Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/5/20
Happy Thursday, Lionesses and Lions. As always, I sincerely hope you overcame your hump day with ease. With uncertainty still being an ever-present feature in the United States election, I have found myself incredibly on edge, and Orlando City having its match yesterday was perfectly timed and helped get my mind off it. Even if it was just for a little bit, the break from the soap opera that is America was welcomed and much needed.
Along with the narrow and hard-fought win against the Columbus Crew for Orlando CIty came a good deal of news as well, so with that, let's get right into the links.
Orlando City Clinched Top Four Four Finish with Win over Columbus Crew
After a tight game with officiating that — put kindly — could be described as “subpar,” Orlando City still managed a 2-1 win and clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference top four. Chris Mueller and Benji Michel were the goal scorers after Mauricio Pereyra set up the 52nd- and 84th-minute finishes. Even though Nani was controversially sent off and a number of other contentious calls were made against the Lions, Orlando City prevailed and showed its impressive mettle a man down.
- Michael Citro has your match recap.
- The view from the other side comes from Massive Report.
Check back later today for Marcus Mitchell’s player grades and Man of the Match and Christopher Adams’ five takeaways from the game.
Gregg Berhalter has Long-Term Plan for MLS Call-Ups
The USMNT roster was announced recently and the squad lacked any players from MLS. The manager, Gregg Berhalter, stated that the decision was on purpose because he did not want to jeopardize the players’ playoff eligibility. Charles Boehm reported that the 47-year-old hinted at future inclusion of MLS players going into the long-term future.
There’s a long-term perspective at work here. With the USMNT and U.S. Under-23 Olympic sides facing a hectic 2021 marked by four different competitions including the Tokyo Olympics, Berhalter hinted that he’s doing MLS clubs a solid now with an eye towards collaborating with them on a release schedule for next year.
Pedro Gallese Continues to be in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Conversation
Once again, Orlando City shot stopper Pedro Gallese has been mentioned in the conversation about the 2020 goalkeeper of the season award. While El Pulpo may not be the favorite for the accolade, the fact that the Peruvian is being talked about in such a positive manner is a good thing for him and the Lions. All the praise is well deserved, so hats off to him.
Philadelphia’s Andre Blake, New England’s Matt Turner and Orlando City SC’s Pedro Gallese have all had standout campaigns, and you’d be able to make a solid case for any of them.
There are still more opportunities for Gallese to show he is a worthy winner this season, so nothing is final and anything can happen.
Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller Could Attract USMNT Interest
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller could attract interest from the United States National Team. The pair of impressive youngsters have showcased their talents on a number of occasions this season and, because of that, the United States National Team may come sniffing around. It is worth noting that Dike is also eligible for Nigeria, which is the nation his brother and sister represented. So if Gregg Berhalter is interested in the prospect of calling the 20-year-old up, he should act fast.
Obviously, neither of the two were called up in the most recent roster, however, no other MLS players were either. It would be terrific to see Mueller and Dike get a crack at the national team whip.
Free Kicks
- Sergino Dest, Gio Reyna, and Tyler Adams helped their teams secure UEFA Champions League victories in yesterday’s matches. The Americans are making their presence known in the prestigious tournament
- Chelsea attacking midfielder Kai Havertz tested positive for Coronavirus. The German youngster has minimal symptoms; however, he is still self-isolating. Nevertheless, let’s hope he gets well soon.
- North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Daniels retired from soccer after her sixth season in the NWSL.
- Nani dyed his follicles Orlando purple and well, it looks pretty awesome. A bold hairdo for a bold player. His sending off was controversial to say the least, but at least he looked even cooler than usual prior to his unjustified, early dismissal.
We turning up now 🔋@orlandohealth | #ORLvCLB pic.twitter.com/P0yiNC52KV
— x – Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 5, 2020
That’ll do, pig. That is all for this Thursday’s links. As ever, thanks for tagging along and I’ll catch you on the flip side.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/29/24
Lions brace for the Red Bulls, Pride take on Chicago, OCB will play Inter Miami II in Bradenton, and more.
