Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/17/22
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope the week is going well for you all down in Florida. There’s plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions prepare for Charlotte FC
Orlando City SC will visit the Queen City for the first time this Sunday when it takes on expansion side Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. The Lions snapped their losing streak this past Saturday as they shut out the New York Red Bulls 1-0. Charlotte has lost three out of its last four matches, including a 5-0 loss on the road to LAFC this past weekend. However, Charlotte has done well at home this season, securing eight wins. Charlotte’s roster has changed a bit since the last time these two clubs played back on April 30, when the Lions won 2-1 at Exploria Stadium. The last time the Lions played a match in the Tarheel state was on Sept. 3, 2014, when they had a 0-0 draw against the Wilmington Hammerheads. That match also marked the final clean sheet on the road for former Orlando City goalkeeper and current club broadcaster Miguel Gallardo.
OCB Takes on Rochester New York FC
Tonight’s lone MLS NEXT Pro midweek match-up will see Orlando City B host Rochester New York FC at Osceola Heritage Park at 6 p.m. OCB won on the road this past weekend as it was able to get a 2-0 win against New York City FC II. It was the club’s first clean sheet since May, as Javier Otero made seven saves, while Jack Lynn scored the two goals. OCB sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, while Rochester lost to Toronto FC II last Friday and is in fourth for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. These two sides faced each other last month on July 1 at John L. DiMarco Field, where Rochester defeated the Young Lions, 3-2. You can watch tonight’s match on MLSNEXTPro.com.
USMNT to Face Japan in Germany
The United States Men’s National Team will take on fellow 2022 World Cup qualifying nation Japan on Sept. 23 at the Düsseldorf Arena in Germany. The match will have an early kickoff time at 8:25 a.m. You can watch the match on ESPN2, ESPN+, UniMás, or TUDN. Four days later, the USMNT will play against Saudi Arabia on Sept. 27 in Murcia, Spain, at the Estadio Nueva Condomina. These September friendlies will be the final games for the Americans before the World Cup in Qatar this November.
Earthquakes Reportedly Interested in Luchi Gonzalez as Head Coach
The San Jose Earthquakes are reportedly finalizing a deal to name USMNT assistant coach and former FC Dallas manager Luchi Gonzalez as their next head coach. If the deal is completed, Gonzalez would remain with the USMNT for the World Cup and take over the Earthquakes after the conclusion of the tournament. The Earthquakes parted ways with their former head coach, Matias Almeyda, back in April, and Alex Covelo became their interim coach. The Earthquakes currently sit in 13th place in the Western Conference with 24 points and are on track to miss the MLS playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Free Kicks
- The latest MLS power rankings have been released. The Lions moved up five spots to 16th after their win against the Red Bulls this past weekend.
- Former Orlando Pride and current NJ/NY Gotham FC players Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger announced they have adopted their second child, a baby boy named Ocean Maeve Krieger-Harris.
- USMNT star and Chelsea player Christian Pulisic has been linked with a potential loan move to Newcastle United. Other clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and AC Milan have also reportedly expressed interest.
- Josh Sargent had a big day yesterday as he started, scored a goal, and set up another as Norwich City defeated Huddersfield Town 2-1 in its EFL Championship match.
- The World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina will not be replayed. The match was suspended last September after Brazilian health authorities accused English-based players of violating the country’s COVID-19 protocols.
- American midfielder Richy Ledezma injured his ankle in his first start in 20 months with PSV Eindhoven. The club has not given an estimate on when Ledezma could return.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/19/24
New kits for U.S. Soccer, Nottingham Forest hit with points deduction, Seattle Reign sale announced, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. It might not have been the weekend Orlando City fans were hoping for, but Orlando City B and the Orlando Pride both gave fans plenty to cheer about. As usual, we have a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s jump into today’s links.
U.S. Soccer Releases New Kits
U.S. Soccer has unveiled the two new kits that its national teams will wear during 2024. The leaks that were making the rounds several weeks ago were accurate, with the home jersey being white with stripes on the sleeves and collar, and the away jersey evoking memories of the 2014 bomb pop kit. The kits go on sale this Thursday, just in time for the United States Men’s National Team’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal clash against Jamaica.
Nottingham Forest Deducted Points
Nottingham Forest has been deducted four points as punishment for violating the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. That deduction takes Forest from 25 points down to 21, and drops the team into the relegation zone in 18th place, one point shy of newcomers Luton Town. The deduction is the second this season, following Everton being docked 10 points (reduced to six after an appeal), and the Toffees might still be in line for another deduction. The independent commission charged with looking into Forest’s breach had determined that the violation was originally worth a six-point deduction, but it was reduced to four due to cooperation with the investigation.
