Pride players, with Bridget Callahan, Danica Evans, and Nickolette Driesse all taking part. I can’t wait to see if Callahan will make SkoRed a rallying cry at the tournament.
  • Orlando City won’t have to contend with FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza tomorrow, as he will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a broken jaw suffered in an off-field incident.
  • The Europa League semifinals are underway and Bayer Leverkusen extended its unbeaten run to 47 games after a 2-0 road win against Roma. In the other matchup, Atalanta and Marseille drew 1-1 in France.
  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso hasn’t been with Real Betis for long, but he’s doing well enough that Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
  • Lucas Hernandez suffered an ACL injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s loss to Borussia Dortmund and will miss out on this summer’s Euros with France.
  • Reims and Will Still have mutually agreed to part ways, with the coach leaving now despite just having three games left in the Ligue 1 season. It will be interesting to see where the 31-year-old coaches next, as he had a notable 19-game unbeaten stretch with Reims last season.
  • Here’s a detailed dive into the obstacles Everton has faced in recent years, as well as how the club has avoided relegation amid another difficult season.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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