Happy Friday! Today marks one year since we here at The Mane Land published our first story here at our new independent home. It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s already been a year. Thank you all for sticking with us or checking us out since our move. That kind of support goes farther than you might think. I joined the team back in October of 2016 as an editor and it’s only just now hitting me that I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of my entire life. Here’s hoping for another great year of independence and Orlando soccer!
Orlando City Set to Host New York Red Bulls
Orlando City’s match at home Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls was noted as one of the top matches in the league this weekend. The Lions earned their first win of the MLS season last weekend and will look to build on that momentum heading into tomorrow. The Lions will also get a boost from players returning from international duty, with Duncan McGuire, Facundo Torres, David Brekalo, and Peruvian duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena back. They’ll have their hands full against a New York team that’s coming off of a 4-0 win over Inter Miami. Lewis Morgan had a hat trick in that match and Orlando’s defense will have to find a way to keep him and the rest of the Red Bulls from running rampant.
Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Tonight
The Orlando Pride’s third match of the NWSL season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride enter this match following a gritty 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, with Brazilians Angelina and Marta linking up on a corner kick for a late equalizer. One thing to keep an eye on in tonight’s match will be how the Pride’s shorthanded defense can limit Chicago’s attack. The Pride have targeted versatile players while rebuilding, and that proved to be worth it last week as multiple players stepped up to fortify the back line. The last time these two sides squared off in Orlando was in August of last year, with the Pride coming up with a big 5-0 win. Hopefully we get to see a similar result tonight.
OCB Match Will Be Part of Generation Adidas Cup
Tuesday’s MLS NEXT Pro match between Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton and will be part of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup. The participating teams of the tournament were invited to attend the match, along with their families, and fans can watch the match for free on the league website. The match will be broadcast in English, but a new AI dubbing platform will be used to instantly translate it into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. It will supposedly maintain voice and tone, so I’m morbidly curious to hear just how artificial it will sound.
Generations Adidas Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow
Speaking of the Generation Adidas Cup, the youth tournament kicks off tomorrow. All MLS academy teams will compete alongside some of the top youth teams from around the world in both the U-15 and U-17 age groups. Orlando City’s U-15 side was noted as one to watch after a strong run of form this year. Caleb Trombino has been solid defensively and Jakob Garcia has the attacking talent to light it up in this tournament. The team can make a statement when it takes on Arsenal’s U-15 squad at 10 a.m. this Sunday. That match, along with 27 others, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass.
Free Kicks
- The Lions received some special visitors for their training.
- Somehow, the Seattle Reign’s Ji So-Yun beat Marta to win NWSL Goal of the Week.
- The NWSL hired Sarah Jones Simmer as its chief operating officer to lead business strategy starting in April.
- FC Cincinnati signed former D.C. United midfielder Yamil Asad to a deal through this season, with an option for 2025 as well.
- San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel is out for the next four to six months after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury. William Yarbrough will fill in in the meantime. Yarbrough had five saves in San Jose’s 3-2 win over the Seattle Sounders this past weekend.
- Inter Miami has a new right back after adding Marcelo Weigandt on loan from Boca Juniors. The loan lasts through this season, with an option to be extended through 2025 as well.
- Christen Press is back in training with Angel City FC as she nears her return from an ACL injury.
- The UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals are set, with Chelsea set to play Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain taking on Lyon.
- Willie Kirk was fired as the manager of Leicester City’s women’s team following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a player.
- Here’s an interesting dive into the brutal run of schedule congestion that Truro City must endure to avoid relegation in the National League South.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
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.
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.
- Charlotte FC’s Ashley Westwood won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his volleyed effort against the Columbus Crew. Orlando’s Nicolas Lodeiro tied for second in the voting for his free kick goal.
- LAFC signed center back Maxime Chanot from AC Ajaccio in France’s second division. The 34-year-old returns to MLS after nearly 200 matches with New York City FC and joins LAFC on a contract through 2025.
- American forward Josh Sargent, who missed out on the USMNT’s Concacaf Nations League win due to an ankle injury, is available to play for Norwich City tomorrow.
- Manchester United is reportedly interested in talking to Wolverhamption’s Gary O’Neil about a coaching role at Old Trafford.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest 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.
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