Seattle Reign Sale Announced
OL Groupe has announced the sale of the Seattle Reign to a group that includes the Seattle Sounders and the investment firm Carlyle. OL Groupe will sell the entirety of its 97% stake in the team, with the price of the deal coming to $58 million. The sale is subject to approval by the Board of Governors for both Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, but there are not expected to be any issues. OL Groupe got a good return on its investment, as it bought the team in 2019 for an estimated $3.5 million.
International Absences Galore
A number of high profile players will not be joining up with their countries during the international break due to injury. Antoine Griezmann’s record of playing in 84 straight games for his country will come to an end, as the forward has suffered an ankle injury and will be replaced by Matteo Guendouzi. Darwin Nunez has withdrawn from the Uruguayan squad after picking up a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester United. Lionel Messi will also be missing for Argentina due to a hamstring injury.
Lion Links
- Hats off to the City Beautiful for winning some recognition.
- The Orlando Pride come in at the fifth spot in CBSSports.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- The Biden administration has urged the Supreme Court to allow an antitrust lawsuit against FIFA and U.S. Soccer to proceed to trial.
- Francesco Acerbi has left Italy’s training camp following allegations that he racially abused Napoli’s Juan Jesus.
- Fiorentina General Manager Joe Barone is on life support after suffering cardiac arrest.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/18/24
Orlando City falls to Atlanta United, the Pride get a late result at Louisville, OCB wins tops Atlanta United 2, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope you all had an excellent St. Patrick’s Day weekend. It was a mixed one for our teams, as OCB won, the Pride fought back for a draw, and the Lions suffered another loss. This weekend, I was busy at work between Under Armour and covering high school lacrosse. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links, but first, join us in wishing a happy 32nd birthday to Orlando Pride fullback Kylie Strom.
Orlando City Falls to Rival Atlanta United
Orlando City lost 2-0 to Atlanta United on the road on Sunday and will have to wait for Saturday against Austin FC to get another chance at its first win of the MLS season. Saba Lobjanidze and Georgios Giakoumakis scored for the Five Stripes. Orlando City is now winless in five consecutive matches across all competitions. The Lions have also given up 10 goals in four league matches and are in the 14th place in the Eastern Conference with one point. Michael Citro has your match recap.
Orlando Pride Battle Back for 2-2 Draw at Racing Louisville
The Orlando Pride overcame a two-goal deficit to escape Lynn Family Stadium with a 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville in their season opener Saturday. The Pride also went down to 10 players when Strom was sent off in the second half after receiving a second yellow card. The Pride were down 2-1 late when Summer Yates scored her first career goal from a set piece to even the match. The Pride are winless in season openers, but earned their third opening day draw in NWSL play. Orlando also secured its first ever point in four road matches in Kentucky. The Pride return to action Friday in their home opener against Angel City FC.
OCB Opens Season with 3-2 Road Win Over Atlanta United 2
Orlando City B won its MLS NEXT Pro season opener on the road, beating Atlanta United 2. The Young Lions trailed 1-0 early in the first half but kicked on from there and won 3-2. Jhon Solis equalized with a penalty kick goal and Orlando City 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick Yutaro Tsukada scored on a great free kick to give the Young Lions a 2-1 advantage going into halftime. OCB struck quickly in the second half thruogh Colin Guske. Atlanta United 2 made things interesting with a late goal, but OCB held on. This is the third consecutive year the Young Lions have started a season with a win. OCB’s next match will again be on the road, as the Young Lions face Huntsville City FC on Friday.
Manchester United and Chelsea Win, Advance to FA Cup Semifinals
It was a seven-goal thriller at Old Trafford as Manchester United edged out Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The Red Devils were down 2-1 late in the second half before Antony scored the equalizer to tie the match 2-2. Liverpool took the lead in extra time, but Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo scored to put this match away for United. In another thrilling match at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea and Leicester City were tied 2-2. Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored for the Blues deep in stoppage time and secured a 4-2 victory. Manchester City will take on Chelsea, while Manchester United will face Coventry City in the FA Cup semifinals.
Free Kicks
- Christian Pulisic’s scoring streak continues as he added another goal to make it four consecutive matches with a strike for AC Milan. His goal helped Milan win 3-1 against Hellas Verona. Pulisic has scored 12 goals so far across all competitions for AC Milan.
- USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi came off the bench for PSV Eindhoven and scored the winning goal in stoppage time for a 1-0 victory against FC Twente.
- AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud has hinted at a possible moved to Major League Soccer this summer if he decides not to renew his contract at the end of the season.
- Due to injury, Josh Sargent and Luca de La Torre will miss the U.S. Men’s National Team’s upcoming Concacaf Nations League semifinal match against Jamaica. Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright were added as their replacements to the USMNT roster.
- Bay FC won its first NWSL match as an expansion club, beating fellow California side Angel City 1-0.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/15/24
Leagues Cup schedule revealed, San Diego Wave reportedly set for sale, Europa League action, and more.
Happy Friday! The time change last weekend has made this week really feel like a slog, but I’m finally starting to get a better handle on the fugue state each morning. Plenty of sleep and soccer this weekend should also help, as well as being able to enjoy the extra sunlight in the evenings. I don’t have many plans beyond working, but it should still be a nice next few days. Let’s dive into today’s links!
2024 Leagues Cup Schedule Announced
The schedule for this year’s Leagues Cup was unveiled, along with the bracket and the “hubs” where select Liga MX teams will play all of their group games. Orlando City will host its pair of group games, taking on CF Montreal on July 26 before playing Atletico San Luis on Aug. 4. If Orlando advances to the knockout stage, it will face a team from the group that includes the Philadelphia Union, Cruz Azul and Charlotte FC. Orlando’s half of the bracket includes every Eastern Conference team other than the Chicago Fire, and also features Tigres, Pachuca, and Santos Laguna.
NWSL Kicks Off After Eventful Off-Season
The National Women’s Soccer League returns this weekend and plenty has changed since last year. There are two expansion teams in the Utah Royals and Bay FC, familiar faces in new places due to a busy free agency, and new players fresh on the scene in the form of the draft and record-breaking transfers. The doubling of the salary cap for 2024 has helped teams get a bit more competitive, and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed that the international roster spots for each team will increase from five to eight. It’s also an evolving landscape, as questions have also been raised regarding the lack of agency players can have when being drafted or traded. It’s an exciting time to be a women’s soccer fan and this season should be another competitive one featuring some of the world’s best players.
San Diego Wave Reportedly Being Sold
The San Diego Wave are reportedly going to be sold in a two-part $113 million deal that will have the Levine Leichtman family pay for 35% of the team now and the rest after the 2024 season. The Wave joined the league in 2022, with Ron Burkle paying the $2 million expansion fee. Burkle will remain in control of it until the second part of the deal triggers at the end of the season. This deal eclipses the $63 million paid for the Portland Thorns earlier this year and showcases the growth the league has undergone in recent years.
Europa League Round of 16 Comes to a Close
Although no games went into extra time, there was plenty of exciting drama in the second legs of the Europa League’s round of 16 . The most thrilling match of the day took place in Germany, as Bayer Leverkusen ended Azerbaijani club Qarabag’s Cinderella run. A red card reduced Qarabag to 10 men in the 63rd minute, but the underdogs maintained their lead heading into stoppage time. Patrik Schick flipped the script, scoring twice in stoppage time to book Leverkusen’s spot in the quarterfinals and extend the club’s unbeaten run to 37 games.
AC Milan took full advantage of an early red card to Slavia Prague, with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao scoring and assisting on each other’s goals in a 3-1 win on the road. It was a good day for Serie A teams overall, as AS Roma advanced past Brighton despite a 1-0 loss and Atalanta won a tight 2-1 match against Sporting to move on. English clubs Liverpool and West Ham had big wins at home to reach the quarterfinals, and Villarreal and Benfica round out the quarterfinalists.
Free Kicks
- Toronto FC traded midfielder Latif Blessing to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for up to $250,000 in General Allocation Money.
- The Seattle Reign will retire Megan Rapinoe’s number during the club’s match on Aug. 25.
- FIFA announced that both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups will be held annually. The men’s tournament will expand to 48 teams and take place in Qatar for the next five years starting next year. The women’s tournament will have 24 teams and be in Morocco for five years after this year.
- According to England manager Gareth Southgate, Arsenal defender Ben White does not want to be called up for international duty.
- Enjoy this look at an interesting service in Turkey that rents goalkeepers to recreational soccer teams.
- Jamaica dropped Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey from its Concacaf Nations League squad after he missed curfew.
That’s all I have for you this fine Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and enjoy all of the soccer this weekend. Beware the ides of March!
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