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Lion Links: 11/1/21

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Unmerry Monday morning, Mane Landers. I know I’m normally a cheery guy to start the week, but that was some Grade A horse hockey in yesterday’s match and I refuse to sugarcoat it. The Professional Referee Organization will provide its explanation, but it is hard for me not to don a second tin foil hat. Ugh. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Gets PRO’d

To be clear, there were plenty of chances for the Lions against Nashville SC that they didn’t finish in a 1-1 draw. Orlando City did well in the match, although it only put two of its 14 shots on target. That doesn’t excuse the call made by referee Allen Chapman to pull back Orlando City’s winning goal in stoppage time. Alexandre Pato put a near perfect free kick into the crossbar and Andres Perea finished it off to give the Lions the lead, only to have it taken away due to a foul by Daryl Dike after video review. Judge for yourself.

Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja and Nashville Head Coach Gary Smith had differing opinions on the call to say the least. It seems to many, including myself, that a striker like Daryl Dike is more likely to try scoring rather than trying to stop the defender from clearing it right at the line.

Check back today for Topher Adams’ player grades and Man of the Match, as well as Marcus Mitchell’s five takeaways.

NWSL Regular Season Comes to a Close

I know the Orlando Pride’s slide out of playoff contention might still feel a little fresh, but the rest of the National Women’s Soccer League season moves on. The Houston Dash’s playoff hopes came to an end after losing 1-0 to the Washington Spirit and the postseason schedule is set. The Portland Thorns and OL Reign have earned byes to avoid the first round of the postseason that begins this Sunday. NJ/NY Gotham FC will travel to take on the Chicago Red Stars and then the Washington Spirit will host the North Carolina Courage. The semifinals will take place on Nov. 14 and then the final is set for Nov. 20 in Louisville. You should still watch the playoff games as future Pride players may be on those other teams as Orlando makes plans for the off-season. After a five-game losing streak to end the season, the Pride finished eighth in the league.

U.S. Players Doing Well Abroad

A few Yanks got in on the scoring in Europe this weekend. Christian Cappis came off the bench to score the winner for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga. It was the 22-year-old midfielder’s second game-winning goal in his past three league matches.

Weston McKennie scored yet again in Juventus’ 2-1 loss to Verona as he is in a good run of form. RB Salzburg’s Brenden Aaronson had an assist in a 2-2 draw with Ried and Joe Scally delivered a great cross in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 2-1 win over VfL Bochum 1848 for an assist.

It’s that type of play that gives Scally an argument for making the next USMNT camp. On the defensive side of things, Fulham’s Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson did well in a 2-0 win while John Brooks helped Wolfsburg hold onto a 2-0 victory. More Americans will be in action this week with the UEFA Champions League and Europa League returning this week.

Europe’s Biggest Clubs in Action This Past Weekend

Manchester United bounced back from its loss to Liverpool in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo worked well with one another on offense, both scoring in the match. Crystal Palace had a strong 2-0 win against Manchester City, with Wilfried Zaha scoring and making life difficult for the opposition. Arsenal, West Ham United, and Chelsea all had notable wins as well, while Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion battled to a 2-2 draw.

Atletico Madrid had a strong 3-0 win over Real Betis while FC Barcelona could only manage a 1-1 draw with Alaves despite a good match from Memphis Depay. In other games across Europe, Bayern Munich returned to its winning ways, Villarreal struggled in a 2-0 loss to Valencia, and Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 against Lille despite Lionel Messi’s struggles.

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  • Kansas City announced the new club name and logo for its NWSL side. Say hello to the Kansas City Current. I have to say, it’s a solid name given their new stadium will be close to the Missouri River. It’s an original and relevant name, and I like it. Of course, I want the Orlando Pride to beat them next year, but still…well done.
  • Jordan Morris is expected to be available for the Seattle Sounders in tonight’s match against the LA Galaxy. Morris tore his ACL eight months ago, but can make an impact during the postseason.
  • Barcelona forward Sergio Aguero exited the team’s game for a cardiac exam after experiencing chest pain.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic did exactly what he does when taunted by opposing fans. He scored a goal. Seriously? Even I know not to poke Zlatan.

Welcome to November. Hopefully, all the scary stuff is done now that Halloween is over, and we can look forward to some feasts instead. Vamos Orlando!

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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

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.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

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.

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

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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.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

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.

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  • 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.

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

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